Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills: A Nursing Process Approach

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Copyright © 2011 by Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:

Skill Checklists for Taylor's Clinical Nursing Skills:
A Nursing Process Approach, 3rd edition

Name Date

Unit Position

Instructor/Evaluator: Position

SKILL 9-17

Caring for a Cast

Goal:The cast remains intact, and the patient does not

experience neurovascular compromise. Comments

1. Review the medical record and the nursing plan of care to
   determine the need for cast care and care for the affected
   body part.


2. Perform hand hygiene. Put on PPE, as indicated.


3. Identify the patient. Explain the procedure to the patient.


4. Close curtains around bed and close the door to the room,
   if possible. Place the bed at an appropriate and comfortable
   working height, if necessary.


5. If a plaster cast was applied, handle the casted extremity
   or body area with the palms of your hands for the first
   24 to 36 hours, until the cast is fully dry.


6. If the cast is on an extremity, elevate the affected area
   on pillows covered with waterproof pads. Maintain the
   normal curvatures and angles of the cast.


7. Keep cast (plaster) uncovered until fully dry.


8. Assess the condition of the cast. Be alert for cracks,
   dents, or the presence of drainage from the cast.
   Perform skin and neurovascular assessments according
   to facility policy, as often as every 1 to 2 hours. Check
   for pain, edema, inability to move body parts distal to
   the cast, pallor, pulses, and abnormal sensations. If the
   cast is on an extremity, compare it with the uncasted
   extremity.


9. If breakthrough bleeding or drainage is noted on the cast,
   mark the area on the cast, according to facility policy. Indi-
   cate the date and time next to the area. Follow physician
   orders or facility policy regarding the amount of drainage
   that needs to be reported to the physician.


10. Assess for signs of infection. Monitor the patient’s temper-
    ature. Assess for a foul odor from the cast, increased pain,
    or extreme warmth over an area of the cast.

ExcellentSatisfactoryNeeds Practice