What should the nurse do based on the principles of heat and cold application?

Whenever someone gets injured or hurt, they don’t know whether to use an ice pack or a warm compress for the pain. There are certain rules to remember. Also, it is sometimes unsure how long to put the ice packs and warm compresses on them.

Heat draws blood to the surface and it will help loosen tight muscles. Cold ice packs should be applied to stop bleeding or stop the swelling. As far as the pain is concerned, it will also lessen the pain because it makes it numb.

If a nurse removes a catheter and the physician orders a warm compress to the area, the nurse should follow the doctor’s orders. However, the nurse should only do that for fifteen minutes and then wait for a while.

Remove the warm compress for at least 15 minutes after each 20-minute application.-rationale: because heat and cold can injure the skin, either should be applied for only a limited time. warm compresses increase circulation and promote fluid absorption in the infiltrated area. removing the compresses every 20 minutes for at least 15 minutes prevents injury to the skin and subsequent rebound vasoconstriction. cold compresses, which help reduce edema, cause vasoconstriction. keeping the area covered continuously can lead to skin breakdown.client needs category: physiological integrityclient needs subcategory: basic care and comfortcognitive level: applicationreference: taylor, c., et al. fundamentals of nursing: the art and science of nursing care, 6th ed. philadelphia: lippincott williams & wilkins, 2008, p. 1224.