NR 511 LATEST EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is the hallmark characteristic of varicocele?
Pt describes sensation as a feeling like a "bag of worms"
ID the population most affected by testicular cancer
Young men 15-35yo
Explain spinal stenosis
-Narrowing of one or more levels of lumbar spinal canal, subsequent compression of
nerve roots
-Anatomically: as many as 30% of population may have spinal stenosis after 60yo, but
only a portion have symptoms
-Obesity is predisposing factor
-Osteoporosis is predisposing factor
Discuss common characteristics (subjective/objective findings) of pt's w/lumbar
spinal stenosis
-Onset may follow lifting incident or minor trauma or may gradually emerge
-Symptoms progress from prox to distal
-Walking or prolonged standing causes pain/weakness in legs/butt
-May get short-term relief by leaning forward (manifested as "stopping")
-Relief after sitting is variable, depending on degree of neural compression
-Pt's who sleep on back (with spine extended) might awaken after several hrs w/back
and leg pain
-Vague aching in legs or leg weakness may be present
-Spondylolisthesis (degenerative or spondylolytic), vascular insufficiency, OA in hips,
obesity are often associated with spinal stenosis
ID red flags associated w/back and neck complaints which warrant further
investigation
T: trauma
U: unexplained wt loss
N: neuro symptoms
A: age >50
F: fever
, I: IV drug user
S: steroid use
H: h/o cancer (prostate, renal, breast, lung)
Define chronic pain
-Pain that extends beyond expected period of healing
-Pain >3mo
-More generalized, less localized to site of injury/initial complain
-Referral patterns can shift in location, intensity, frequency, quality
-Pain does not change w/movement, rest, time
-Usually reported as constant/continuous (less likely intermittent)
-Mood or current psych status tends to affect/worsen c/o pain
ID number of joints involved in a polyarthritic disorder
Monoarticular: 1 joint
Periarticular: 2-4 joints
Polyarticular: 4 or more joints
Describe 4 cardinal signs of joint inflammation
Erythema
Warmth
Pain
Swelling
Differentiate between DeQuervain's tenosynovitis and carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel:
-Result of median nerve constriction, often from repetitive motion
-Discomfort described as burning, itching, tingling
-Nocturnal: awakens the sufferer from sleep
-Sensation felt in wrist, thumb, 2nd, 3rd, sometimes 4th digits.
-Symptoms begin gradually, but as condition progresses, day symptoms present as well
(may affect tasks like grabbing small objects)
-Positive Tinel test and Phalen maneuver are indicators
DeQuervain's tenosynovitis:
What is the hallmark characteristic of varicocele?
Pt describes sensation as a feeling like a "bag of worms"
ID the population most affected by testicular cancer
Young men 15-35yo
Explain spinal stenosis
-Narrowing of one or more levels of lumbar spinal canal, subsequent compression of
nerve roots
-Anatomically: as many as 30% of population may have spinal stenosis after 60yo, but
only a portion have symptoms
-Obesity is predisposing factor
-Osteoporosis is predisposing factor
Discuss common characteristics (subjective/objective findings) of pt's w/lumbar
spinal stenosis
-Onset may follow lifting incident or minor trauma or may gradually emerge
-Symptoms progress from prox to distal
-Walking or prolonged standing causes pain/weakness in legs/butt
-May get short-term relief by leaning forward (manifested as "stopping")
-Relief after sitting is variable, depending on degree of neural compression
-Pt's who sleep on back (with spine extended) might awaken after several hrs w/back
and leg pain
-Vague aching in legs or leg weakness may be present
-Spondylolisthesis (degenerative or spondylolytic), vascular insufficiency, OA in hips,
obesity are often associated with spinal stenosis
ID red flags associated w/back and neck complaints which warrant further
investigation
T: trauma
U: unexplained wt loss
N: neuro symptoms
A: age >50
F: fever
, I: IV drug user
S: steroid use
H: h/o cancer (prostate, renal, breast, lung)
Define chronic pain
-Pain that extends beyond expected period of healing
-Pain >3mo
-More generalized, less localized to site of injury/initial complain
-Referral patterns can shift in location, intensity, frequency, quality
-Pain does not change w/movement, rest, time
-Usually reported as constant/continuous (less likely intermittent)
-Mood or current psych status tends to affect/worsen c/o pain
ID number of joints involved in a polyarthritic disorder
Monoarticular: 1 joint
Periarticular: 2-4 joints
Polyarticular: 4 or more joints
Describe 4 cardinal signs of joint inflammation
Erythema
Warmth
Pain
Swelling
Differentiate between DeQuervain's tenosynovitis and carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel:
-Result of median nerve constriction, often from repetitive motion
-Discomfort described as burning, itching, tingling
-Nocturnal: awakens the sufferer from sleep
-Sensation felt in wrist, thumb, 2nd, 3rd, sometimes 4th digits.
-Symptoms begin gradually, but as condition progresses, day symptoms present as well
(may affect tasks like grabbing small objects)
-Positive Tinel test and Phalen maneuver are indicators
DeQuervain's tenosynovitis:
