Casting: all wrapped up.

One of the most important responsibilities of nurses is to understand the basic procedures involved in the care of their patients. Throughout their career, nurses encounter a variety of patients with different diseases and/or injuries. Nurses must rely on the knowledge they possess regarding the care and treatment of these varying diseases and injuries when managing their patients. It is important for nurses to know why casts are used, the materials they are made of, and the application and removal processes. More importantly, nurses need to be aware of proper cast care in order to accurately educate their patients and maintain their health. In this article, we will briefly describe the casting process, materials that are frequently used, methods for cast removal, and the potential life-threatening complications that can be associated with casting and immobilization.