Chapter 62: Nursing Assessment: Musculoskeletal System

Chapter 62: Nursing Assessment: Musculoskeletal System

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient complains of pain during circumduction of the shoulder when the nurse moves
the arm behind the patient. Which question should the nurse ask?
a. “Do you have difficulty in putting on a jacket?”
b. “Are you able to feed yourself without difficulty?”
c. “Are you able to sleep through the night without waking?”
d. “Do you ever have trouble lowering yourself to the toilet?”
ANS: A
The patient’s pain will make it more difficult to accomplish tasks like putting on a shirt or
jacket. This pain should not affect the patient’s ability to feed himself or herself or use
the toilet because these tasks do not involve moving the arm behind the patient. The arm
will not usually be positioned behind the patient during sleeping.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 1577-1578
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. A patient with knee pain who is diagnosed with bursitis asks the nurse to explain just
what bursitis is. The nurse will respond that bursitis is an inflammation of
a. a small, fluid-filled sac found at many joints.
b. the synovial membrane that lines the joint area.
c. the fibrocartilage that acts as a shock absorber in the knee joint.
d. any connective tissue that is found supporting the joints of the body.
ANS: A
Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints and bony prominences. Fibrocartilage is a
solid tissue that cushions some joints. Bursae are a specific type of connective tissue. The
synovial membrane lines many joints but is not a bursa.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: 1574
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
3. When assessing a 64-year-old woman, the nurse notes that the patient has lost 1 inch in
height since the previous visit 2 years ago. The nurse will plan to teach the patient about
a. discography studies.
b. myelographic testing.
c. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
d. dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).
ANS: D
Test Bank 62-2
The decreased height and the patient’s age suggest that the patient may have osteoporosis
and that bone density testing is needed. Discography, MRI, and myelography are
typically done for patients with current symptoms caused by musculoskeletal dysfunction
and are not the initial diagnostic tests for osteoporosis.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 1580-1582 TOP: Nursing Process:
Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. Which information in a 60-year-old woman’s health history will alert the nurse to the
need for a more focused assessment of the musculoskeletal system?
a. The patient experienced a sprained ankle at age 13.
b. The patient’s mother became much shorter with aging.
c. The patient’s father died of complications of miliary tuberculosis.
d. The patient reports taking ibuprofen (Advil) for occasional headaches.
ANS: B
A family history of height loss with aging may indicate osteoporosis, and the nurse
should perform a more thorough assessment of the patient’s current height and other risk
factors for osteoporosis. A sprained ankle during adolescence does not place the patient at
increased current risk for musculoskeletal problems. A family history of tuberculosis is
not a risk factor. Occasional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use does not
indicate any increased musculoskeletal risk.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 1575-1576
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
5. Which information obtained during the nurse’s assessment of the patient’s nutritional-
metabolic pattern may indicate the risk for musculoskeletal problems?
a. The patient takes a multivitamin daily.
b. The patient dislikes fruits and vegetables.
c. The patient is 5 ft 2 in and weighs 180 lb.
d. The patient prefers whole milk to nonfat milk.
ANS: C
The patient’s height and weight indicate obesity, which places stress on weight-bearing
joints. The use of whole milk, avoiding fruits and vegetables, and use of a daily
multivitamin are not risk factors for musculoskeletal problems.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 1575-1576
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance