High School

A nurse is assisting in the care of a client who has a fractured femur and is in Buck's traction. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Clean the pin insertion sites on a daily basis.
B. Ensure that the weights are hanging freely.
C. Apply 9 kg (20 lb) weight to the traction.
D. Remove the weights while the client is eating.

Answer :

Final answer:

A nurse caring for a patient in Buck's traction should ensure weights hang freely and not remove them while eating. The weight to be applied is determined by the doctor typically between 5kg to 8kg and not 9kg. Unlike skeletal traction, Buck's traction doesn't involve pins, so cleaning pin sites is not applicable.

Explanation:

In caring for a client with a fractured femur and in Buck's traction, there are important actions a nurse should take to promote healing and prevent complications.

Firstly, it's important to ensure that the weights are hanging freely. This provides consistent and continuous pull and pressure on the affected limb, which helps in bone alignment. Therefore, the weights should never be removed, even when the client is eating.

However, the nurse should not apply a 9kg (20lb) weight to the traction. Instead, the weight is usually determined by the doctor and typically ranges between 5kg (10lb) and 8kg (18lb).

As for cleaning the pin insertion sites, this is usually not applicable in Buck's traction, as it's a type of skin traction and doesn't involve insertions into the bone. Thus, there are no pin sites to be cleaned. Overall, the nurse should ensure effective traction, and monitor for potential complications like pressure sores and nerve damage.

Learn more about Buck's traction here:

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