Cast Care



Cast Care









CHILD AND FAMILY ASSESSMENT AND PREPARATION



  • Review medical record to determine:



    • The type of surgical or medical intervention completed on the child


    • History of increased temperature or heart rate. Elevations may indicate an infectious process is present


    • Pain history and when child was last medicated for pain


  • Determine the type of cast, style, and type of material used to make the cast (Figure 26-1).


  • Assess child’s vital signs to determine presence of fever or increased respiratory rate or heart rate that may indicate presence of infection.


  • Assess child for pain and muscle spasms and provide interventions as indicated (see Chapter 7).


  • Administer pain medication when indicated 30 minutes before moving or assessing the patient.


  • Use diversional activities and other biobehavioral interventions (e.g., music, stroking of unaffected extremities) to distract the child and assist in pain management during the procedure.


  • Explain to the child the purpose of checking the cast and assessing the integrity of the skin and extremities near the cast.


  • Encourage family caregivers to be in the room during cast care to assist them in learning to complete care and assessment in preparation for discharge of the child to home.







Figure 26-1 Types of casts. (A) Short leg cast. (B) Unilateral hip spica cast. (C) One and one-half hip spica cast. (D) Short arm cast. (E) Shoulder spica cast. (From Bowden, V. R., & Greenberg, C. S. (2013). Children and their families: The continuum of nursing care. (3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.)


Jul 9, 2020 | Posted by in NURSING | Comments Off on Cast Care

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