Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 66%
Simulated
Passage / Scenario
A client who had a right above-the-knee amputation 24 hours agoA nurse from a medical unit is asked to work on an orthopedic unit. The medical nurse has no orthopedic experience. Which of the following clients should be assigned to the medical nurse?
Correct answer
D
Rationale
The correct answer is D. A nurse with no orthopedic experience can safely care for a client who had a right above-the-knee amputation 24 hours ago because this client will likely require wound care, pain management, and monitoring for complications such as bleeding or infection, which are within the scope of a medical nurse's general skills. The other choices involve more specialized orthopedic interventions or complications that require specific knowledge and experience, such as balanced skeletal traction (choice A), total hip arthroplasty (choice B), and fractured femur with a new cast (choice C). These clients may require specific orthopedic assessments, interventions, and knowledge of potential complications that a nurse without orthopedic experience may not be equipped to handle effectively.