NURS 6531N WEEK 11 FINAL COMPREHENSIVE
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has a fractured right hip. Which
of the following types of traction should the nurse expect the client
to have prior to hip arthroplasty surgery?
a. Balanced skeletal traction
b. Pelvic belt
c. Pelvic sling
d. Buck's traction. Answer: D. Buck's traction---Buck's traction is
used prior to hip arthroplasty to maintain alignment and prevent
muscle spasms prior to surgery.
Incorrect Answers:
A. Balanced skeletal traction is used to stabilize fractures of the
femur or pelvis, not the hip. Skeletal traction involves the surgical
insertion of pins, tongs, wires, or screws; this is sometimes used to
stabilize long bone and vertebral fractures. B. A pelvic belt is used to
treat back pain and does not provide traction prior to hip
arthroplasty.
C. A pelvic sling is used to stabilize pelvic fractures, not hip fractures.
,◉ A nurse is caring for a client with a hip fracture who has Buck's
extension traction in place. Which of the following pieces of
information should the nurse give the client about this type of
traction? (Select all that apply.)
a. "You'll have considerably less pain with the traction in place."
b. "You'll have the traction in place for a week or so."
c. "The traction will help decrease muscle spasms."
d. "The weights act as a pulling force to keep your leg and hip still."
e. "We have to make sure the weights are just barely touching the
floor.". Answer: A. "You'll have considerably less pain with the
traction in place."
C. "The traction will help decrease muscle spasms."
D. "The weights act as a pulling force to keep your leg and hip still."
Pain is usually more severe without the traction. Buck's extension
traction uses weights to help decrease muscle spasms. Typically, 2.3
to 5.5 kg (5 to 10 lb) of force helps stabilize the hip and leg
preoperatively.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled to undergo surgery
to repair an open hip fracture. In which of the following positions
should the nurse plan to place the client postoperatively?
,a. With the leg on the affected side adducted
b. With the hip externally rotated on the affected side
c. With the leg on the affected side abducted
d. With the hip flexed to 90° on the affected side. Answer: C. With the
leg on the affected side abducted---The nurse should plan to place
the client with the leg abducted on the affected side postoperatively.
Adduction or external rotation of the leg will cause the hip to
dislocate.
◉ A nurse is assessing a client who has a fractured left femur and is
in skeletal traction. Which of the following findings should the nurse
report to the provider?
a. Ecchymosis of the thigh
b. Serous drainage at the pin site
c. Chest petechiae
d. Muscle spasms in the left leg. Answer: C. Chest petechiae--- The
nurse should identify chest petechiae as an indication of fat
embolism syndrome. Clients who have fractures of the long bones
such as the femur are at increased risk of fat emboli. Fat emboli
typically occur 12 to 48 hours after the injury when fat droplets
from the marrow enter into the systemic circulation and are
deposited in the lungs. The nurse should immediately notify the
provider because the client could progress to acute respiratory
failure.
, ◉ A nurse is preparing to care for a client who is in balanced skeletal
traction to stabilize a femur fracture. Which of the following actions
should the nurse include in the client's plan of care?
a. Offering the client a diet high in fluid and fiber
b. Encouraging active range of motion of the affected leg
c. Removing the weights prior to repositioning the client
d. Inspecting pin sites every 24 hr for drainage. Answer: A. Offering
the client a diet high in fluid and fiber---- A client who is immobile is
at risk of constipation. The nurse should encourage a diet high in
fluid and fiber to promote gastrointestinal function.
Incorrect Answers:
B. Active range of motion of the unaffected limbs is encouraged to
prevent muscle wasting; however, active range of motion of a limb in
traction is not feasible, as the traction apparatus limits mobility.
