Exam #2 (CH 42 – Patients With Musculoskeletal Disorders) – Flashcards

1. A patient comes back to the clinic with a continued complaint of back pain. What time frame does the nurse understand constitutes "chronic pain"? a. 4 weeks b. 3 months c. 6 months d. 1 year

2. A patient is having low back pain. What position can the nurse suggest to relieve this discomfort? a. High-Fowler's to allow for maximum hip flexion b. Supine, with the knees slightly flexed and the head of the bed elevated 30 degrees c. Prone, with a pillow under the shoulders d. Supine, with the bed flat and a firm mattress in place

3. The nurse is educating the patient with low back pain about the proper way to lift objects. What muscle should the nurse encourage the patient to maximize? a. Gastrocnemius b. Latissimus dorsi c. Quadriceps d. Rectus abdominis

4. The nurse has educated a patient with low back pain about techniques to relieve the back pain and prevent further complications. What statement by the patient shows understanding of the education the nurse provided? a. "I will lie prone with my legs slightly elevated." b. "I will bend at the waist when I am lifting objects from the floor." c. "I will avoid prolonged sitting or walking." d. "Instead of turning around to grasp an object, I will twist at the waist."

5. A patient diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) asks the nurse about numbness in the fingers and pain in the wrist. In responding to the patient, how would the nurse best describe CTS? a. "CTS is a neuropathy that is characterized by bursitis and tendinitis." b. "CTS is a neuropathy that is characterized by flexion contracture of the fourth and fifth fingers." c. "CTS is a neuropathy that is characterized by compression of the median nerve at the wrist." d. "CTS is a neuropathy that is characterized by pannus formation in the shoulder."

6. The nurse is assessing the feet of a patient and observes an overgrowth of the horny layer of the epidermis. What does the nurse recognize this condition as? a. Bunion b. Clawfoot c. Corn d. Hammer toe

7. A patient has been diagnosed with osteomalacia. What common symptoms does the nurse recognize that correlate with the diagnosis? a. Bone fractures and kyphosis b. Bone pain and tenderness c. Muscle weakness and spasms d. Softened and compressed vertebrae

8. A patient stepped on an acorn while walking barefoot in the backyard and developed an infection progressing to osteomyelitis. What microorganism does the nurse understand is most often the cause of the development of osteomyelitis? a. Proteus b. Pseudomonas c. Salmonella d. Staphylococcus aureus

9. A patient is diagnosed with osteomyelitis of the right leg. What signs and symptoms does the nurse recognize that are associated with this diagnosis? (Select all that apply.) a. Pain b. Erythema c. Fever d. Leukopenia e. Purulent drainage

10. A patient comes to the clinic complaining of low back pain radiating down the left leg. After diagnostic studies rule out any pathology, the physician orders a serotoninnorepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). Which medication does the nurse anticipate educating the patient about? a. Amitriptyline (Elavil) b. Duloxetine (Cymbalta) c. Gabapentin (Neurontin) d. Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)

11. A patient shows the nurse a round, firm nodule on the wrist. The pain is described as aching, with some weakness of the fingers. What treatment does the nurse anticipate assisting with? (Select all that apply.) a. Educating the patient on the use of gabapentin b. Active range-of-motion exercises c. Corticosteroid injections d. Surgical excision e. Aspiration of the cyst

12. A patient had hand surgery to correct a Dupuytren's contracture. What nursing intervention is a priority postoperatively? a. Changing the dressing b. Applying a cock-up splint and immobilization c. Having the patient exercise the fingers to avoid future contractures d. Performing hourly neurovascular assessments for the first 24 hours

13. A patient is diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma. What laboratory studies should the nurse monitor for the presence of elevation? a. Magnesium level b. Potassium level c. Alkaline phosphatase d. Troponin levels

14. The nurse is caring for a patient w/ bone metastasis from a primary breast cancer. The patient complains of muscle weakness and nausea and is voiding large amounts frequently. Cardiac dysrhythmias are observed on the telemetry monitor. What should the nurse suspect based on these clinical manifestations? a. Hypercalcemia b. Hypocalcemia c. Hypokalemia d. Hyperkalemia

15. The hospice nurse is assigned to care for a patient with metastatic bone cancer who wants to remain at home. What is the therapeutic goal in the care of this patient? a. Prevent the patient from having to go to the hospital for care. b. Relieve pain and discomfort while promoting quality of life. c. Increase the activity level of the patient to prevent complications related to immobility. d. Ensure that the family accepts the patient's imminent death.