Free NCLEX-PN Practice Questions Practice Question

An adult has injured her ankle and asks her neighbor, a nurse, for assistance. The ankle appears swollen, and the client cannot move it without severe pain. Before arranging transport to the emergency room, which action by the nurse would be most appropriate?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Keeping the ankle elevated is the most appropriate action as it helps reduce swelling and minimizes pain by decreasing blood flow to the injured area.

Applying a warm compress (Option A) can increase blood flow and swelling, which is counterproductive in an acute injury. Performing range-of-motion exercises (Option C) could exacerbate pain and further damage the ankle, as movement should be avoided in the initial stages of injury. Finally, assessing if the client can ambulate safely (Option D) may lead to additional injury or pain, making it an unsuitable choice before proper medical evaluation.

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