NR304 HEALTH ASSESSMENT 2 CERTIFICATION
PREPARATION SCRIPT 2026 KEY POINTS AND
ANSWERS
◉ A client presents to the emergency room with an injured right
ankle. Besides a musculoskeletal assessment, which assessment
should be completed?
Cardiac
Respiratory
Neurovascular
Abdominal Answer: Neurovascular
◉ musculoskeletal system consists of: Answer: Joints, muscles and
Bones
◉ Subjective data to collect during a musculoskeletal assessment
(Joints) Answer: Do you have any current or a history of diseases or
issues with your joints? Any pain?
Do you have any stiffness, swelling, or heat in your joints?
Have you had a recent tick bite?
Do you have any limitations of movement in a joint?
,◉ Subjective data to collect during a musculoskeletal assessment
(Muscles) Answer: Do you have any current or a history of diseases
or issues with your muscles? Any pain?
Do you have any problems with muscle cramps?
Do you have weakness in your muscles?
◉ Subjective data to collect during a musculoskeletal assessment
(Bone) Answer: Do you have any current or a history of diseases or
issues with your bones? Any pain?
Do you have any bone deformities?
Have you had any past accidents or injuries that affected the bones?
◉ Key facts to recall when assessing the musculoskeletal system.
Answer: Know the normal range of motion for joints to avoid
overstressing these joints.
Stop if the client reports pain.
Use a head-to-toe approach to the exam, comparing one side to the
other.
Provide rest breaks for older adults and people with a history of
chronic diseases during the exam.
◉ During a musculoskeletal assessment, if the client complains of
pain, the nurse should (continue or stop) the assessment. Answer:
Stop
,◉ Grading system for ROM 0-5 Answer: 5-Full ROM against gravity,
full resistance
4-Full ROM against gravity, some resistance
3-Full ROM with gravity
2-Full ROM with gravity eliminated (passive motion)
1-Slight contraction
0-No contraction
◉ Dupuytren's contracture Answer: Inability to extend fourth and
fifth fingers
◉ Degenerative joint disease: Answer: thickened synovial fluid,
fragmented connective tissue, and scarring with joint calcification
◉ Carpal tunnel syndrome Answer: pain, tingling, numbness of the
thumb and forefinger, weakness when grasping or making a fist
◉ Bursitis: Answer: localized joint pain with swelling, heat, and
redness (often in the knee)
◉ Gout Answer: a type of arthritis caused by uric acid crystal
deposits in the joints
, ◉ Scleroderma Answer: damage to the skin, blood vessels, and joints
caused by collagen build-up
◉ Ulnar deviation: Answer: metacarpophalangeal and
interphalangeal joint inflammation, leading to the hand turning
outward
◉ Hallux valgus Answer: big toe abnormally adducted at the
metatarsophalangeal joint
◉ Which statement made by the client requires further education?
"I have a low-sodium diet."
"I have never smoked."
"I don't usually wear a bike helmet when riding."
"I exercise every day for at least 30 minutes." Answer: "I don't
usually wear a bike helmet when riding."
◉ A 67-year-old female (pronouns: she/her/hers) is in for her
annual visit and the nurse is completing the assessment. The client
states she cannot take walks outside with the frequency she had in
the past because it hurts to walk.
How should the nurse respond?
PREPARATION SCRIPT 2026 KEY POINTS AND
ANSWERS
◉ A client presents to the emergency room with an injured right
ankle. Besides a musculoskeletal assessment, which assessment
should be completed?
Cardiac
Respiratory
Neurovascular
Abdominal Answer: Neurovascular
◉ musculoskeletal system consists of: Answer: Joints, muscles and
Bones
◉ Subjective data to collect during a musculoskeletal assessment
(Joints) Answer: Do you have any current or a history of diseases or
issues with your joints? Any pain?
Do you have any stiffness, swelling, or heat in your joints?
Have you had a recent tick bite?
Do you have any limitations of movement in a joint?
,◉ Subjective data to collect during a musculoskeletal assessment
(Muscles) Answer: Do you have any current or a history of diseases
or issues with your muscles? Any pain?
Do you have any problems with muscle cramps?
Do you have weakness in your muscles?
◉ Subjective data to collect during a musculoskeletal assessment
(Bone) Answer: Do you have any current or a history of diseases or
issues with your bones? Any pain?
Do you have any bone deformities?
Have you had any past accidents or injuries that affected the bones?
◉ Key facts to recall when assessing the musculoskeletal system.
Answer: Know the normal range of motion for joints to avoid
overstressing these joints.
Stop if the client reports pain.
Use a head-to-toe approach to the exam, comparing one side to the
other.
Provide rest breaks for older adults and people with a history of
chronic diseases during the exam.
◉ During a musculoskeletal assessment, if the client complains of
pain, the nurse should (continue or stop) the assessment. Answer:
Stop
,◉ Grading system for ROM 0-5 Answer: 5-Full ROM against gravity,
full resistance
4-Full ROM against gravity, some resistance
3-Full ROM with gravity
2-Full ROM with gravity eliminated (passive motion)
1-Slight contraction
0-No contraction
◉ Dupuytren's contracture Answer: Inability to extend fourth and
fifth fingers
◉ Degenerative joint disease: Answer: thickened synovial fluid,
fragmented connective tissue, and scarring with joint calcification
◉ Carpal tunnel syndrome Answer: pain, tingling, numbness of the
thumb and forefinger, weakness when grasping or making a fist
◉ Bursitis: Answer: localized joint pain with swelling, heat, and
redness (often in the knee)
◉ Gout Answer: a type of arthritis caused by uric acid crystal
deposits in the joints
, ◉ Scleroderma Answer: damage to the skin, blood vessels, and joints
caused by collagen build-up
◉ Ulnar deviation: Answer: metacarpophalangeal and
interphalangeal joint inflammation, leading to the hand turning
outward
◉ Hallux valgus Answer: big toe abnormally adducted at the
metatarsophalangeal joint
◉ Which statement made by the client requires further education?
"I have a low-sodium diet."
"I have never smoked."
"I don't usually wear a bike helmet when riding."
"I exercise every day for at least 30 minutes." Answer: "I don't
usually wear a bike helmet when riding."
◉ A 67-year-old female (pronouns: she/her/hers) is in for her
annual visit and the nurse is completing the assessment. The client
states she cannot take walks outside with the frequency she had in
the past because it hurts to walk.
How should the nurse respond?
