NSG 3130 EXAM 1 GALEN
1. Your patient will be using crutches for mobility. After educating the patient on how
to adjust the crutches to fit correctly, you assess how well the patient understood the
instructions. What findings demonstrate that the crutches were adjusted correctly by
the patient? Select all that apply:*
A. The hand grips of the crutches are even with the mid-forearm.
B. When the patient grips the hand grips of the crutches the elbow bends at about 30
degrees.
C. The patient has a 2-3 finger width distance between the axillae and crutch rest
pad.
D. The patient places weight on the axillae rather than the hands while ambulating. -
ANSWER The answers are B and C. Properly fitted crutches should be a 2-3 finger
width (about 1-1.5 inches) distance between the axillae (armpit area) and the crutch
rest pads during ambulation. This prevents damaging the nerves that are located in
the axillae during ambulation. In addition, when the patient grips the hand grips of
the crutches the elbow should slightly bend at about 30 degrees. Option A is wrong
because the hand grips of the crutches should be even with the hip line (not the mid-
forearm), and option D is wrong because the patient should place weight on the
HANDS while ambulating NOT the axillae area (this can cause nerve damage).
2. Your patient is using a cane for the first time. Before using the cane, you assess
that the cane properly fits the patient. Which findings below demonstrate the cane
properly fits the patient? Select all that apply:*
A. The arm that is holding the cane is flexed at about a 40 degree angle.
B. The top of the cane is at the level of the greater trochanter.
C. When the patient dangles their arms, the top of the cane is even with the crease
of the wrist closest to the hand.
D. There is a 1.5 inch gap between the top of the cane and the axillae. - ANSWER
The answers are B and C. Option B and C are correct because these are the two
methods used to determine a proper fit for a cane. Option A is wrong because the
arm holding the cane should be flexed at about 15-30 degree angle (NOT 40 degree
angle). Option D is wrong because proper measurement of a cane has nothing to do
with the axillae region (this is applicable only for crutches).
3. A patient will be using a walker for the first time. You adjust the walker to fit the
patient. Which finding below demonstrates that the walker properly fits the patient?*
A. There is a 2-3 finger width distance between the hand grips of the walker and the
wrists.
B. The elbows bend at about a 15-30 degree angle when the patient holds onto the
hand grips of the walker.
C. The patient's back is mid-line with the crossbar of the walker.
D. The crossbar of the walker is even with the greater trochanter. - ANSWER The
answer is B. When a patient holds the hand grips of the walker, the elbows should
slightly bend at a 15-30 degree angle.
, 4. Your patient is prescribed to use crutches for ambulation. The patient can bear
partial weight and needs to be taught how to use the two-point gait while using
crutches. Which description below best describes this type of gait with crutches?*
A. The patient moves both crutches forward and then moves both legs forward to the
same point as the crutches.
B. The patient moves the right crutch (injured side), then moves the left foot (non-
injured side), then moves the left crutch (non-injured side), and then moves the right
foot (injured side).
C. The patient moves both the right crutch (injured side) and left foot (non-injured
side) forward together, and then moves the left crutch (non-injured side) and right
foot (injured side) forward together.
D. The patient moves both crutches and injured leg forward together, and then
moves the non-injured leg forward. - ANSWER The answer is C. The two-point gait
is where the patient moves both the right crutch (injured side) and left foot (non-
injured side) forward TOGETHER, and then moves the left crutch (non-injured side)
and right foot (injured side) forward TOGETHER.
5. While your patient is ambulating with crutches he moves both crutches forward
along with the injured leg and then moves the non-injured forward. When you
document you will note that the patient used what type of gait while ambulating with
crutches?*
A. Two-point gait
B. Three-point gait
C. Four-point gait
D. Swing-to-gait - ANSWER The answer is B. This describes the three-point gait
while using crutches
6. While using crutches the patient moves both crutches forward and then moves
both legs forward past the placement of the crutches. This is known as the:*
A. Two-point gait
B. Swing-to-gait
C. Swing-through-gait
D. Three-point gait - ANSWER The answer is C. This description is known as the
swing-through-gait. The key word to let you know it is the swing-through-gait is that
the patient moves both legs PAST the placement of the crutches. It would have been
the swing-to-gait if both legs moved forward to the same point as the crutch
placement.
