NURS 623 UPDATED EXAM SCRIPT QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Which of the following statements is true regarding the treatment of carpal tunnel
syndrome?
a. The goal of treatment is to prevent flexion and extension movements of the wrist.
b. Splints are used in carpal tunnel syndrome, because they allow for free movement of
the fingers and thumb while maintaining the wrist in a neutral position.
c. Corticosteroid injections are discouraged in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome
because of the risks for median nerve damage, scarring, and infection.
d. All of the above - ✔✔d. All of the above
✔✔Sam is a 25-year-old who has been diagnosed with low back strain based on his
history of localized low back pain and muscle spasm along with a normal neurological
examination. As the clinician, you explain to Sam that low back pain is a diagnosis of
exclusion. Which of the following symptoms would alert the clinician to the more serious
finding of a herniated nucleus pulposus or ruptured disc?
a. Morning stiffness and limited mobility of the lumbar spine
b. Unilateral radicular pain symptoms that extend below the knee and are equal to or
greater than the back pain
c. Fever, chills, and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate
d. Pathologic fractures, severe night pain, weight loss, and fatigue - ✔✔b. Unilateral
radicular pain symptoms that extend below the knee and are equal to or greater than
the back pain
✔✔11. The clinician has instructed Sam, a 25-year-old patient with low back strain, to
use NSAIDs to manage his symptoms of pain and discomfort. Which of the following
statements would be most appropriate when teaching Sam about the use of NSAIDs?
a. "You should start with the lowest dose that is effective in managing your pain,
because long-term use of NSAIDs can result in gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as
ulcers and hemorrhage."
b. "You should start with the lowest dose that is effective in managing your pain to avoid
developing tolerance to the medication."
c. "You should take the maximum recommended dose of NSAIDs so that you will not
need to take narcotics to control your pain."
d. "It is important to take NSAIDs on an empty stomach in order to increase absorption."
- ✔✔a. "You should start with the lowest dose that is effective in managing your pain,
because long-term use of NSAIDs can result in gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as
ulcers and hemorrhage."
✔✔Janet is a 30-year-old who has recently been diagnosed with a herniated disc at the
level of L5-S1. She is currently in the emergency room with suspicion of cauda equina
compression. Which of the following is a sign or symptom of cauda equina
compression?
, a. Gastrocnemius weakness
b. A reduced or absent ankle reflex
c. Numbness in the lateral foot
d. Paresthesia of the perineum and buttocks - ✔✔d. Paresthesia of the perineum and
buttocks
✔✔Which of the following statements is true concerning the management of the client
with a herniated disc?
a. Muscle relaxants and narcotics can be used to control moderate pain but should be
discontinued after 3 weeks of use.
b. An epidural injection is helpful in reducing leg pain that has persisted for at least 3
weeks after the herniation occurred.
c. Intolerable pain for more than a 3-month period is an indication for surgical
intervention.
d. All of the above - ✔✔c. Intolerable pain for more than a 3-month period is an
indication for surgical intervention.
✔✔John is a 16-year-old boy who presents to the emergency room after hurting his
knee in a football game. He described twisting his knee and then being unable to extend
it completely. John tells the clinician that he heard a pop when the injury occurred and
has been experiencing localized pain. The clinician suspects a meniscal tear. Which
test would be most appropriate to assess for the presence of a meniscal tear?
a. Valgus stress test
b. McMurray circumduction test
c. Lachman test
d. Varus stress test - ✔✔b. McMurray circumduction test
✔✔Normal estrogen function is important for preventing osteoporosis in both men and
women. Estrogen works to prevent osteoporosis in which of the following ways?
a. By decreasing the erosive activity of osteoclasts
b. By promoting osteoclastogenesis
c. By inhibiting osteoclast apoptosis
d. All of the above - ✔✔a. By decreasing the erosive activity of osteoclasts
✔✔Which of the following tests is considered the gold standard for definitively
diagnosing osteoporosis?
a. Bone alkaline phosphatase levels
b. Urinary N-telopeptide assay
c. Bone mass density measurement by densitometry
d. Magnetic resonance imaging - ✔✔c. Bone mass density measurement by
densitometry
✔✔Mrs. Allen is a 60-year-old woman who has been diagnosed with osteoporosis. She
is very concerned about the risk of breast cancer associated with hormone replacement
therapy and is wondering what other treatments are available to her. The clinician
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Which of the following statements is true regarding the treatment of carpal tunnel
syndrome?
