Musculoskeletal NCLEX Questions
1. While playing tennis, a patient suffers an injury to the knee. Which diagnostic test would the nurse anticipate the
health care provider ordering to identify a soft tissue injury?
a. X-ray
b. MRI
c. Arthroscopy and thermography of joint
d. Duplex venous Doppler
2. A patient is scheduled for an open MRI to evaluate for left tibia osteomyelitis. Which information obtained by the nurse
indicates that the nurse should consult with the healthcare provider before scheduling an open MRI? Select all that
apply.
a. Patient is pregnant.
b. Patient is claustrophobic
c. Patient is allergic to shellfish.
d. Patient had a mitral valve replacement.
e. Patient wears a hearing aid and contact lenses.
f. Patient has in implanted insulin pump.
3. Following a lumbar laminectomy, the postoperative patient continues to complain of the same low back pain that he
had before surgery. The nurse knows that this finding is caused by what problem?
a. Failure of the surgeon to remove the patient’s herniated disk.
b. Swelling in the operative area, which compresses adjacent structures.
c. Twisting of the patient’s spine when he turns side to side.
d. Limitation of movement resulting of spinal fusion.
4. The nurse is caring for a patient with a herniated disc. What intervention is considered a part of conservative
treatment of a herniated disk?
a. Left lateral Sim’s position with bathroom privileges.
b. Bed rest and methocarbamol (Robaxin) to decrease muscle spasms.
c. Small incision in the spinal column to remove the disk.
d. Daily physical therapy and ambulation with crutches.
5. What evaluation is important in the preoperative nursing assessment of a patient with a severely herniated lumbar
disk?
a. Movement and sensation in the lower extremities.
b. Leg pain that radiates to both lower extremities.
c. Reflexes in upper extremities.
d. Pupillary reaction to light.
6. In the immediate postoperative period after a lumbar laminectomy, what is a priority nursing action?
a. Checking for bladder distention.
b. Ambulating the patient.
c. Changing the surgical dressing.
, d. Determining the presence of postural hypotension.
7. A patient has a fractured hip and is currently in Buck’s traction before surgery. How is the counteraction in Buck’s
traction achieved?
a. Applying a 10 lb counter weight at the knee.
b. Placing shock blocks under the head of the bead.
c. Elevating the knee gatch and elevating the head of the bed about 30 degrees.
d. Elevating the foot of the bed frame and allowing the weights to hang freely.
8. What is important assessment information to obtain from a patient who is being admitted with a tentative diagnosis of
a hip fractures?
a. Circulation and sensation distal to the fracture.
b. Amount of swelling around the fracture site.
c. Status of range of motion in the extremity.
d. Amount of pain the fracture is causing.
9. A patient is temporarily in Buck’s traction for a fractured femur. What would be import to include in nursing care for this
patient?
a. Maintaining patient semi-Fowler’s position to promote deep breathing.
b. Checking the distal circulation of the affected leg.
c. Turning the patient every two hours to the unaffected side.
d. Allowing the patient to sit in a chair at bedside.
10. Which of the following statements by the patient who has recently had a total hip replacement indicates that he does
not understand mobility limitations?
a. “I should not bend down to put on shoes and socks.”
b. “It is okay to cross my legs if I am sitting in a chair.”
c. “I should put a pillow between my legs when lying on my side.”
d. “I should not sit in low chairs or on toilet seats that are low.”
11. The nurse is assessing a patient who has a fractured fibula repaired with the use of an external fixator device. Which
assessment findings would cause the nurse concern regarding the development of compartmental syndrome? Select
all that apply.
a. Decrease in the pulse rate on the effected leg.
b. Paresthesia distal to the area of injury.
c. Toes on the effected leg cool to touch and edematous.
d. Complains the pins are hurting.
e. Complaints of leg pain unrelieved by analgesics or repositioning.
f. Patient angry and calling loudly to nurse every 10 minutes.
1. While playing tennis, a patient suffers an injury to the knee. Which diagnostic test would the nurse anticipate the
health care provider ordering to identify a soft tissue injury?
a. X-ray
b. MRI
c. Arthroscopy and thermography of joint
d. Duplex venous Doppler
2. A patient is scheduled for an open MRI to evaluate for left tibia osteomyelitis. Which information obtained by the nurse
indicates that the nurse should consult with the healthcare provider before scheduling an open MRI? Select all that
apply.
a. Patient is pregnant.
b. Patient is claustrophobic
c. Patient is allergic to shellfish.
d. Patient had a mitral valve replacement.
e. Patient wears a hearing aid and contact lenses.
f. Patient has in implanted insulin pump.
3. Following a lumbar laminectomy, the postoperative patient continues to complain of the same low back pain that he
had before surgery. The nurse knows that this finding is caused by what problem?
a. Failure of the surgeon to remove the patient’s herniated disk.
b. Swelling in the operative area, which compresses adjacent structures.
c. Twisting of the patient’s spine when he turns side to side.
d. Limitation of movement resulting of spinal fusion.
4. The nurse is caring for a patient with a herniated disc. What intervention is considered a part of conservative
treatment of a herniated disk?
a. Left lateral Sim’s position with bathroom privileges.
b. Bed rest and methocarbamol (Robaxin) to decrease muscle spasms.
c. Small incision in the spinal column to remove the disk.
d. Daily physical therapy and ambulation with crutches.
5. What evaluation is important in the preoperative nursing assessment of a patient with a severely herniated lumbar
disk?
a. Movement and sensation in the lower extremities.
b. Leg pain that radiates to both lower extremities.
c. Reflexes in upper extremities.
d. Pupillary reaction to light.
6. In the immediate postoperative period after a lumbar laminectomy, what is a priority nursing action?
a. Checking for bladder distention.
b. Ambulating the patient.
c. Changing the surgical dressing.
, d. Determining the presence of postural hypotension.
7. A patient has a fractured hip and is currently in Buck’s traction before surgery. How is the counteraction in Buck’s
traction achieved?
a. Applying a 10 lb counter weight at the knee.
b. Placing shock blocks under the head of the bead.
c. Elevating the knee gatch and elevating the head of the bed about 30 degrees.
d. Elevating the foot of the bed frame and allowing the weights to hang freely.
8. What is important assessment information to obtain from a patient who is being admitted with a tentative diagnosis of
a hip fractures?
a. Circulation and sensation distal to the fracture.
b. Amount of swelling around the fracture site.
c. Status of range of motion in the extremity.
d. Amount of pain the fracture is causing.
9. A patient is temporarily in Buck’s traction for a fractured femur. What would be import to include in nursing care for this
patient?
a. Maintaining patient semi-Fowler’s position to promote deep breathing.
b. Checking the distal circulation of the affected leg.
c. Turning the patient every two hours to the unaffected side.
d. Allowing the patient to sit in a chair at bedside.
10. Which of the following statements by the patient who has recently had a total hip replacement indicates that he does
not understand mobility limitations?
a. “I should not bend down to put on shoes and socks.”
b. “It is okay to cross my legs if I am sitting in a chair.”
c. “I should put a pillow between my legs when lying on my side.”
d. “I should not sit in low chairs or on toilet seats that are low.”
11. The nurse is assessing a patient who has a fractured fibula repaired with the use of an external fixator device. Which
assessment findings would cause the nurse concern regarding the development of compartmental syndrome? Select
all that apply.
a. Decrease in the pulse rate on the effected leg.
b. Paresthesia distal to the area of injury.
c. Toes on the effected leg cool to touch and edematous.
d. Complains the pins are hurting.
e. Complaints of leg pain unrelieved by analgesics or repositioning.
f. Patient angry and calling loudly to nurse every 10 minutes.