C. Once the weights are in place, the nurse should not remove them.
D. The nurse should plan to inspect the client's pin sites at least
every 8 to 12 hours due to the risk of infection.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is in skeletal traction following a
femur fracture. On entering, the nurse finds that the client has slid
toward the foot of the bed, and the traction weight is resting on the
floor. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
EXAMINATION TEST 2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who has a fractured right hip. Which
of the following types of traction should the nurse expect the client
to have prior to hip arthroplasty surgery?
a. Balanced skeletal traction
b. Pelvic belt
c. Pelvic sling
d. Buck's traction. Answer: D. Buck's traction---Buck's traction is
used prior to hip arthroplasty to maintain alignment and prevent
muscle spasms prior to surgery.
Incorrect Answers:
A. Balanced skeletal traction is used to stabilize fractures of the
femur or pelvis, not the hip. Skeletal traction involves the surgical
insertion of pins, tongs, wires, or screws; this is sometimes used to
stabilize long bone and vertebral fractures. B. A pelvic belt is used to
treat back pain and does not provide traction prior to hip
arthroplasty.
C. A pelvic sling is used to stabilize pelvic fractures, not hip fractures.
,◉ A nurse is caring for a client with a hip fracture who has Buck's
extension traction in place. Which of the following pieces of
information should the nurse give the client about this type of
traction? (Select all that apply.)
a. "You'll have considerably less pain with the traction in place."
b. "You'll have the traction in place for a week or so."
c. "The traction will help decrease muscle spasms."
d. "The weights act as a pulling force to keep your leg and hip still."
e. "We have to make sure the weights are just barely touching the
floor.". Answer: A. "You'll have considerably less pain with the
traction in place."
C. "The traction will help decrease muscle spasms."
D. "The weights act as a pulling force to keep your leg and hip still."
Pain is usually more severe without the traction. Buck's extension
traction uses weights to help decrease muscle spasms. Typically, 2.3
to 5.5 kg (5 to 10 lb) of force helps stabilize the hip and leg
preoperatively.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled to undergo surgery
to repair an open hip fracture. In which of the following positions
should the nurse plan to place the client postoperatively?
,a. With the leg on the affected side adducted
b. With the hip externally rotated on the affected side
c. With the leg on the affected side abducted
d. With the hip flexed to 90° on the affected side. Answer: C. With the
leg on the affected side abducted---The nurse should plan to place
the client with the leg abducted on the affected side postoperatively.
Adduction or external rotation of the leg will cause the hip to
dislocate.
◉ A nurse is assessing a client who has a fractured left femur and is
in skeletal traction. Which of the following findings should the nurse
report to the provider?
a. Ecchymosis of the thigh
b. Serous drainage at the pin site
c. Chest petechiae
d. Muscle spasms in the left leg. Answer: C. Chest petechiae--- The
nurse should identify chest petechiae as an indication of fat
embolism syndrome. Clients who have fractures of the long bones
such as the femur are at increased risk of fat emboli. Fat emboli
typically occur 12 to 48 hours after the injury when fat droplets
from the marrow enter into the systemic circulation and are
deposited in the lungs. The nurse should immediately notify the
provider because the client could progress to acute respiratory
failure.
, ◉ A nurse is preparing to care for a client who is in balanced skeletal
traction to stabilize a femur fracture. Which of the following actions
should the nurse include in the client's plan of care?
a. Offering the client a diet high in fluid and fiber
b. Encouraging active range of motion of the affected leg
c. Removing the weights prior to repositioning the client
d. Inspecting pin sites every 24 hr for drainage. Answer: A. Offering
the client a diet high in fluid and fiber---- A client who is immobile is
at risk of constipation. The nurse should encourage a diet high in
fluid and fiber to promote gastrointestinal function.
Incorrect Answers:
B. Active range of motion of the unaffected limbs is encouraged to
prevent muscle wasting; however, active range of motion of a limb in
traction is not feasible, as the traction apparatus limits mobility.
C. Once the weights are in place, the nurse should not remove them.
D. The nurse should plan to inspect the client's pin sites at least
every 8 to 12 hours due to the risk of infection.
◉ A nurse is caring for a client who is in skeletal traction following a
femur fracture. On entering, the nurse finds that the client has slid
toward the foot of the bed, and the traction weight is resting on the
floor. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
