Chapter 51: Care of Patients with Musculoskeletal Trauma Ignatavicius

Chapter 51: Care of Patients with Musculoskeletal Trauma Ignatavicius

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. A nurse assesses a client with a fracture who is being treated with skeletal traction. Which assessment should alert the nurse to urgently contact the health provider?
   1. Blood pressure increases to 130/86 mm Hg
   2. Traction weights are resting on the floor
   3. Oozing of clear fluid is noted at the pin site
   4. Capillary refill is less than 3 seconds

ANS:   B

The immediate action of the nurse should be to reapply the weights to give traction to the fracture. The health care provider must be notified that the weights were lying on the floor, and the client should be realigned in bed. The client’s blood pressure is slightly elevated; this could be related to pain and muscle spasms resulting from lack of pressure to reduce the fracture. Oozing of clear fluid is normal, as is the capillary refill time.

DIF:     Applying/Application                         REF: 1060                  KEY: Fracture| traction MSC:             Integrated Process: Communication and Documentation  NOT:     Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care

2. A nurse coordinates care for a client with a wet plaster cast. Which statement should the nurse include when delegating care for this client to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)?
   1. “Assess distal pulses for potential compartment syndrome.”
   2. “Turn the client every 3 to 4 hours to promote cast drying.”
   3. “Use a cloth-covered pillow to elevate the client’s leg.”
   4. “Handle the cast with your fingertips to prevent indentations.”

ANS:   C

When delegating care to a UAP for a client with a wet plaster cast, the UAP should be directed to ensure that the extremity is elevated on a cloth pillow instead of a plastic pillow to promote drying. The client should be assessed for impaired arterial circulation, a complication of compartment syndrome; however, the nurse should not delegate assessments to a UAP. The client should be turned every 1 to 2 hours to allow air to circulate and dry all parts of the cast. Providers should handle the cast with the palms of the hands to prevent indentations.

DIF:     Applying/Application                         REF: 1059                   KEY: Fracture| cast| delegation| unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)  MSC:                                    Integrated Process: Communication and Documentation  NOT: Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care

3. A nurse obtains the health history of a client with a fractured femur. Which factor identified in the client’s history should the nurse recognize as an aspect that may impede healing of the fracture?
   1. Sedentary lifestyle
   2. A 30–pack-year smoking history
   3. Prescribed oral contraceptives
   4. Paget’s disease

ANS:           D

Paget’s disease and bone cancer can cause pathologic fractures such as a fractured femur that do not achieve total healing. The other factors do not impede healing but may cause other health risks.

DIF:            Understanding/Comprehension         REF: 1056

KEY:          Fracture| health screening

MSC:          Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Assessment                 NOT: Client Needs Category: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation

4. An emergency department nurse cares for a client who sustained a crush injury to the right lower leg. The client reports numbness and tingling in the affected leg. Which action should the nurse take first?
   1. Assess the pedal pulses.
   2. Apply oxygen by nasal cannula.
   3. Increase the IV flow rate.
   4. Loosen the traction.

ANS:           A

These symptoms represent early warning signs of acute compartment syndrome. In acute compartment syndrome, sensory deficits such as paresthesias precede changes in vascular or motor signs. If the nurse finds a decrease in pedal pulses, the health care provider should be notified as soon as possible. Vital signs need to be obtained to determine if oxygen and intravenous fluids are necessary. Traction, if implemented, should never be loosened without a provider’s prescription.

DIF:            Applying/Application                         REF: 1053

KEY:          Fracture| compartment syndrome

MSC:   Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Assessment      NOT: Client Needs Category: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care