Question

a nurse in an urgent care clinic is reinforcing teaching with a client following a grade ii (moderate) ankle sprain. which of the following instructions should the nurse plan to include?
perform passive range-of-motion exercises of the ankle hourly.
keep the affected extremity in a dependent position.
wrap a loose dressing around the affected ankle.
apply cold compresses to the extremity intermittently.

Explanation:

For a Grade II ankle sprain, the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) protocol is used. Passive range - of - motion hourly is incorrect as it can cause further injury. Keeping the extremity dependent (hanging down) increases swelling, so that's wrong. A loose dressing won't provide proper compression; a compression bandage is needed. Applying cold compresses intermittently (like 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off) helps reduce swelling and pain, which is part of the RICE protocol.

Answer:

D. Apply cold compresses to the extremity intermittently.