Deck 23: Musculoskeletal System

Question 1

The nurse observes an exaggerated lumbar curve while inspecting the spine of a client. Which term should the nurse use when documenting the finding?

A) Lordosis.
B) Scoliosis.
C) Kyphosis.
D) Flattened curve.

Answer 1

Lordosis.

Question 2

The nurse assesses a client with tenderness and stiffness in the wrist and elbow. The client reports that their discomfort is worsened with activity. Which condition should the nurse suspect?

A) Carpal tunnel syndrome.
B) Osteoarthritis.
C) Crepitus of the wrists.
D) Dupuytren contracture.

Answer 2

Osteoarthritis.

Question 3

Which instructions should the nurse provide a client to assess the lateral flexion? Select all that apply.

A) "Tilt your head back and look at the ceiling."
B) "Lean your head to the side and attempt to touch your ear to your shoulder."
C) "Bend sideways to the right and to the left while I stabilize your pelvis."
D) "Attempt to raise your shoulders up toward your ears."
E) "Attempt to rotate your head in a circular manner."

Answer 3

"Lean your head to the side and attempt to touch your ear to your shoulder."
"Bend sideways to the right and to the left while I stabilize your pelvis."

Question 4

Which degree of wrist movement is an expected finding when assessing extension?

A) 90 degrees.
B) 70 degrees.
C) 30 degrees.
D) 20 degrees.

Question 5

The nurse is preparing to assess the posterior spine of a client. Which landmark should the nurse use to determine symmetry?

A) Iliac crests.
B) Twelfth thoracic vertebrae.
C) Posterior superior iliac spine.
D) Paravertebral muscles.

Question 6

The nurse is caring for a client with a right femur fracture. Which category of bone should the nurse identify the femur as when discussing the fracture with the client?

A) Short.
B) Long.
C) Flat.
D) Irregular.

Question 7

The nurse notes swelling and tenderness of the olecranon process during the palpation. Which condition should the nurse suspect?

A) Arthritis.
B) Bursitis.
C) Epicondylitis.
D) Crepitus.

Question 8

When assessing the strength of a client's upper extremities, a full range of motion against gravity with moderate resistance is noted. Which should the nurse document the finding as?

A) Poor.
B) Normal.
C) Fair.
D) Good.

Question 9

The school nurse is assessing adolescent females for scoliosis. Which area of the spine does the nurse plan to assess?

A) Thoracic.
B) Lumbar.
C) Cervical.
D) Sacral.

Question 10

The nurse asks the client to point their toes up towards their nose during an examination of the lower extremities. Which type of movement is the nurse assessing?

A) Inversion.
B) Plantar flexion.
C) Eversion.
D) Dorsiflexion.

Question 11

A client tells the nurse they feel numbness and tingling in their hands after they were instructed to bend their wrist downward and press their hands together. Which condition should the nurse suspect?

A) Arthritis of the wrists.
B) Carpal tunnel syndrome.
C) Crepitus of the wrists.
D) Dupuytren contracture.

Question 12

The nurse is preparing to perform the bulge test on a client's left knee. When performing the test, which area of the knee should the nurse assess for bulging?

A) Posterior.
B) Medial.
C) Lateral.
D) Anterior.

Question 13

The nurse is preparing to assess a client's spine for abnormalities. Which instruction should the nurse provide the client?

A) Sit down and then stand as the nurse looks from the front of the client.
B) Stand, bend back slowly, and then bend to the right and left while the nurse looks from the back.
C) Bend over, stand tall, and stretch arms over the head.
D) Sit down and then lean forward and dangle the arms at the sides of the body.

Question 14

A client comes to the emergency department (ED)complaining of a painful injury to the right knee received while playing basketball. Which examination techniques will the nurse include during the physical assessment of this client? Select all that apply.

A) Inspection.
B) Palpation.
C) Bulge sign testing.
D) Auscultation.
E) Percussion.

Question 15

The client is recovering from the surgical repaid of a fractured arm. When discussing the effects of the fracture with the client, which skeletal bone functions should the nurse include in the teaching? Select all that apply.

A) Provide a body framework.
B) Provide movement.
C) Maintain posture.
D) Generate heat.
E) Calcium storage.

Question 16

The nurse assessing a client experiencing pain in their right foot observes swelling and inflammation of the foot and deviation of the big toe from the midline associated with crowding of the remaining toes. Which condition does the nurse suspect?

A) Flat foot.
B) Gouty arthritis.
C) Hammertoe.
D) Bunion.

Question 17

The nurse is caring for a client with a knee injury. When documenting this injury in the medical record, the nurse identifies the knee as which type of joint?

