Activity and Mobility - NCLEX-style 2024/2025 questions
and answers
Which of the following could put a nurse or healthcare worker at risk for
sustaining a back injury?
A. Lifting a box of IV supplies up and over the head to place on a shelf
B. Placing the feet 2 feet apart before sliding a patient up in bed
C. Squatting to measure chest tube drainage
D. Raising the bed to waist level when starting an IV
A. Lifting a box of IV supplies up and over the head to place on a shelf
Lifting an object overhead can strain a person's back or interfere with balance, leading
to back injury or a fall. All other options represent the use of proper body mechanics.
A patient is restrained at the wrists. At intervals, she is flexing her arm, pulling
against the restraint tied to the bed. Technically, what type of exercise is this?
A. Aerobic
B. Isotonic
C. Isometric
D. Anaerobic
C. Isometric
Isometric exercises involve muscle contraction without motion. They are usually
performed against an immovable surface or object—for example, pressing the hand
against a wall, or pulling the wrist against a secured restraint.
In addition to proper positioning, which of the following would be an important
nursing measure for a patient who is immobile?
A. Encouraging a low-calcium diet to prevent kidney stones
B. Limiting fluid intake so she does not have to use the bedpan as frequently
C. Encouraging the patient to lie still so he does not cause a blood clot to become
dislodged
D. Performing a skin assessment to dependent areas at least once every shift
D. Performing a skin assessment to dependent areas at least once every shift
An immobile patient is at risk for pressure-related injury to the skin, especially from the
patient is incontinent or diaphoretic. Frailty (bony prominences) also increases the risk
for pressure injury. Therefore, a skin assessment at least once a shift is important for
the early detection of decubitus. Other responses are incorrect. A diet low in calcium will
not prevent kidney stones; kidney stones develop only in susceptible people, regardless
of calcium intake. Limiting the fluid intake will place the patient at risk for a urinary tract
infection. Keeping extremities still will lead to increased venous pooling and risk for the
development of blood clots.
, Mary is working in a small rural hospital and is caring for a comatose patient who
is beginning to develop foot drop. If there were no footboard available to use for
proper positioning of the feet, Mary could use which of the following?
A. Overhead trapeze
B. Basketball shoes
C. Pillow
D. Trochanter roll
B. Basketball shoes
Basketball shoes are a type of high-top, athletic footwear that help to keep the foot in
flexion. The other responses are incorrect. A trapeze would not be used by a comatose
patient. A pillow is too soft to maintain proper position of the feet, allowing rotation of the
legs. A trochanter roll prevents external rotation of the hips.
Mrs. Williams has severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and becomes
very short of breath when completing her ADLs. Which of the following nursing
diagnoses would most accurately reflect Mrs. Williams's mobility problem?
A. Ineffective Coping
B. Impaired Physical Mobility
C. Activity Intolerance
D. Deficient Knowledge
C. Activity Intolerance
There is no data to suggest that the patient is not coping or has a knowledge deficit.
Although she does have impaired mobility, the most accurate diagnosis is Activity
Intolerance related to her poor oxygenation status.
A nurse is transferring a patient from a bed to a wheelchar. Which should the
nurse do to quickly assess this patients tolerance to the change in position?
1. Obtain a blood pressure
2. Monitor for bradycardia.
3. Determine if the patient feels dizzy.
4. Allow the patient time to adjust to the change in position.
3. Determine if the patient feels dizzy.
A nurse turns a patient's ankle so that the sole of the foot moves medially toward
the midline. Which word should the nurse use when documenting exactly what
was done during range-of-motion exercises?
1. Inversion
2. Adduction
3. Plantar flexion
4. Internal rotation
1. Inversion
Flexibility training involves moving a muscle against resistance.
and answers
Which of the following could put a nurse or healthcare worker at risk for
sustaining a back injury?
A. Lifting a box of IV supplies up and over the head to place on a shelf
B. Placing the feet 2 feet apart before sliding a patient up in bed
C. Squatting to measure chest tube drainage
D. Raising the bed to waist level when starting an IV
A. Lifting a box of IV supplies up and over the head to place on a shelf
Lifting an object overhead can strain a person's back or interfere with balance, leading
to back injury or a fall. All other options represent the use of proper body mechanics.
A patient is restrained at the wrists. At intervals, she is flexing her arm, pulling
against the restraint tied to the bed. Technically, what type of exercise is this?
A. Aerobic
B. Isotonic
C. Isometric
D. Anaerobic
C. Isometric
Isometric exercises involve muscle contraction without motion. They are usually
performed against an immovable surface or object—for example, pressing the hand
against a wall, or pulling the wrist against a secured restraint.
In addition to proper positioning, which of the following would be an important
nursing measure for a patient who is immobile?
A. Encouraging a low-calcium diet to prevent kidney stones
B. Limiting fluid intake so she does not have to use the bedpan as frequently
C. Encouraging the patient to lie still so he does not cause a blood clot to become
dislodged
D. Performing a skin assessment to dependent areas at least once every shift
D. Performing a skin assessment to dependent areas at least once every shift
An immobile patient is at risk for pressure-related injury to the skin, especially from the
patient is incontinent or diaphoretic. Frailty (bony prominences) also increases the risk
for pressure injury. Therefore, a skin assessment at least once a shift is important for
the early detection of decubitus. Other responses are incorrect. A diet low in calcium will
not prevent kidney stones; kidney stones develop only in susceptible people, regardless
of calcium intake. Limiting the fluid intake will place the patient at risk for a urinary tract
infection. Keeping extremities still will lead to increased venous pooling and risk for the
development of blood clots.
, Mary is working in a small rural hospital and is caring for a comatose patient who
is beginning to develop foot drop. If there were no footboard available to use for
proper positioning of the feet, Mary could use which of the following?
A. Overhead trapeze
B. Basketball shoes
C. Pillow
D. Trochanter roll
B. Basketball shoes
Basketball shoes are a type of high-top, athletic footwear that help to keep the foot in
flexion. The other responses are incorrect. A trapeze would not be used by a comatose
patient. A pillow is too soft to maintain proper position of the feet, allowing rotation of the
legs. A trochanter roll prevents external rotation of the hips.
Mrs. Williams has severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and becomes
very short of breath when completing her ADLs. Which of the following nursing
diagnoses would most accurately reflect Mrs. Williams's mobility problem?
A. Ineffective Coping
B. Impaired Physical Mobility
C. Activity Intolerance
D. Deficient Knowledge
C. Activity Intolerance
There is no data to suggest that the patient is not coping or has a knowledge deficit.
Although she does have impaired mobility, the most accurate diagnosis is Activity
Intolerance related to her poor oxygenation status.
A nurse is transferring a patient from a bed to a wheelchar. Which should the
nurse do to quickly assess this patients tolerance to the change in position?
1. Obtain a blood pressure
2. Monitor for bradycardia.
3. Determine if the patient feels dizzy.
4. Allow the patient time to adjust to the change in position.
3. Determine if the patient feels dizzy.
A nurse turns a patient's ankle so that the sole of the foot moves medially toward
the midline. Which word should the nurse use when documenting exactly what
was done during range-of-motion exercises?
1. Inversion
2. Adduction
3. Plantar flexion
4. Internal rotation
1. Inversion
Flexibility training involves moving a muscle against resistance.