7. While going down the stairs with crutches the patient will move the crutches down
onto the step followed by?*
A. moving the non-injured leg down onto the step.
B. moving the injured leg down onto the step.
C. moving both legs down onto the step. - ANSWER The answer is B. When going
down the stairs with crutches, the patient will move the crutches down first onto the
1. Your patient will be using crutches for mobility. After educating the patient on how
to adjust the crutches to fit correctly, you assess how well the patient understood the
instructions. What findings demonstrate that the crutches were adjusted correctly by
the patient? Select all that apply:*
A. The hand grips of the crutches are even with the mid-forearm.
B. When the patient grips the hand grips of the crutches the elbow bends at about 30
degrees.
C. The patient has a 2-3 finger width distance between the axillae and crutch rest
pad.
D. The patient places weight on the axillae rather than the hands while ambulating. -
ANSWER The answers are B and C. Properly fitted crutches should be a 2-3 finger
width (about 1-1.5 inches) distance between the axillae (armpit area) and the crutch
rest pads during ambulation. This prevents damaging the nerves that are located in
the axillae during ambulation. In addition, when the patient grips the hand grips of
the crutches the elbow should slightly bend at about 30 degrees. Option A is wrong
because the hand grips of the crutches should be even with the hip line (not the mid-
forearm), and option D is wrong because the patient should place weight on the
HANDS while ambulating NOT the axillae area (this can cause nerve damage).
2. Your patient is using a cane for the first time. Before using the cane, you assess
that the cane properly fits the patient. Which findings below demonstrate the cane
properly fits the patient? Select all that apply:*
A. The arm that is holding the cane is flexed at about a 40 degree angle.
B. The top of the cane is at the level of the greater trochanter.
C. When the patient dangles their arms, the top of the cane is even with the crease
of the wrist closest to the hand.
D. There is a 1.5 inch gap between the top of the cane and the axillae. - ANSWER
The answers are B and C. Option B and C are correct because these are the two
methods used to determine a proper fit for a cane. Option A is wrong because the
arm holding the cane should be flexed at about 15-30 degree angle (NOT 40 degree
angle). Option D is wrong because proper measurement of a cane has nothing to do
with the axillae region (this is applicable only for crutches).
3. A patient will be using a walker for the first time. You adjust the walker to fit the
patient. Which finding below demonstrates that the walker properly fits the patient?*
A. There is a 2-3 finger width distance between the hand grips of the walker and the
wrists.
B. The elbows bend at about a 15-30 degree angle when the patient holds onto the
hand grips of the walker.
C. The patient's back is mid-line with the crossbar of the walker.
D. The crossbar of the walker is even with the greater trochanter. - ANSWER The
answer is B. When a patient holds the hand grips of the walker, the elbows should
slightly bend at a 15-30 degree angle.
, 4. Your patient is prescribed to use crutches for ambulation. The patient can bear
partial weight and needs to be taught how to use the two-point gait while using
crutches. Which description below best describes this type of gait with crutches?*
A. The patient moves both crutches forward and then moves both legs forward to the
same point as the crutches.
B. The patient moves the right crutch (injured side), then moves the left foot (non-
injured side), then moves the left crutch (non-injured side), and then moves the right
foot (injured side).
C. The patient moves both the right crutch (injured side) and left foot (non-injured
side) forward together, and then moves the left crutch (non-injured side) and right
foot (injured side) forward together.
D. The patient moves both crutches and injured leg forward together, and then
moves the non-injured leg forward. - ANSWER The answer is C. The two-point gait
is where the patient moves both the right crutch (injured side) and left foot (non-
injured side) forward TOGETHER, and then moves the left crutch (non-injured side)
and right foot (injured side) forward TOGETHER.
5. While your patient is ambulating with crutches he moves both crutches forward
along with the injured leg and then moves the non-injured forward. When you
document you will note that the patient used what type of gait while ambulating with
crutches?*
A. Two-point gait
B. Three-point gait
C. Four-point gait
D. Swing-to-gait - ANSWER The answer is B. This describes the three-point gait
while using crutches
6. While using crutches the patient moves both crutches forward and then moves
both legs forward past the placement of the crutches. This is known as the:*
A. Two-point gait
B. Swing-to-gait
C. Swing-through-gait
D. Three-point gait - ANSWER The answer is C. This description is known as the
swing-through-gait. The key word to let you know it is the swing-through-gait is that
the patient moves both legs PAST the placement of the crutches. It would have been
the swing-to-gait if both legs moved forward to the same point as the crutch
placement.
7. While going down the stairs with crutches the patient will move the crutches down
onto the step followed by?*
A. moving the non-injured leg down onto the step.
B. moving the injured leg down onto the step.
C. moving both legs down onto the step. - ANSWER The answer is B. When going
down the stairs with crutches, the patient will move the crutches down first onto the
