Question

A client has a fractured tibia from a football injury. A cast was applied to the leg. Assessment reveals complaints of pain unrelieved by pain medication, restricted toe movements, edema, and slow capillary refill. What is the nurse's best action? A. Elevate the extremity on a pillow B. Administer pain medication C. Notify the physician of the assessment findings D. Perform a neurovascular reassessment

Short answer

Answer: C. Notify the physician of the assessment findings.

Step-by-step solution

Review the symptoms and actions

The client is experiencing pain unrelieved by pain medication, restricted toe movements, edema, and slow capillary refill. We must determine which action (elevating the extremity, administering pain medication, notifying the physician, or performing a neurovascular reassessment) would be most likely to address these symptoms.

Evaluate the actions with regard to the symptoms

(A) Elevating the extremity on a pillow may help reduce edema and improve blood flow, but it doesn't address the other symptoms or potential underlying problems. (B) Administering pain medication has already been done, and it hasn't alleviated the client's pain. (D) Performing a neurovascular reassessment might help gather more information about the client's condition and may be necessary in the future, but it doesn't address the client's current symptoms or the potential need for a change in intervention.

Choose the best action

(C) Notifying the physician of the assessment findings is the best course of action because it allows the nurse to relay important information about the client's condition to the physician, who can then adjust the treatment plan accordingly. The other actions do not address all of the client's symptoms and may not lead to a change in the intervention necessary to address those symptoms. The correct answer is C. Notify the physician of the assessment findings.