Author: J. Aneshon

By Annie Alward, Hanna Persin, and Jane Shon

1. 
2. The nurse’s priority involves frequent assessment of the neurovascular function. This is done by looking at the “five P’s.” these include assessing pain, pallor, pulselessness, paresthesias, and paralysis. Pallor may suggest a decrease in arterial perfusion, pulselessness (a late sign) may suggest lack of distal tissue perfusion, paresthesias suggests nerve involvement, and paralysis, also a late sign, indicates nerve damage.
3. If compartment syndrome occurs in the legs, limitations in movement may occur such as walking. Cramping or aching may develop as the symptoms worsen over time.
4. Discharge would include educating patients on signs and symptoms (if wound is draining/pus/smells abnormal). Instructing patients of things such as if pain or swelling does not go away, if color of injured arm or leg turns blue or white and/or feels cold or numb, and if there is blood soaking through the cast/bandage. If there is a fever, excessive swelling, rash/itch, etc., contact or seek care immediately. Take medicine as prescribed and directed. Elevate arm or leg at the level of heart for as long as doctor recommends, decreases swelling and pain. Do not raise it higher than heart. Elevate with pillows or blankets. Check that brace/bandage fits by checking if 2 fingers can fit between skin/brace/bandage. Never poke or scratch under bandage.

By Annie Alward, Hanna Persin, and Jane Shon

1. 
2. The nurse’s priority involves frequent assessment of the neurovascular function. This is done by looking at the “five P’s.” these include assessing pain, pallor, pulselessness, paresthesias, and paralysis. Pallor may suggest a decrease in arterial perfusion, pulselessness (a late sign) may suggest lack of distal tissue perfusion, paresthesias suggests nerve involvement, and paralysis, also a late sign, indicates nerve damage.
3. If compartment syndrome occurs in the legs, limitations in movement may occur such as walking. Cramping or aching may develop as the symptoms worsen over time.
4. Discharge would include educating patients on signs and symptoms (if wound is draining/pus/smells abnormal). Instructing patients of things such as if pain or swelling does not go away, if color of injured arm or leg turns blue or white and/or feels cold or numb, and if there is blood soaking through the cast/bandage. If there is a fever, excessive swelling, rash/itch, etc., contact or seek care immediately. Take medicine as prescribed and directed. Elevate arm or leg at the level of heart for as long as doctor recommends, decreases swelling and pain. Do not raise it higher than heart. Elevate with pillows or blankets. Check that brace/bandage fits by checking if 2 fingers can fit between skin/brace/bandage. Never poke or scratch under bandage.

By Annie Alward, Hanna Persin, and Jane Shon

1. 
2. The nurse’s priority involves frequent assessment of the neurovascular function. This is done by looking at the “five P’s.” these include assessing pain, pallor, pulselessness, paresthesias, and paralysis. Pallor may suggest a decrease in arterial perfusion, pulselessness (a late sign) may suggest lack of distal tissue perfusion, paresthesias suggests nerve involvement, and paralysis, also a late sign, indicates nerve damage.
3. If compartment syndrome occurs in the legs, limitations in movement may occur such as walking. Cramping or aching may develop as the symptoms worsen over time.
4. Discharge would include educating patients on signs and symptoms (if wound is draining/pus/smells abnormal). Instructing patients of things such as if pain or swelling does not go away, if color of injured arm or leg turns blue or white and/or feels cold or numb, and if there is blood soaking through the cast/bandage. If there is a fever, excessive swelling, rash/itch, etc., contact or seek care immediately. Take medicine as prescribed and directed. Elevate arm or leg at the level of heart for as long as doctor recommends, decreases swelling and pain. Do not raise it higher than heart. Elevate with pillows or blankets. Check that brace/bandage fits by checking if 2 fingers can fit between skin/brace/bandage. Never poke or scratch under bandage.

1. 
2. The nurse’s priority involves frequent assessment of the neurovascular function. This is done by looking at the “five P’s.” these include assessing pain, pallor, pulselessness, paresthesias, and paralysis. Pallor may suggest a decrease in arterial perfusion, pulselessness (a late sign) may suggest lack of distal tissue perfusion, paresthesias suggests nerve involvement, and paralysis, also a late sign, indicates nerve damage.
3. If compartment syndrome occurs in the legs, limitations in movement may occur such as walking. Cramping or aching may develop as the symptoms worsen over time.
4. Discharge would include educating patients on signs and symptoms (if wound is draining/pus/smells abnormal). Instructing patients of things such as if pain or swelling does not go away, if color of injured arm or leg turns blue or white and/or feels cold or numb, and if there is blood soaking through the cast/bandage. If there is a fever, excessive swelling, rash/itch, etc., contact or seek care immediately. Take medicine as prescribed and directed. Elevate arm or leg at the level of heart for as long as doctor recommends, decreases swelling and pain. Do not raise it higher than heart. Elevate with pillows or blankets. Check that brace/bandage fits by checking if 2 fingers can fit between skin/brace/bandage. Never poke or scratch under bandage.

