A nurse is caring for a school-age child who has a new prescription for Buck's traction. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Buck’s traction is a form of skin traction commonly used in pediatric clients with lower extremity fractures to reduce muscle spasms, maintain alignment, and promote comfort prior to definitive treatment. It involves applying a pulling force using weights and a pulley system. Proper nursing care focuses on maintaining correct alignment, preventing complications, and ensuring adequate pain control. Because fractures and traction can cause significant discomfort, effective analgesia is an important part of care. Rationale: A. Adjusting the weights to allow the child to turn is incorrect because the traction system must remain continuous and properly aligned at all times. Weights should hang freely without interference to maintain consistent traction force. Altering or adjusting weights can disrupt alignment and compromise treatment effectiveness. B. Performing pin care every 24 hours is incorrect because Buck’s traction is a skin traction system and does not involve pins. Pin care is only required for skeletal traction where pins are inserted into bone. Since Buck’s traction uses straps and adhesive, pin care is not applicable. C. Ensuring the pulley mechanism is attached to the child’s skin is incorrect because the pulley system is not attached to the skin but to the traction frame or bed. The skin is only involved through adhesive traction materials. Attaching mechanical components to the skin would be unsafe and inappropriate. D. Offering opioid medications frequently to reduce pain is appropriate because Buck’s traction and underlying fracture can cause significant pain. Adequate pain control promotes comfort, cooperation, and effective alignment. Opioids are commonly used for moderate to severe pain in pediatric orthopedic injuries when appropriately prescribed and monitored.