ATI Medsurg Proctored Final Exam Related

Review ATI Medsurg Proctored Final Exam related questions and content

A nurse assesses a client in skeletal traction. What indicates infection at the pin sites?

  • A. Pallor
  • B. Fever
  • C. Bradycardia
  • D. Elevated blood pressure
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Fever. Infection at the pin sites in skeletal traction commonly presents with systemic signs like fever. Fever is a typical response to infection as the body tries to fight off the invading pathogens. Pallor, bradycardia, and elevated blood pressure are not specific indicators of infection at pin sites. Pallor may indicate poor perfusion, bradycardia is a slow heart rate which is not typically associated with infection, and elevated blood pressure can be a response to various stressors but not a specific sign of infection at pin sites. In summary, fever is the most reliable indicator of infection at pin sites due to its systemic nature.