A mother whose 7-year-old child has been placed in a cast for a fractured right arm reports that the child will not stop crying even after taking acetaminophen with codeine.The child also will not straighten the fingers on the right arm.What advice by the nurse is best?
A) Take the child to the emergency department.
B) Put ice on the injury.
C) Avoid letting the child get so tired.
D) Wait another hour; if the child is still crying, call back.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Unrelieved pain and the child's inability to extend his fingers are signs of compartment syndrome,which requires immediate attention.Placing ice on the extremity is an inappropriate action for the symptoms.Telling the mother not to let her child get tired is an inappropriate response to a concern.A child who has signs and symptoms of compartment syndrome should be seen immediately.Waiting an hour could compromise the recovery of the child.

A Mother Whose 7-Year-Old Child Has Been Placed in a Cast