How to care for a cast
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In Making Synapses you practice it on the patient.
Most cast problems are prevented by elevation and early reporting.
Step by step
Elevate
Above the heart for the first 24 to 48 hours. [1]
Ice
Over the cast in a bag, 20 minutes at a time. [1]
Check circulation
Color, warmth, movement, sensation of fingers or toes. [1]
Keep dry
Cover when bathing; nothing inside the cast to scratch. [1]
Warning signs
Increasing pain, numbness, tightness, foul smell, drainage, fever. [1]
Teach
Use teach-back. [2]
Common errors
- Pushing objects inside.
- Not elevating.
- Ignoring increasing pain.
Practice it in Making Synapses
In Making Synapses you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
Making Synapses cases that train this skill
- Compartment syndrome under a cast
- Pain management, hip fracture
- Facial trauma with airway risk
- Orbital blowout fracture
- Genitourinary trauma
- Rib fracture
16 Making Synapses cases train this skill: open the case library
Sources
- Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College) (CC BY 4.0)
- AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit (Teach-Back)
- OpenStax, Clinical Nursing Skills (reference)
Steps adapted from Open RN, Nursing Skills 2e (Chippewa Valley Technical College), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Facts and steps also follow OpenStax, Clinical Nursing Skills (reference). Making Synapses is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.