What is the most important action for the nurse to take when she is caring for a client who has had an above-knee amputation (AKA) with an immediate prosthetic fitting?

Provide cast care on the affected extremity.

Strategy: Answers are a mix of assessments and implementations. Is there an appropriate assessment? No. Determine the outcome of each implementation. (1) drains not usually used with amputations (2) rigid cast dressing frequently used to create a socket for prosthesis (3) elevation of extremity unnecessary; rigid cast dressing prevents swelling (4) correctcast applied to provide uniform compression, prevent pain and contractures