A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client to achieve the outcome of functional healing of a fracture. Which of the following nursing interventions is the highest priority to assist in meeting this outcome?
A.
Promote independence in activities of daily living for the client.
B.
Provide relief from pain and discomfort for the client.
C.
Maintain immobilization and alignment for the client.
D.
Provide optimal nutrition and hydration for the client.
The Correct answer and Explanation is:
The highest priority nursing intervention to assist a client in achieving functional healing of a fracture is:
C. Maintain immobilization and alignment for the client.
Explanation
Functional healing of a fracture is a complex process that involves several key factors, but maintaining immobilization and alignment of the fractured bone is paramount. Here’s why:
**1. Stability and Alignment: Immobilization and alignment are crucial because they ensure that the fractured ends of the bone are properly aligned. Proper alignment allows for the correct formation of new bone tissue (callus) and supports the healing process. If a fracture is not correctly aligned, it can lead to malunion (improper healing of the bone) or nonunion (failure of the bone to heal), which can result in long-term functional impairment and require further interventions, such as surgery.
**2. Prevention of Complications: Effective immobilization helps prevent complications such as displacement, where the fractured bone ends move out of alignment. This can lead to complications like delayed healing or improper bone growth, which can impact the overall functional outcome of the fracture.
**3. Facilitating Healing: The process of bone healing involves several stages: inflammation, repair, and remodeling. Immobilization supports the repair phase by providing a stable environment for the bone to regenerate and reattach. Proper alignment during this phase is essential for ensuring that the bone heals correctly and functions properly once healed.
**4. Impact on Other Interventions: While pain relief, promoting independence, and providing optimal nutrition and hydration are important, they are secondary to the fundamental need for immobilization and alignment. Without proper immobilization, pain may increase, and nutritional and hydration needs may not be effectively addressed due to ongoing complications.
In summary, while all the options listed are important for the overall care of a client with a fracture, maintaining immobilization and alignment (option C) is the highest priority intervention to ensure functional healing of the fracture. This intervention directly influences the success of the healing process and minimizes the risk of complications that can affect the client’s functional outcome.
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