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NU272 HESI Case Study: Compound Fracture
(Preschooler) Questions with Answers (100% Correct
Answers)
Meet the Client
Ans: A four-year-old is brought to the emergency department (ED) by ambulance
following an automobile accident that occurred while the child was headed to the park
with her sister, who is also her babysitter. The child sustained a compound fracture of
the femur, which requires surgical reduction, followed by skeletal traction.
Ethical-Legal Issues: Consent for Care
Ans: The child's teenage sister accompanies her to the hospital. She reports that their
parents are both at work.
If a staff member is unable to reach the child's parents, what guidelines will
determine the staff's ability to provide needed care?
Ans: Emergency care may be provided after a reasonable attempt to reach the parents
has been made.
- Rationale: Exceptions to requiring parental consent before treating children can occur
in emergency situations. Most healthcare facilities will provide emergency, life-saving
medical care to a minor if unable to reach parents after a reasonable attempt has been
made.
Since the child's parents are divorced, which parent should the nurse try to contact
first?
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, 2
Ans: The parent who has been assigned legal custody by the court.
- The parent who has been assigned legal custody has the right to give consent.
Clinical Manifestations
Ans: The child's parents are reached and they are both on their way to the hospital.
They both give telephone consent for her emergency care. The nurse performs an
assessment of the affected leg and notes leg deformity, swelling, and ecchymosis. EMS
documentation indicates the presence of crepitus.
How is the presence of crepitus related to this femur fracture determined?
Ans: Listen for a grating sound when the affected area is moved.
- Listen for a grating sound when the affected area is moved.
The child has an open fracture. What is a priority nursing intervention?
Ans: Cover the wound loosely with a sterile dressing.
- The area is covered with a sterile dressing to prevent contamination of organisms
from the skin.
As the nurse assumes care for the client, which actions are most important for the
nurse take? (Select all that apply. One, some, or all options may be correct.)
Ans: Immobilize the injury.
Assess neurovascular status every hour.
Elevate the affected extremity.
The nurse identifies that a priority nursing diagnosis is injury risk for peripheral
neurovascular compromise. Which lab value would be of most concern for the
nurse?
© 2025 All rights reserved
NU272 HESI Case Study: Compound Fracture
(Preschooler) Questions with Answers (100% Correct
Answers)
Meet the Client
Ans: A four-year-old is brought to the emergency department (ED) by ambulance
following an automobile accident that occurred while the child was headed to the park
with her sister, who is also her babysitter. The child sustained a compound fracture of
the femur, which requires surgical reduction, followed by skeletal traction.
Ethical-Legal Issues: Consent for Care
Ans: The child's teenage sister accompanies her to the hospital. She reports that their
parents are both at work.
If a staff member is unable to reach the child's parents, what guidelines will
determine the staff's ability to provide needed care?
Ans: Emergency care may be provided after a reasonable attempt to reach the parents
has been made.
- Rationale: Exceptions to requiring parental consent before treating children can occur
in emergency situations. Most healthcare facilities will provide emergency, life-saving
medical care to a minor if unable to reach parents after a reasonable attempt has been
made.
Since the child's parents are divorced, which parent should the nurse try to contact
first?
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2
Ans: The parent who has been assigned legal custody by the court.
- The parent who has been assigned legal custody has the right to give consent.
Clinical Manifestations
Ans: The child's parents are reached and they are both on their way to the hospital.
They both give telephone consent for her emergency care. The nurse performs an
assessment of the affected leg and notes leg deformity, swelling, and ecchymosis. EMS
documentation indicates the presence of crepitus.
How is the presence of crepitus related to this femur fracture determined?
Ans: Listen for a grating sound when the affected area is moved.
- Listen for a grating sound when the affected area is moved.
The child has an open fracture. What is a priority nursing intervention?
Ans: Cover the wound loosely with a sterile dressing.
- The area is covered with a sterile dressing to prevent contamination of organisms
from the skin.
As the nurse assumes care for the client, which actions are most important for the
nurse take? (Select all that apply. One, some, or all options may be correct.)
Ans: Immobilize the injury.
Assess neurovascular status every hour.
Elevate the affected extremity.
The nurse identifies that a priority nursing diagnosis is injury risk for peripheral
neurovascular compromise. Which lab value would be of most concern for the
nurse?
© 2025 All rights reserved
