Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 77%
Simulated
The nurse is caring for a client who has been placed in skin traction. Which action by the nurse provides for countertraction to reduce shear and friction?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
The part of the bed under an area in traction is usually elevated to aid in countertraction. For the client in skin traction (which is applied to a leg), the foot of the bed is elevated. Option 3 provides a force that opposes the traction force effectively without harming the client. A footboard, an overhead trapeze, or elevating the head of the bed is not used to provide countertraction.