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You are here: Home / NCLEX Ordered-Response: Frostbite Intervention Sequence

NCLEX Ordered-Response: Frostbite Intervention Sequence

NCLEX: Prioritizing Frostbite Nursing Interventions

ORDERED-RESPONSE

A traveler's feet suddenly become pale, turn red, and feel very cold. In just 30 minutes, the affected part became prickly and numb. Place the following interventions in the correct order for a client with frostbite.

Unordered Options

Immerse the feet in warm water (105°F-115°F/40.6°C-46.1°C)
Remove the client from the cold environment
Apply loose, sterile, bulky dressing
Administer pain medication
Monitor for compartment syndrome

Ordered Responses

Rationale

Remove the client from the cold environment This is the first and most critical step to prevent further cold injury and progression of frostbite. Continuing exposure worsens tissue damage. Immerse the feet in warm water (105°F–115°F / 40.6°C–46.1°C) Controlled, rapid rewarming using a water bath is the standard treatment for frostbite. Rewarming should be done only once, in a safe environment, to prevent refreezing which causes more severe injury. Administer pain medication Rewarming is often excruciatingly painful. Pain management is important after rewarming begins and should be anticipatory to avoid unnecessary suffering. Apply a loose, sterile, bulky dressing After rewarming, dressings are used to protect thawed tissues, prevent contamination, and minimize further trauma. Monitor for compartment syndrome Reperfusion after rewarming can lead to compartment syndrome, especially in cases of deep frostbite. Swelling and tissue pressure must be carefully monitored.

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