ATI Med-Surge Musculoskeletal Exam
Questions With Correct Answers
A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who reports
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
pain in her left leg following a motor-vehicle crash. The client's left leg
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
has bruising, swelling, and displacement of the bones. Which of the
| | | | | | | | | | |
following actions should the nurse take first?
| | | | | |
Obtain an X-ray of the injured leg
| | | | | |
Apply ice packs to the affected area
| | | | | |
Check neurovascular status distal to the injury
| | | | | |
Elevate the affected leg on 2 pillows
| | | | | |
Check neurovascular status distal to the injury
| | | | | |
Rationale: The nurse should apply the safety and risk-education priority-
| | | | | | | | |
setting framework, which assigns priority to the factor or situation
| | | | | | | | | |
posing the greatest safety risk to the client. When there are several risks
| | | | | | | | | | | |
to client safety, the one posing the greatest threat is the highest
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
priority. The nurse should use Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the ABC
| | | | | | | | | | |
priority-setting framework, and/or nursing knowledge to identify which | | | | | | | |
risk poses the greatest threat to the client. The greatest risk to this client
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
is impaired circulation to the limb from trauma and the resulting
| | | | | | | | | | | |
edema; therefore, the first action is to check the circulation, sensation,
| | | | | | | | | | |
and movement distal to the level of the injury. If the nurse notes a weak
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
,or absent pulse distal to the injury, the limb's circulation is
| | | | | | | | | | |
compromised, and immediate action is critical. | | | | |
A nurse is assessing a client who has osteoarthritis. This client's medical
| | | | | | | | | | | |
record indicates the presence of Heberden's nodes. Which of the
| | | | | | | | | |
following findings should the nurse expect?
| | | | |
Inflamed, fluid-filled sacs over the joints
| | | | |
Clubbing of the fingernails | | |
Flexion contracture of the fingers
| | | |
Hard lumps over the joints of the fingers
| | | | | | |
Hard lumps over the joints of the fingers
| | | | | | |
Rationale: Heberden's nodes are hard, bony lumps or nodules in the
| | | | | | | | | | |
joints of the fingers.
| | |
A nurse is providing preoperative teaching for a client who is scheduled
| | | | | | | | | | | |
for total knee arthroplasty. Which of the following statements by the
| | | | | | | | | | |
client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
| | | | | |
"I will wear a continuous movement machine on my knee for 24 hr a
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
day."
,"I should avoid taking NSAID medications for pain after surgery."
| | | | | | | | |
"I should wear elastic stockings on both of my legs."
| | | | | | | | |
"I will begin exercising my legs the day after surgery."
| | | | | | | | |
"I should wear elastic stockings on both of my legs."
| | | | | | | | |
Rationale: The purpose of elastic stockings is to prevent venous
| | | | | | | | | |
thromboembolism, which is a common complication following | | | | | | |
orthopedic surgery. Therefore, the nurse should identify this statement
| | | | | | | | |
as an understanding of the teaching.
| | | | |
A nurse is teaching a group of clients at a senior center about the risk
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
factors for osteoporosis. Which of the following statements should the
| | | | | | | | | |
nurse include in the teaching?
| | | |
"Extended periods of immobility increase your risk of osteoporosis."
| | | | | | | |
"Prolonged periods of sun exposure increase your risk of osteoporosis."
| | | | | | | | |
"Eating a diet high in protein can reduce your risk of osteoporosis."
| | | | | | | | | | |
"Corticosteroid therapy will reduce your risk of osteoporosis." | | | | | | |
"Extended periods of immobility increase your risk of osteoporosis."
| | | | | | | |
Rationale: Osteoporosis is a disorder of weakened bones due to a loss of
| | | | | | | | | | | |
bone mass and a change in bone structure. Immobility can result in
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
osteoporosis; therefore, weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, can
| | | | | | | |
help prevent osteoporosis.
| |
, A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has
| | | | | | | | | | |
osteoarthritis. Which of the following instructions should the nurse
| | | | | | | | |
include?
"Rest frequently after periods of activity."
| | | | |
"Perform your exercises only on days that you feel good."
| | | | | | | | |
"Perform your exercises after applying cold packs to your joints."
| | | | | | | | |
"Place a large pillow under your knees when lying down.
| | | | | | | | |
"Rest frequently after periods of activity."
| | | | |
Rationale: The joint pain in osteoarthritis is caused by deterioration of
| | | | | | | | | | |
the synovial membranes and often worsens after activity. Rest usually
| | | | | | | | | |
helps relieve the pain, so performing activities at a comfortable pace
| | | | | | | | | | |
with periods of rest is appropriate.
| | | | |
A nurse in an acute care clinic is talking with a client who reports that
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
the osteoarthritis pain in her knee is increasing each day. The client
| | | | | | | | | | | |
wants to discuss non-pharmacological approaches to help relieve her
| | | | | | | | |
pain. Which of the following interventions should the nurse suggest?
