Need advise on exam question???

[bsugar888]

I had an exam today and one of the questions I was confused.

The question was about a child in skeletal traction and which order by the dr would the nurse question? There where 4 choices. Two choices I knew where the wrong answers. But the other two choices where.

1. release the weights every 12 hours

2. neurovascular checks every 8 hours

I know neurovascular checks are every 4 hours, but I also know you dont remove the traction every 12 hours...........what do you guys think????

I was torn between both answers I picked #1 and now I think I should have picked #2

[beth66335, BSN, RN]

I would go with 1 b/c it is completely wrong (making it the most right answer) the other just has a odd time in it, so it is not completely inaccurate. A Dr might order neuro checks q 8hrs but he would not order the weights removed until they were no longer needed.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

the question was about a child in skeletal traction and which order by the dr would the nurse question? there where 4 choices. two choices i knew where the wrong answers. but the other two choices where.

1. release the weights every 12 hours

2. neurovascular checks every 8 hours

the purpose of skeletal traction is to reduce a fracture and prevent muscle spasm. to accomplish this pins, wires or tongs are surgically inserted through the bone, usually a long bone like the tibia, femur or humerus and weight applied. along with the patient's own body supplying countertraction, the broken ends of the fractured bone are maintained in alignment as the bone heals. to release the traction exposes the patient to muscle spasm and grating of the bone end fragments. the counterweights should hang freely at all times and be checked to make sure they don't touch the floor or that the ropes are caught on anything. the affected limb needs to be kept in correct alignment at all times. movement of the patient and the limb can be accomplished with the traction intact.

neurovascular checks would be done along with vital signs which are generally done every shift, about every 8 hours.

[MB37]

Yep, it's 1. I had a hard time remembering all the various types of traction and all that, but what I took with me was to NEVER EVER mess with the weights for any reason. If the physician ordered you to, you would have to question the order. NV checks, just like VS, don't require an order. Just b/c they're ordered q8 doesn't mean you can't do them q4 if you feel that's better practice or it's your floor policy. There's no need to question the order even if you plan to routinely do them more often.