Musculoskeletal NCLEX, NCLEX
musculoskeletal
1. Based on the nurse's understanding of the physiology of bone and
cartilage, the injury that the nurse would expect to heal most rapidly is a
a. fracture of the midhumerus.
b. torn knee cruciate ligament.
c. fractured nose.
d. severely sprained ankle. - correct answer ✔Answer: A
Rationale: Bone is dynamic tissue that is continually growing. Nasal fracture,
sprains, and ligament tears injure cartilage, tendons, and ligaments, which are
slower to heal.
Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1615
Nursing Process: Assessment NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
2. The nurse is assessing the passive range of motion of a patient's shoulder.
The patient complains of pain during circumduction when the nurse moves the
arm behind the patient. Which question should the nurse ask?
a. "Do you ever have trouble making it to the toilet?"
b. "Do you have difficulty in putting on a jacket?"
c. "Are you able to feed yourself without difficulty?"
d. "How well are you able to sleep at night?" - correct answer ✔Answer: B
Rationale: The patient's pain will make it more difficult to accomplish tasks like
putting on a shirt or jacket. This pain should not impact 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.
,Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: pp. 1620-1622
Nursing Process: Assessment
NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. When the health care provider tells a patient that the pain in the patient's
knee is caused by bursitis, the patient asks the nurse to explain just what
bursitis is. The nurse's best response would be to tell the patient bursitis is an
inflammation of
a. the fibrocartilage that acts as a shock absorber in the knee joint.
b. a small, fluid-filled sac found at many joints.
c. any connective tissue that is found supporting the joints of the body.
d. the synovial membrane that lines the area between two bones of a joint. -
correct answer ✔Answer: B
Rationale: 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.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension Text Reference: p. 1618
Nursing Process: Implementation NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
4. During assessment of the musculoskeletal system of a 74-year-old woman,
the nurse notes that the patient has lost 1 inch in height since the previous
visit two years ago. The nurse will plan to teach the patient about
a. diskography studies.
b. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
c. dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).
d. myelographic testing. - correct answer ✔Answer: C
,Rationale: The decreased height and the patient's age suggest that the patient
may have osteoporosis and that bone density testing is needed. Diskography,
MRI, and myelography are typically done for patients with current symptoms
caused by musculoskeletal dysfunction and are not the initial diagnostic test
for osteoporosis.
Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: pp. 1619, 1625
Nursing Process: Planning
NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
5. When taking a patient history during assessment of the musculoskeletal
system, the nurse identifies an increased risk for the patient who reports
a. that a parent became much shorter with aging.
b. a sprained ankle 2 years previously.
c. a family history of tuberculosis.
d. taking over-the-counter (OTC) ibuprofen (Advil) for occasional aches. -
correct answer ✔Answer: A
Rationale: A family history of height loss with aging may indicate osteoporosis,
and the patient may need to consider preventative actions, such as calcium
supplements. A sprained ankle 2 years previously will not cause any current
or future musculoskeletal problems. A family history of tuberculosis is not a
risk factor. Occasional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) use does
not indicate any increased musculoskeletal risk.
Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1621
Nursing Process: Assessment
NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
, 6. 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 is 5 ft 2 in and weighs 180 lb.
b. The patient prefers whole milk to nonfat milk.
c. The patient dislikes fruits and vegetables.
d. The patient takes a multivitamin daily. - correct answer ✔Answer: A
Rationale: 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.
Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1621
Nursing Process: Assessment
NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
7. When the nurse is assessing a new patient in the clinic, which information
about the patient's medications will be of most concern?
a. The patient takes hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to prevent "hot
flashes."
b. The patient takes a daily multivitamin and calcium supplement.
c. The patient has severe asthma and requires frequent therapy with steroids.
d. The patient has migraine headaches which are treated with NSAIDs. -
correct answer ✔Answer: C
Rationale: Corticosteroid use may lead to skeletal problems such as avascular
necrosis and osteoporosis. The use of HRT and calcium supplements will help
prevent osteoporosis. NSAID use does not increase the risk for
musculoskeletal problems.
Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1619
musculoskeletal
1. Based on the nurse's understanding of the physiology of bone and
cartilage, the injury that the nurse would expect to heal most rapidly is a
a. fracture of the midhumerus.
b. torn knee cruciate ligament.
c. fractured nose.
d. severely sprained ankle. - correct answer ✔Answer: A
Rationale: Bone is dynamic tissue that is continually growing. Nasal fracture,
sprains, and ligament tears injure cartilage, tendons, and ligaments, which are
slower to heal.
Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1615
Nursing Process: Assessment NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
2. The nurse is assessing the passive range of motion of a patient's shoulder.
The patient complains of pain during circumduction when the nurse moves the
arm behind the patient. Which question should the nurse ask?
a. "Do you ever have trouble making it to the toilet?"
b. "Do you have difficulty in putting on a jacket?"
c. "Are you able to feed yourself without difficulty?"
d. "How well are you able to sleep at night?" - correct answer ✔Answer: B
Rationale: The patient's pain will make it more difficult to accomplish tasks like
putting on a shirt or jacket. This pain should not impact 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.
,Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: pp. 1620-1622
Nursing Process: Assessment
NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. When the health care provider tells a patient that the pain in the patient's
knee is caused by bursitis, the patient asks the nurse to explain just what
bursitis is. The nurse's best response would be to tell the patient bursitis is an
inflammation of
a. the fibrocartilage that acts as a shock absorber in the knee joint.
b. a small, fluid-filled sac found at many joints.
c. any connective tissue that is found supporting the joints of the body.
d. the synovial membrane that lines the area between two bones of a joint. -
correct answer ✔Answer: B
Rationale: 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.
Cognitive Level: Comprehension Text Reference: p. 1618
Nursing Process: Implementation NCLEX: Physiological Integrity
4. During assessment of the musculoskeletal system of a 74-year-old woman,
the nurse notes that the patient has lost 1 inch in height since the previous
visit two years ago. The nurse will plan to teach the patient about
a. diskography studies.
b. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
c. dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).
d. myelographic testing. - correct answer ✔Answer: C
,Rationale: The decreased height and the patient's age suggest that the patient
may have osteoporosis and that bone density testing is needed. Diskography,
MRI, and myelography are typically done for patients with current symptoms
caused by musculoskeletal dysfunction and are not the initial diagnostic test
for osteoporosis.
Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: pp. 1619, 1625
Nursing Process: Planning
NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
5. When taking a patient history during assessment of the musculoskeletal
system, the nurse identifies an increased risk for the patient who reports
a. that a parent became much shorter with aging.
b. a sprained ankle 2 years previously.
c. a family history of tuberculosis.
d. taking over-the-counter (OTC) ibuprofen (Advil) for occasional aches. -
correct answer ✔Answer: A
Rationale: A family history of height loss with aging may indicate osteoporosis,
and the patient may need to consider preventative actions, such as calcium
supplements. A sprained ankle 2 years previously will not cause any current
or future musculoskeletal problems. A family history of tuberculosis is not a
risk factor. Occasional nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) use does
not indicate any increased musculoskeletal risk.
Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1621
Nursing Process: Assessment
NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
, 6. 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 is 5 ft 2 in and weighs 180 lb.
b. The patient prefers whole milk to nonfat milk.
c. The patient dislikes fruits and vegetables.
d. The patient takes a multivitamin daily. - correct answer ✔Answer: A
Rationale: 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.
Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1621
Nursing Process: Assessment
NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
7. When the nurse is assessing a new patient in the clinic, which information
about the patient's medications will be of most concern?
a. The patient takes hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to prevent "hot
flashes."
b. The patient takes a daily multivitamin and calcium supplement.
c. The patient has severe asthma and requires frequent therapy with steroids.
d. The patient has migraine headaches which are treated with NSAIDs. -
correct answer ✔Answer: C
Rationale: Corticosteroid use may lead to skeletal problems such as avascular
necrosis and osteoporosis. The use of HRT and calcium supplements will help
prevent osteoporosis. NSAID use does not increase the risk for
musculoskeletal problems.
Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1619