A) Saddle.
B) Hinge.
C) Pivot.
D) Plane.

Question 18

The nurse notes a round mass on the back of a client's wrist. Which question should the nurse ask the client?

A) Do you have a history of rheumatoid arthritis?
B) Do you have a history of osteoarthritis?
C) Do you have a history of ganglion cysts?
D) Do you have a history of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Question 19

The nurse is assessing a client with the inability to move their fourth and fifth fingers. The nurse notes severe flexion in both of the affected fingers but no complaints of pain during palpation. Based on this data, which diagnosis should the nurse suspect?

A) Dupuytren contracture.
B) Carpal tunnel syndrome.
C) Bursitis.
D) Osteoarthritis.

Question 20

The nurse notes there is a grating sound in a client's joint when they bend and straighten it. Which terminology should the nurse use when documenting this finding?

A) Subluxation.
B) Grinding.
C) Crepitation.
D) Joint dislocation.

Question 21

The nurse is assessing a client with suspected rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Which musculoskeletal changes would contribute to a positive diagnosis of RA? Select all that apply.

A) Ulnar deviation.
B) Bouchard nodes.
C) Heberden's nodes.
D) Swan-neck deformity.
E) Symmetrical loss of function in extremities.

Question 22

A client asks the nurse what a shoulder dislocation is. Which response should the nurse provide the client?

A) "Your tendons and muscles have been damaged."
B) "You have a muscle tear at the shoulder."
C) "Your shoulder bone has come apart from the shoulder joint."
D) "Your shoulder is fractured and separated from the joint."

Question 23

The nurse is discharging a client with osteoarthritis. Which information should the nurse include in this client's discharge teaching? Select all that apply.

A) Obesity increases the risks of bone, muscle, and joint disorders.
B) Musculoskeletal health is influenced by the diet.
C) Exercise is important in the prevention of osteoarthritis.
D) Smoking and alcohol contribute to the development of osteoarthritis.
E) As the condition progresses, the hands may develop contractures that resemble swan necks.

Question 24

A client tells the nurse they have just lost 75 pounds after gastric bypass surgery. Which condition should the nurse recognize the client is at risk for?

A) Protein deficiency.
B) Vitamin D deficiency.
C) Osteoporosis.
D) Osteoarthritis.

Question 25

The nurse is preparing to interview a client with osteoporosis. Which question related to symptoms should the nurse include?

A) "Do you have difficulty breathing?"
B) "Have you had any recent weight gain or loss?"
C) "Are you currently taking any medications?"
D) "Do you feel you get adequate sleep at night?"

Question 26

The nurse is evaluating a client's ability to bend the elbow by bringing the forearm forward and touching the fingers to the shoulder. Which degree of flexion should the nurse anticipate?

A) 90°.
B) 160°.
C) 180°.
D) 200°.

Question 27

The nurse is preparing to assess a client with a suspected tear of the rotator cuff. Which range of motion will the client be unable to perform without lifting or shrugging their shoulders?

A) Flex the elbow.
B) Adduct the shoulder.
C) Abduct the shoulder
D) Supinate or pronate the hands

Question 28

A client expresses discomfort during a Durkan's test. Which condition should the nurse suspect?

A) Ganglion.
B) Osteoarthritis.
C) Carpal tunnel syndrome.
D) Epicondylitis.

Question 29

The nurse is assessing a pregnant client. Which finding should the nurse anticipate when assessing the spine?

A) Kyphosis.
B) Scoliosis.
C) Lordosis.
D) Flattened lumbar curve.

Question 30

The nurse assessing a client's big toe notes hardened nodules on the lateral aspect of the toe, as well as redness, swelling, and pain. Which condition should the nurse suspect?

A) Bunion.
B) Synovitis.
C) Hammertoe.
D) Gout.

Question 31

The nurse notes asymmetry of the iliac crests and gluteal folds while inspecting the spine of a client. The spine has a slight curvature to the right but the client denies complaints of pain. Which term should the nurse use when documenting this finding?

A) Kyphosis.
B) Scoliosis.
C) Spinal list.
D) Lordosis.

Question 32

The nurse is reviewing the records of a child with a protein deficiency and a fractured tibia. Which should the nurse be concerned with?

A) Bone growth.
B) Low bone density.
C) Bone healing.
D) Tissue healing.

Question 33

A client expresses discomfort when attempting to flex their wrist against resistance. Which should the nurse suspect the client is experiencing?

A) Tendonitis.
B) Subluxation.
C) Medial epicondylitis.
D) Lateral epicondylitis.