| | | | | | | | |
Applying warm compresses to sore joints
| | | | |
Questions With Correct Answers
A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who reports
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
pain in her left leg following a motor-vehicle crash. The client's left leg
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
has bruising, swelling, and displacement of the bones. Which of the
| | | | | | | | | | |
following actions should the nurse take first?
| | | | | |
Obtain an X-ray of the injured leg
| | | | | |
Apply ice packs to the affected area
| | | | | |
Check neurovascular status distal to the injury
| | | | | |
Elevate the affected leg on 2 pillows
| | | | | |
Check neurovascular status distal to the injury
| | | | | |
Rationale: The nurse should apply the safety and risk-education priority-
| | | | | | | | |
setting framework, which assigns priority to the factor or situation
| | | | | | | | | |
posing the greatest safety risk to the client. When there are several risks
| | | | | | | | | | | |
to client safety, the one posing the greatest threat is the highest
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
priority. The nurse should use Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the ABC
| | | | | | | | | | |
priority-setting framework, and/or nursing knowledge to identify which | | | | | | | |
risk poses the greatest threat to the client. The greatest risk to this client
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
is impaired circulation to the limb from trauma and the resulting
| | | | | | | | | | | |
edema; therefore, the first action is to check the circulation, sensation,
| | | | | | | | | | |
and movement distal to the level of the injury. If the nurse notes a weak
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
,or absent pulse distal to the injury, the limb's circulation is
| | | | | | | | | | |
compromised, and immediate action is critical. | | | | |
A nurse is assessing a client who has osteoarthritis. This client's medical
| | | | | | | | | | | |
record indicates the presence of Heberden's nodes. Which of the
| | | | | | | | | |
following findings should the nurse expect?
| | | | |
Inflamed, fluid-filled sacs over the joints
| | | | |
Clubbing of the fingernails | | |
Flexion contracture of the fingers
| | | |
Hard lumps over the joints of the fingers
| | | | | | |
Hard lumps over the joints of the fingers
| | | | | | |
Rationale: Heberden's nodes are hard, bony lumps or nodules in the
| | | | | | | | | | |
joints of the fingers.
| | |
A nurse is providing preoperative teaching for a client who is scheduled
| | | | | | | | | | | |
for total knee arthroplasty. Which of the following statements by the
| | | | | | | | | | |
client indicates an understanding of the teaching?
| | | | | |
"I will wear a continuous movement machine on my knee for 24 hr a
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
day."
,"I should avoid taking NSAID medications for pain after surgery."
| | | | | | | | |
"I should wear elastic stockings on both of my legs."
| | | | | | | | |
"I will begin exercising my legs the day after surgery."
| | | | | | | | |
"I should wear elastic stockings on both of my legs."
| | | | | | | | |
Rationale: The purpose of elastic stockings is to prevent venous
| | | | | | | | | |
thromboembolism, which is a common complication following | | | | | | |
orthopedic surgery. Therefore, the nurse should identify this statement
| | | | | | | | |
as an understanding of the teaching.
| | | | |
A nurse is teaching a group of clients at a senior center about the risk
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
factors for osteoporosis. Which of the following statements should the
| | | | | | | | | |
nurse include in the teaching?
| | | |
"Extended periods of immobility increase your risk of osteoporosis."
| | | | | | | |
"Prolonged periods of sun exposure increase your risk of osteoporosis."
| | | | | | | | |
"Eating a diet high in protein can reduce your risk of osteoporosis."
| | | | | | | | | | |
"Corticosteroid therapy will reduce your risk of osteoporosis." | | | | | | |
"Extended periods of immobility increase your risk of osteoporosis."
| | | | | | | |
Rationale: Osteoporosis is a disorder of weakened bones due to a loss of
| | | | | | | | | | | |
bone mass and a change in bone structure. Immobility can result in
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
osteoporosis; therefore, weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, can
| | | | | | | |
help prevent osteoporosis.
| |
, A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client who has
| | | | | | | | | | |
osteoarthritis. Which of the following instructions should the nurse
| | | | | | | | |
include?
"Rest frequently after periods of activity."
| | | | |
"Perform your exercises only on days that you feel good."
| | | | | | | | |
"Perform your exercises after applying cold packs to your joints."
| | | | | | | | |
"Place a large pillow under your knees when lying down.
| | | | | | | | |
"Rest frequently after periods of activity."
| | | | |
Rationale: The joint pain in osteoarthritis is caused by deterioration of
| | | | | | | | | | |
the synovial membranes and often worsens after activity. Rest usually
| | | | | | | | | |
helps relieve the pain, so performing activities at a comfortable pace
| | | | | | | | | | |
with periods of rest is appropriate.
| | | | |
A nurse in an acute care clinic is talking with a client who reports that
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
the osteoarthritis pain in her knee is increasing each day. The client
| | | | | | | | | | | |
wants to discuss non-pharmacological approaches to help relieve her
| | | | | | | | |
pain. Which of the following interventions should the nurse suggest?
| | | | | | | | |
Applying warm compresses to sore joints
| | | | |