By Annie Alward, Hanna Persin, and Jane Shon

1. 
2. The nurse’s priority involves frequent assessment of the neurovascular function. This is done by looking at the “five P’s.” these include assessing pain, pallor, pulselessness, paresthesias, and paralysis. Pallor may suggest a decrease in arterial perfusion, pulselessness (a late sign) may suggest lack of distal tissue perfusion, paresthesias suggests nerve involvement, and paralysis, also a late sign, indicates nerve damage.
3. If compartment syndrome occurs in the legs, limitations in movement may occur such as walking. Cramping or aching may develop as the symptoms worsen over time.
4. Discharge would include educating patients on signs and symptoms (if wound is draining/pus/smells abnormal). Instructing patients of things such as if pain or swelling does not go away, if color of injured arm or leg turns blue or white and/or feels cold or numb, and if there is blood soaking through the cast/bandage. If there is a fever, excessive swelling, rash/itch, etc., contact or seek care immediately. Take medicine as prescribed and directed. Elevate arm or leg at the level of heart for as long as doctor recommends, decreases swelling and pain. Do not raise it higher than heart. Elevate with pillows or blankets. Check that brace/bandage fits by checking if 2 fingers can fit between skin/brace/bandage. Never poke or scratch under bandage.

Spironolactone is a class of potassium-sparing diuretics that is mainly used to manage primary hyperaldosteronism and edema that is associated with heart failure. It may also be administered for the treatment of hypokalemia, in that it counteracts potassium loss that may be caused by other diuretics. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, meaning it acts to conserve the amount of sodium within the body. Therefore, it is highly contraindicated in patients with renal insufficiency, renal impairment, hyperkalemia, or Addison’s disease.

It’s highly advised for nurses to assess their patients frequently for development of hyperkalemia, and to watch for symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, paresthesia, confusion, dyspnea, or cardiac arrythmias. In addition, skin rashes may frequently occur during treatment therapy and should be discontinued at the first sign of rashes. Serum potassium levels should routinely be evaluated, as well as BUN, serum creatinine, and electrolytes, as these are important ways to measure proper kidney functioning.

Spironolactone is a class of potassium-sparing diuretics that is mainly used to manage primary hyperaldosteronism and edema that is associated with heart failure. It may also be administered for the treatment of hypokalemia, in that it counteracts potassium loss that may be caused by other diuretics. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, meaning it acts to conserve the amount of sodium within the body. Therefore, it is highly contraindicated in patients with renal insufficiency, renal impairment, hyperkalemia, or Addison’s disease.

It’s highly advised for nurses to assess their patients frequently for development of hyperkalemia, and to watch for symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, paresthesia, confusion, dyspnea, or cardiac arrythmias. In addition, skin rashes may frequently occur during treatment therapy and should be discontinued at the first sign of rashes. Serum potassium levels should routinely be evaluated, as well as BUN, serum creatinine, and electrolytes, as these are important ways to measure proper kidney functioning.

Spironolactone is a class of potassium-sparing diuretics that is mainly used to manage primary hyperaldosteronism and edema that is associated with heart failure. It may also be administered for the treatment of hypokalemia, in that it counteracts potassium loss that may be caused by other diuretics. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, meaning it acts to conserve the amount of sodium within the body. Therefore, it is highly contraindicated in patients with renal insufficiency, renal impairment, hyperkalemia, or Addison’s disease.

It’s highly advised for nurses to assess their patients frequently for development of hyperkalemia, and to watch for symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, paresthesia, confusion, dyspnea, or cardiac arrythmias. In addition, skin rashes may frequently occur during treatment therapy and should be discontinued at the first sign of rashes. Serum potassium levels should routinely be evaluated, as well as BUN, serum creatinine, and electrolytes, as these are important ways to measure proper kidney functioning.

Spironolactone is a class of potassium-sparing diuretics that is mainly used to manage primary hyperaldosteronism and edema that is associated with heart failure. It may also be administered for the treatment of hypokalemia, in that it counteracts potassium loss that may be caused by other diuretics. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, meaning it acts to conserve the amount of sodium within the body. Therefore, it is highly contraindicated in patients with renal insufficiency, renal impairment, hyperkalemia, or Addison’s disease.

It’s highly advised for nurses to assess their patients frequently for development of hyperkalemia, and to watch for symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, paresthesia, confusion, dyspnea, or cardiac arrythmias. In addition, skin rashes may frequently occur during treatment therapy and should be discontinued at the first sign of rashes. Serum potassium levels should routinely be evaluated, as well as BUN, serum creatinine, and electrolytes, as these are important ways to measure proper kidney functioning.

Spironolactone is a class of potassium-sparing diuretics that is mainly used to manage primary hyperaldosteronism and edema that is associated with heart failure. It may also be administered for the treatment of hypokalemia, in that it counteracts potassium loss that may be caused by other diuretics. Spironolactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic, meaning it acts to conserve the amount of sodium within the body. Therefore, it is highly contraindicated in patients with renal insufficiency, renal impairment, hyperkalemia, or Addison’s disease.

It’s highly advised for nurses to assess their patients frequently for development of hyperkalemia, and to watch for symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, paresthesia, confusion, dyspnea, or cardiac arrythmias. In addition, skin rashes may frequently occur during treatment therapy and should be discontinued at the first sign of rashes. Serum potassium levels should routinely be evaluated, as well as BUN, serum creatinine, and electrolytes, as these are important ways to measure proper kidney functioning.