Question 1

During assessment of the ankle joint, the nurse asks the patient to flex and extend the articulation of the tibia, fibula, and:

Accepted Answer

A)  Talus
B)  Cuboid bones
C)  Calcaneus
D)  Cuneiform bones A

Question 2

During assessment of a 75-year-old female admitted with a hip fracture after falling, the patient states a history of osteoporosis.The nurse recognizes that the patient is more susceptible to bone fractures because of:

Accepted Answer

A)  Increased bone matrix
B)  Loss of bone density
C)  New, weaker bone growth
D)  Increased phagocytic activity B

Question 3

The nurse is assessing the joints of a woman who has stated, "I have a long family history of arthritis, and my joints hurt." The nurse suspects that she has osteoarthritis.Which of these are symptoms of osteoarthritis? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Symmetrical joint involvement
B)  Asymmetrical joint involvement
C)  Pain with motion of affected joints
D)  Affected joints are swollen with hard, bony protuberances
E)  Affected joints may have heat, redness, and swelling B, C, D

Question 4

A patient is able to flex his right arm forward without difficulty or pain but is unable to abduct his arm because of pain and muscle spasms.The nurse should suspect:

Accepted Answer

A)  Crepitation
B)  Rotator cuff lesions
C)  Dislocated shoulder
D)  Rheumatoid arthritis

Question 5

A woman who is 8 months pregnant comments that she has noticed a change in her posture and is having lower back pain.The nurse tells her that during pregnancy, women have a posture shift to compensate for the enlarging uterus.This shift in posture is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  Lordosis
B)  Scoliosis
C)  Ankylosis
D)  Kyphosis

Question 6

A patient tells the nurse, "All my life I've been called 'knock knees'." The nurse knows that another term for "knock knees" is:

Accepted Answer

A)  Genu varum
B)  Genu valgum
C)  Pes planus
D)  Metatarsus adductus

Question 7

A patient is complaining of pain in his joints that is worse in the morning, better after he moves around for a while, and then gets worse again if he sits for long periods.The nurse should assess for other signs of what problem?

Accepted Answer

A)  Tendinitis
B)  Osteoarthritis
C)  Rheumatoid arthritis
D)  Intermittent claudication

Question 8

The nurse suspects that a patient has carpal tunnel syndrome and wants to perform the Phalen test.To perform this test, the nurse should instruct the patient to:

Accepted Answer

A)  Dorsiflex the foot
B)  Plantarflex the foot
C)  Hold both hands back to back while flexing the wrists 90 degrees for 60 seconds
D)  Hyperextend the wrists with the palmar surface of both hands touching, and wait for 60 seconds

Question 9

A woman who has had rheumatoid arthritis for years is noticing that her fingers are starting to drift to the side.The nurse knows that this condition is commonly referred to as:

Accepted Answer

A)  Radial drift
B)  Ulnar deviation
C)  Swan-neck deformity
D)  Dupuytren's contracture

Question 10

A professional tennis player comes into the clinic complaining of a sore elbow.The nurse will assess for tenderness at the:

Accepted Answer

A)  Olecranon bursa
B)  Annular ligament
C)  Base of the radius
D)  Medial and lateral epicondyle

Question 11

To palpate the TMJ, the nurse's fingers should be placed in the depression __________ of the ear.

Accepted Answer

A)  Distal to the helix
B)  Proximal to the helix
C)  Anterior to the tragus
D)  Posterior to the tragus

Question 12

The nurse is teaching a class on preventing osteoporosis with a group of perimenopausal women.The nurse recommends:

Accepted Answer

A)  Increasing intake of coffee
B)  Eating less dairy products
C)  Brisk walking outside in good weather
D)  Reducing activity to rest the body

Question 13

A patient's annual physical examination reveals a lateral curvature of the thoracic and lumbar segments of his spine; however, this curvature disappears with forward bending.The nurse recognizes these findings to likely be:

Accepted Answer

A)  Structural scoliosis
B)  Functional scoliosis
C)  Herniated nucleus pulposus
D)  Dislocated hip

Question 14

The nurse is examining a 3-month-old infant and performs the Ortolani manoeuvre.The nurse notes that the movements feel smooth and no sounds are produced.The nurse will document the findings as a:

Accepted Answer

A)  Normal finding of a positive Ortolani sign
B)  Normal finding of a negative Ortolani sign
C)  Positive Ortolani sign and warrants a referral
D)  Negative Ortolani sign and seek immediate referral

Question 15

During assessment of a 15-year-old patient who developed knee pain and swelling after a soccer game, the nurse will check for large amounts of fluid around the patella using:

Accepted Answer

A)  Ballottement
B)  Tinel's sign
C)  Phalen test
D)  McMurray test

Question 16

A patient who has had rheumatoid arthritis for years comes to the clinic to ask about changes in her fingers.The nurse will assess for signs of what problems?

Accepted Answer

A)  Heberden's nodes
B)  Bouchard's nodules
C)  Swan-neck deformities
D)  Dupuytren's contractures

Question 17

The nurse is examining the hip area of a patient and palpates a flat depression on the upper, lateral side of the thigh when the patient is standing.The nurse interprets this finding as the:

Accepted Answer

A)  Ischial tuberosity
B)  Greater trochanter
C)  Iliac crest
D)  Gluteus maximus muscle

Question 18

When assessing muscle strength, the nurse observes that a patient has complete ROM against gravity with full resistance.What grade of muscle strength should the nurse record using a 0-to-5-point scale?

Accepted Answer

A)  2
B)  3
C)  4
D)  5

Question 19

The nurse is assessing a patient who sprained his ankle playing soccer.The nurse explains that the fibrous bands which usually connect the medial and lateral malleolus and strengthen that joint have been stretched beyond their limits.The nurse identifies these bands as:

Accepted Answer

A)  Bursa
B)  Tendons
C)  Cartilage
D)  Ligaments

Question 20

A patient is visiting the clinic for an evaluation of a swollen, painful knuckle.The nurse notices that the knuckle above his ring on the left hand is swollen and that he is unable to remove his wedding ring.This joint is called the _________ joint.

Accepted Answer

A)  Interphalangeal
B)  Tarsometatarsal
C)  Metacarpophalangeal
D)  Tibiotalar

Exam 24: Musculoskeletal System