Wrapping Injuries

OldDude · Aug 20, 2014

Generally, if the mechanism of injury doesn't typically result in a fracture and I don't suspect a fracture....and if there is evidence of MINOR swelling, I'll "RICE" it and call a parent to give them the option of picking them up immediately or wait until after school for their further assessment.....generally.

coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2014

Just what OldDude said. I wrap only if I don't believe there's a fracture. The compression can help a lot, mostly psychological making them feel better if there isn't much swelling. I know of a nice YouTube video with the technique I use, but it's on my computer. When IT gets here to being me back to the 21st Century I'll post the link :)

Wave Watcher · Aug 20, 2014

I do not wrap. Period. What if you don't suspect there is a fracture BUT there is? I just don't take the chance. I send the kid back to class and tell them to ice it and prop their foot up or call parents if it's bad.

OldDude · Aug 20, 2014

I have had that occasionally happen over the years...something turn up broken when I didn't suspect that was the case. When I inform the parent of the injury I always tell them to seek medical attention if the swelling is present the following day or if the injury is still painful.

coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN · Aug 21, 2014

Here is the video! Hope it helps :)

allnurses Guide · Aug 22, 2014

I haven't ever wrapped an injury AT SCHOOL. But I did send a kid home with a sore arm, no obvious fracture or swelling, after a fall. She took him to be x-rayed and he had a fracture that necessitated surgery.

allnurses Guide · Aug 22, 2014

Here is the video! Hope it helps :)

Thanks! That's funny . . . .the ankle bone itself was left out of the ace wrap. I've always covered the ankle bone too.

coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN · Aug 24, 2014

Thanks! That's funny . . . .the ankle bone itself was left out of the ace wrap. I've always covered the ankle bone too.

Interesting! Leaving the ankle bone out was how we were taught in Nursing School. But I do like the video a lot! I love the hand motions from the guy at the end. Really cute.

fetch, BSN, RN · Aug 25, 2014

I've only wrapped once - it was a case where the student's legal guardian also worked at the school so I was able to send her back to class and then pull them both an hour later to re-assess. (At the time it was 10/10! Slightly red, no swelling but could NOT move, hurts too bad! And an hour later it was totally gone, no swelling, no discoloration, full ROM, pain 0/10, etc . . . little drama queen!)

Oh wait, there was also a time when a student came in with the wrap but it was way too tight. I did re-wrap that one.

Every other time I've either sent them straight home or ice seemed sufficient.

RNlove17 · Sep 3, 2014

I don't usually wrap. I'm nervous of that liability. What if I wrap and it turns out to be fractured and wrapping it worsened the injury? Only things I will do is buddy tape a finger, which I don't do often. and I will rewrap if a student comes in with something already wrapped. I always call the parent too to inform them and tell them they should consider taking their kid into a dr or urgent care. Again, taking liability off of me. Oh and when kids come in asking for it, I tell them I don't even have ACE bandages here, which I don't.

100kids, BSN, RN · Sep 3, 2014

I have wrapped a few injuries at school but I do it very rarely (mostly because I will have a run on ace bandages because kids think they're cool). Anytime I have done it is if with a call home to mom to discuss what happened and what the next steps should be. I always tell them if it does not get better by the next morning or if it gets worse then they should consider getting it checked out by their physician.