What is the primary nursing intervention for a child in traction?

The primary nursing intervention for a child in traction is to maintain alignment and prevent complications. Traction is utilized to stabilize fractures or deformities, and proper alignment is crucial to the success of the treatment. Keeping the child correctly positioned ensures that the bones are held in the right place to heal as intended.

Additionally, maintaining alignment helps to prevent complications such as pressure ulcers, nerve damage, or circulatory issues that can arise due to improper positioning or excessive pressure. Monitoring the traction equipment to ensure it is functioning correctly and regularly assessing the child's skin integrity and neurological status are integral parts of this intervention. By focusing on alignment and prevention of complications, nurses can promote healing and support the child’s overall wellbeing during their recovery.

While providing distraction and entertainment, encouraging mobility exercises, and monitoring vital signs are beneficial actions in general nursing care, they are secondary to the critical need to maintain proper alignment in a child receiving traction. These latter actions can be incorporated once the primary goal of stability is achieved.