SKILLS LAB: Medical-Surgical:
Musculoskeletal (ATI Testing -
Learning System RN 2.0) Exam
Questions with Complete
Answers
A nurse is caring for a client who is 3 days postoperative following a right total hip arthoplasty. While
transferring to a chair, the client cries out in pain. The nurse should assess the client for which of the
following manifestations of dislocation of the hip prosthesis? - Correct Answers: Shortening of the right
leg
*The nurse should monitor the client for shortening of the affected leg as an indication of dislocation of
the prosthesis. Other findings include increased hip pain, inability to move the extremity, and rotation of
the hip internally or externally.
A nurse is caring for client who has a pelvic fracture. The client reports sudden shortness of breath,
stabbing chest pain, and feelings of doom. The nurse should identify that the client is experiencing
which of the following complications? - Correct Answers: Pulmonary embolus
*Immobility following musculoskeletal trauma places the client at an increased risk for pulmonary
embolus. The client might also exhibit tachycardia, chest petechiae, and have a decreased SaO2. The
nurse should notify the rapid response team immediately.
A nurse is caring for a client who is in skeletal traction following a femur fracture. The nurse finds the
client has slid down toward the foot of the bed and the traction weight is resting on the floor. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take? - Correct Answers: Have the client use a trapeze to pull
himself up while ensuring the weight hangs freely
*The nurse should ensure that traction weight is hanging freely. The client can use an overhead trapeze
bar to move up in bed, or the nurse can assist the client up, making sure to maintain proper alignment
of the extremity.
, A nurse is providing preoperative teaching for a client who is scheduled for total knee arthroplasty.
Which of the following statements by the client should the nurse identify as understanding of the
teaching? - Correct Answers: "I should wear elastic stockings on both of my legs."
*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
understanding of the teaching.
A nurse is discussing the difference between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis with a newly
licensed nurse. Which of the following information should the nurse include about osteoarthritis? -
Correct Answers: "Osteoarthritis can impair a joint on a single side of the body."
*The nurse should identify unilateral joint involvement as a finding of osteoarthritis. A client who has RA
experiences symmetrical joint impairment.
A nurse is assessing a client who is 24 hr postoperative following an above-the-elbow amputation.
Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as the priority? - Correct Answers: Report of
muscle spasms
*The nurse should consider Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which includes five levels of priority. The first
level consists of physiological needs; the second level consists of safety and security needs; the third
level consists of love and belonging needs; the fourth level consists of personal achievement and self-
esteem needs; and the fifth level consists of achieving full potential and the ability to problem solve and
cope with life situations. When applying Maslow's hierarchy of needs priority-setting framework, the
nurse should review physiological needs first. The nurses should then address the client's needs by
following the remaining four hierarchal levels. It is important, however, for the nurse to consider all
contributing client factors, as higher levels of the pyramid can compete with those at the lower levels,
depending on the specific client situation. The fourth level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs includes
usefulness, self-worth, self-confidence in fulfilling self-esteem needs. Therefore, the nurse should
identify the report of muscle spasms, a physiological need, as the priority client finding.
A nurse in the emergency department is preparing to discharge a client following a Grad II (moderate)
ankle sprain. Which of the following instructions should the nurse plan to give the client? - Correct
Answers: Apply cold compresses to the extremity intermittently
*Cold minimizes swelling and erythema to the affected area. Therefore, the nurse should instruct the
client to apply cold compresses for no more than 20 min at a time.
Musculoskeletal (ATI Testing -
Learning System RN 2.0) Exam
Questions with Complete
Answers
A nurse is caring for a client who is 3 days postoperative following a right total hip arthoplasty. While
transferring to a chair, the client cries out in pain. The nurse should assess the client for which of the
following manifestations of dislocation of the hip prosthesis? - Correct Answers: Shortening of the right
leg
*The nurse should monitor the client for shortening of the affected leg as an indication of dislocation of
the prosthesis. Other findings include increased hip pain, inability to move the extremity, and rotation of
the hip internally or externally.
A nurse is caring for client who has a pelvic fracture. The client reports sudden shortness of breath,
stabbing chest pain, and feelings of doom. The nurse should identify that the client is experiencing
which of the following complications? - Correct Answers: Pulmonary embolus
*Immobility following musculoskeletal trauma places the client at an increased risk for pulmonary
embolus. The client might also exhibit tachycardia, chest petechiae, and have a decreased SaO2. The
nurse should notify the rapid response team immediately.
A nurse is caring for a client who is in skeletal traction following a femur fracture. The nurse finds the
client has slid down toward the foot of the bed and the traction weight is resting on the floor. Which of
the following actions should the nurse take? - Correct Answers: Have the client use a trapeze to pull
himself up while ensuring the weight hangs freely
*The nurse should ensure that traction weight is hanging freely. The client can use an overhead trapeze
bar to move up in bed, or the nurse can assist the client up, making sure to maintain proper alignment
of the extremity.
, A nurse is providing preoperative teaching for a client who is scheduled for total knee arthroplasty.
Which of the following statements by the client should the nurse identify as understanding of the
teaching? - Correct Answers: "I should wear elastic stockings on both of my legs."
*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
understanding of the teaching.
A nurse is discussing the difference between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis with a newly
licensed nurse. Which of the following information should the nurse include about osteoarthritis? -
Correct Answers: "Osteoarthritis can impair a joint on a single side of the body."
*The nurse should identify unilateral joint involvement as a finding of osteoarthritis. A client who has RA
experiences symmetrical joint impairment.
A nurse is assessing a client who is 24 hr postoperative following an above-the-elbow amputation.
Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as the priority? - Correct Answers: Report of
muscle spasms
*The nurse should consider Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which includes five levels of priority. The first
level consists of physiological needs; the second level consists of safety and security needs; the third
level consists of love and belonging needs; the fourth level consists of personal achievement and self-
esteem needs; and the fifth level consists of achieving full potential and the ability to problem solve and
cope with life situations. When applying Maslow's hierarchy of needs priority-setting framework, the
nurse should review physiological needs first. The nurses should then address the client's needs by
following the remaining four hierarchal levels. It is important, however, for the nurse to consider all
contributing client factors, as higher levels of the pyramid can compete with those at the lower levels,
depending on the specific client situation. The fourth level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs includes
usefulness, self-worth, self-confidence in fulfilling self-esteem needs. Therefore, the nurse should
identify the report of muscle spasms, a physiological need, as the priority client finding.
A nurse in the emergency department is preparing to discharge a client following a Grad II (moderate)
ankle sprain. Which of the following instructions should the nurse plan to give the client? - Correct
Answers: Apply cold compresses to the extremity intermittently
*Cold minimizes swelling and erythema to the affected area. Therefore, the nurse should instruct the
client to apply cold compresses for no more than 20 min at a time.
