Deck 52: Assessment of Musculoskeletal Function

Question 1

A patient is recovering from an arthrocentesis of the right knee.What should the nurse instruct the patient regarding care at home?

A) Elevate the extremity
B) Ambulate with crutches
C) Avoid all weight bearing for three to five days
D) Apply ice to the wound for the first 24 hours

Answer 1

Apply ice to the wound for the first 24 hours

Question 2

A patient's bone density results are -2.7.For which potential health problem should the nurse instruct this patient?

A) Pain
B) Fractures
C) Contractures
D) Muscle atrophy

Answer 2

Fractures

Question 3

A patient has loose bone fragments within the knee.Which diagnostic test should be considered to remove these fragments?

A) Bone scan
B) Arthroscopy
C) Arthrocentesis
D) Electromyography

Answer 3

Arthroscopy

Question 4

An older patient is diagnosed with a fractured hip joint.What should the nurse consider as the reason for this fracture?

A) Mineral deposits
B) Decreased joint fluid
C) Thinner joint cartilage
D) Loss of fluid in tendons

Question 5

The nurse is preparing teaching material on the musculoskeletal system.What should the nurse include about the function of short bones?

A) Produces blood cells
B) Controls movement of the body
C) Provides stability with little movement
D) Controls contraction of organs and blood vessels

Question 6

The nurse is assessing a patient's vertebral column.What term best describes the function of the joints between the vertebrae?

A) Meiosis
B) Diarthrosis
C) Synarthrosis
D) Amphiarthrosis

Question 7

An older patient asks what can be done to prevent bone fractures.What should the nurse suggest to this patient?

A) Limit exposure to the sun
B) Increase the intake of water
C) Increase frequency of rest periods
D) Engage in weight-bearing exercise

Question 8

The nurse is preparing information about bone health for a community fair.What part of the bone should the nurse identify as containing living bone cells?

A) Nerves
B) Collagen
C) Osteoblasts
D) Blood vessels

Question 9

The nurse notes that a 55-year-old female patient's bone density test has changed from -1.2 to a current level of -2.5.What could be the reason for this change?

A) Immobility
B) Loss of estrogen
C) Chronic diseases
D) Poor nutritional status

Question 10

The nurse notes that patient is scheduled for an arthrogram.What is the purpose of this test?

A) Evaluate healing of a bone fracture
B) Visualize joint soft tissue structures
C) Identify the location of a bone tumor
D) Determine the cause for muscle weakness

Question 11

A patient is experiencing bursitis of the hip.What physical finding should the nurse expect to assess in this patient?

A) Muscle edema
B) Shortened limb
C) Hip contracture
D) Pain with movement

Question 12

The nurse is evaluating a patient's musculoskeletal system.Which approach should be used to determine joint mobility?

A) Gait
B) Posture
C) Range of motion
D) Palpation of muscle tone

Question 13

An older patient is experiencing arthritis in major joints.What could be the reason for the development of this disorder?

A) Decreased cartilage
B) Decline in muscle mass
C) Less fluid in joint spaces
D) Loss of fluid in ligaments

Question 14

The nurse notes that a patient has full range of motion against gravity but not resistance.How should the nurse document this finding?

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

Question 15

The nurse is assessing a patient's musculoskeletal status.Which observation indicates that the gait is normal?

A) Base is as wide as the patient's hips.
B) Symmetrical arm swing occurs with each step.
C) Foot is on the ground for 40% of the stance phase.
D) Foot is off of the ground for 60% of the swing phase.

Question 16

A patient's bone scan results showed a 3 cm cold spot area on the right fibula.What does this finding indicate?

A) Cancer
B) Bone infection
C) Healing fracture
D) Bone metabolism disease

Question 17

A patient is scheduled for a CT scan of the left femur.What should the nurse expect the findings of this diagnostic test to reveal?

A) Fractures
B) Disk disease
C) Osteomyelitis
D) Ligamentous tears

Question 18

The nurse notes that a patient has muscular and skeletal balance.What should this observation indicate to the nurse?

A) Joints are stressed.
B) Muscles are damaged.
C) Body organs are aligned.
D) Bones are compensating.

Question 19

A patient has a muscle that has been torn from the bone.Which structure has been injured in this patient?

A) Fascia
B) Tendon
C) Cartilage
D) Ligament

Question 20

A patient has a low level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).How will this affect the musculoskeletal system?

A) Reduces bone growth
B) Initiates the growth of bone
C) Slows the rate of bone destruction
D) Promotes the number of osteoblasts