a. The goal of treatment is to prevent flexion and extension movements of the wrist.
b. Splints are used in carpal tunnel syndrome, because they allow for free movement of
the fingers and thumb while maintaining the wrist in a neutral position.
c. Corticosteroid injections are discouraged in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome
because of the risks for median nerve damage, scarring, and infection.
d. All of the above - ✔✔d. All of the above
✔✔Sam is a 25-year-old who has been diagnosed with low back strain based on his
history of localized low back pain and muscle spasm along with a normal neurological
examination. As the clinician, you explain to Sam that low back pain is a diagnosis of
exclusion. Which of the following symptoms would alert the clinician to the more serious
finding of a herniated nucleus pulposus or ruptured disc?
a. Morning stiffness and limited mobility of the lumbar spine
b. Unilateral radicular pain symptoms that extend below the knee and are equal to or
greater than the back pain
c. Fever, chills, and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate
d. Pathologic fractures, severe night pain, weight loss, and fatigue - ✔✔b. Unilateral
radicular pain symptoms that extend below the knee and are equal to or greater than
the back pain
✔✔11. The clinician has instructed Sam, a 25-year-old patient with low back strain, to
use NSAIDs to manage his symptoms of pain and discomfort. Which of the following
statements would be most appropriate when teaching Sam about the use of NSAIDs?
a. "You should start with the lowest dose that is effective in managing your pain,
because long-term use of NSAIDs can result in gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as
ulcers and hemorrhage."
b. "You should start with the lowest dose that is effective in managing your pain to avoid
developing tolerance to the medication."
c. "You should take the maximum recommended dose of NSAIDs so that you will not
need to take narcotics to control your pain."
d. "It is important to take NSAIDs on an empty stomach in order to increase absorption."
- ✔✔a. "You should start with the lowest dose that is effective in managing your pain,
because long-term use of NSAIDs can result in gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as
ulcers and hemorrhage."
✔✔Janet is a 30-year-old who has recently been diagnosed with a herniated disc at the
level of L5-S1. She is currently in the emergency room with suspicion of cauda equina
compression. Which of the following is a sign or symptom of cauda equina
compression?
, a. Gastrocnemius weakness
b. A reduced or absent ankle reflex
c. Numbness in the lateral foot
d. Paresthesia of the perineum and buttocks - ✔✔d. Paresthesia of the perineum and
buttocks
✔✔Which of the following statements is true concerning the management of the client
with a herniated disc?
a. Muscle relaxants and narcotics can be used to control moderate pain but should be
discontinued after 3 weeks of use.
b. An epidural injection is helpful in reducing leg pain that has persisted for at least 3
weeks after the herniation occurred.
c. Intolerable pain for more than a 3-month period is an indication for surgical
intervention.
d. All of the above - ✔✔c. Intolerable pain for more than a 3-month period is an
indication for surgical intervention.
✔✔John is a 16-year-old boy who presents to the emergency room after hurting his
knee in a football game. He described twisting his knee and then being unable to extend
it completely. John tells the clinician that he heard a pop when the injury occurred and
has been experiencing localized pain. The clinician suspects a meniscal tear. Which
test would be most appropriate to assess for the presence of a meniscal tear?
a. Valgus stress test
b. McMurray circumduction test
c. Lachman test
d. Varus stress test - ✔✔b. McMurray circumduction test
✔✔Normal estrogen function is important for preventing osteoporosis in both men and
women. Estrogen works to prevent osteoporosis in which of the following ways?
a. By decreasing the erosive activity of osteoclasts
b. By promoting osteoclastogenesis
c. By inhibiting osteoclast apoptosis
d. All of the above - ✔✔a. By decreasing the erosive activity of osteoclasts
✔✔Which of the following tests is considered the gold standard for definitively
diagnosing osteoporosis?
a. Bone alkaline phosphatase levels
b. Urinary N-telopeptide assay
c. Bone mass density measurement by densitometry
d. Magnetic resonance imaging - ✔✔c. Bone mass density measurement by
densitometry
✔✔Mrs. Allen is a 60-year-old woman who has been diagnosed with osteoporosis. She
is very concerned about the risk of breast cancer associated with hormone replacement
therapy and is wondering what other treatments are available to her. The clinician
