Femur and Humerus Fracture

K. B. is a 16-year-old, weighing 64 kg, who fell while skiing. She briefly lost consciousness but is now alert and oriented. She was transported down the hill by the ski patrol after being stabilized and then was flown to the hospital. She has a fractured right femur and humerus. She will be admitted to your unit after an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the femur fracture and casting of her leg and arm.

1. You are on the pediatric surgical floor and are taking report from the post anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurse. K. B. is awake and taking ice chips. For the orders listed in the chart below, state whether EACH order is appropriate or not and state why.
Chart View: Physician's Orders
1. Vital signs per routine
2. Neurologic checks every 4 hours
3. Turn, cough, and deep breathe and incentive spirometer every 2 hours while awake
4. Heat pack and elevate right lower extremity and right upper extremity
5. Neurovascular checks every 1 hour
6. NPO
7. IV fluids D51/2NS at 100 mL/hr
8. Morphine sulfate 5 mg IV every 4-6 hours prn
Case Study Progression:Case Study Progress
K. B. is settled into her room and begins to complain of pain (7 of 10) in her leg and arm. She weighs 65 kg. You note that the ordered dose of morphine sulfate was given 4 hours ago. Your drug reference states that the appropriate dose is 0.05 to 0.1 mg/kg every 4 to 6 hours.
2. Is this dose safe for your patient? Show your work.
3. The morphine for injection comes in a concentration of 2 mg/mL. How much will you draw up and have a second RN double-check?
Cast Study Progression:Case Study Progress
After K. B. has been on the unit for 6 hours, you identify the following changes in her assessment data:
K. B. is difficult to arouse, but when awake she is able to identify who and where she is; PERRLA 1+ with slower reaction time than earlier; color pale, pink; skin cool and clammy; heart rate 126 beats/min, respiratory rate 28 breaths/min, temperature (oral) 99 ° F (37.2 ° C); Spo2 90%. The findings of the neurovascular checks of the affected extremities are unchanged.
4. What will your immediate nursing interventions include? (List two possible interventions)
5. K. B.'s Glasgow Coma Scale score begins to decline from 15 to 11. What are possible reasons for changes in her neurologic status?