NCOI Actual Questions and Correct Answers
Q1
A patient presents to the clinical after tripping on a curb and spraining the right ankle. Which
initial care measures areappropriate?
Answer: Administer antiinflammatory medication. Compress ankle using an elastic
bandage. Rest and elevate the ankle above the heart
Q2
A patient underwent amputation below the knee on the left leg after a traumatic accident.
Which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care?
Answer: Lie prone with hip extended for 30 minutes 4 times per day
Q3
The nurse is caring for a patient who had a left total knee arthroplasty to relieve the pain of
severe osteoarthritis. What care would be expectedpostoperatively?
Answer: Progressive leg exercises to obtain 90-degree flexion
Q4
The nurse is caring for a patient with osteoarthritis scheduled for total left knee arthroplasty.
Preoperatively, the nurse assesses for whichcontraindication to surgery?
Answer: Left knee infection
Q5
The patient with frostbite on the distal toes of both feet is scheduled for amputation of the
damaged tissue. Which assessment finding or diagnostic study is most objective in determining
tissue viability?
Answer: Arteriogram showing blood vessels
Q6
The nurse determines that an older adult patient recovering from left total knee arthroplasty
has impaired physical mobility from decreased muscle strength.What nursing intervention
isappropriate?
Answer: Encourage isometric quadriceps-setting exercises at least 4 times a day
,Q7
The nurse completes an admission history for a 73-yr-old man with osteoarthritis scheduled for
total knee arthroplasty. Which response is expected when asking the patient the reason
foradmission?
Answer: Debilitating joint pain
Q8
The nurse is completing discharge teaching with a patient who is recovering from a right total
hip arthroplasty by posterior approach. Which patient action indicates further instruction is
needed?
Answer: Maintains hip in adduction and internal rotation
Q9
The nurse is caring for a patient placed in Buck's traction before open reduction and internal
fixation of a left hip fracture.Which care can be delegatedto the LPN/VN?
Answer: Monitor pain intensity and administer prescribed analgesics
Q10
A 21-yr-old soccer player has injured the anterior crucial ligament (ACL) and is having
reconstructive surgery. Which patient statement indicatesmore teaching is required?
Answer: "I can't wait to get this done now so I can play in the soccer tournament next
month."
Q11
A patient has a plaster cast applied to the right arm for a Colles' fracture. Which nursingaction
is most appropriate?
Answer: Elevate the right arm on 2 pillows for 24 hours
Q12
A patient with a fracture of the proximal left tibia in a long leg cast reports of severe pain and a
prickling sensation in the left foot. The toes on the left foot are pale and cool. Which nursing
action is a priority?
Answer: Notify the health care provider immediately
, Q13
A nurse performs discharge teaching for a patient after a left hip arthroplasty using the
posterior approach. Which statement indicates teaching issuccessful?
Answer: Leg-raising exercises are necessary for several months
Q14
The home care nurse visits a 74-yr-old man diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who fell while
walking this morning.What observation is of mostconcern to the nurse?
Answer: Left leg externally rotated and shorter than the right leg
Q15
A patient who had a long leg cast applied this morning asks to crutch walk before dinner. Which
statement explains why the nurse will decline thepatient's request?
Answer: Excess edema and complications are prevented when the leg is elevated for
24 hours
Q16
A patient who has low back pain from a herniated lumbar disc is having muscle spasms. Which
nursing intervention would be most appropriate?
Answer: Elevate the head of the bed 20 degrees and flex the knees.
Q17
An older adult is diagnosed with Paget's disease. Which finding would indicateimprovement in
the condition?
Answer: Lower serum alkaline phosphatase
Q18
The nurse is admitting a patient who reports the new onset of lower back pain. To distinguish
between the pain of a lumbar herniated disc from other causes, what is the best question for
the nurse to askthe patient?
Answer: Does the pain radiate down the buttock or into the leg?
Q1
A patient presents to the clinical after tripping on a curb and spraining the right ankle. Which
initial care measures areappropriate?
Answer: Administer antiinflammatory medication. Compress ankle using an elastic
bandage. Rest and elevate the ankle above the heart
Q2
A patient underwent amputation below the knee on the left leg after a traumatic accident.
Which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care?
Answer: Lie prone with hip extended for 30 minutes 4 times per day
Q3
The nurse is caring for a patient who had a left total knee arthroplasty to relieve the pain of
severe osteoarthritis. What care would be expectedpostoperatively?
Answer: Progressive leg exercises to obtain 90-degree flexion
Q4
The nurse is caring for a patient with osteoarthritis scheduled for total left knee arthroplasty.
Preoperatively, the nurse assesses for whichcontraindication to surgery?
Answer: Left knee infection
Q5
The patient with frostbite on the distal toes of both feet is scheduled for amputation of the
damaged tissue. Which assessment finding or diagnostic study is most objective in determining
tissue viability?
Answer: Arteriogram showing blood vessels
Q6
The nurse determines that an older adult patient recovering from left total knee arthroplasty
has impaired physical mobility from decreased muscle strength.What nursing intervention
isappropriate?
Answer: Encourage isometric quadriceps-setting exercises at least 4 times a day
,Q7
The nurse completes an admission history for a 73-yr-old man with osteoarthritis scheduled for
total knee arthroplasty. Which response is expected when asking the patient the reason
foradmission?
Answer: Debilitating joint pain
Q8
The nurse is completing discharge teaching with a patient who is recovering from a right total
hip arthroplasty by posterior approach. Which patient action indicates further instruction is
needed?
Answer: Maintains hip in adduction and internal rotation
Q9
The nurse is caring for a patient placed in Buck's traction before open reduction and internal
fixation of a left hip fracture.Which care can be delegatedto the LPN/VN?
Answer: Monitor pain intensity and administer prescribed analgesics
Q10
A 21-yr-old soccer player has injured the anterior crucial ligament (ACL) and is having
reconstructive surgery. Which patient statement indicatesmore teaching is required?
Answer: "I can't wait to get this done now so I can play in the soccer tournament next
month."
Q11
A patient has a plaster cast applied to the right arm for a Colles' fracture. Which nursingaction
is most appropriate?
Answer: Elevate the right arm on 2 pillows for 24 hours
Q12
A patient with a fracture of the proximal left tibia in a long leg cast reports of severe pain and a
prickling sensation in the left foot. The toes on the left foot are pale and cool. Which nursing
action is a priority?
Answer: Notify the health care provider immediately
, Q13
A nurse performs discharge teaching for a patient after a left hip arthroplasty using the
posterior approach. Which statement indicates teaching issuccessful?
Answer: Leg-raising exercises are necessary for several months
Q14
The home care nurse visits a 74-yr-old man diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who fell while
walking this morning.What observation is of mostconcern to the nurse?
Answer: Left leg externally rotated and shorter than the right leg
Q15
A patient who had a long leg cast applied this morning asks to crutch walk before dinner. Which
statement explains why the nurse will decline thepatient's request?
Answer: Excess edema and complications are prevented when the leg is elevated for
24 hours
Q16
A patient who has low back pain from a herniated lumbar disc is having muscle spasms. Which
nursing intervention would be most appropriate?
Answer: Elevate the head of the bed 20 degrees and flex the knees.
Q17
An older adult is diagnosed with Paget's disease. Which finding would indicateimprovement in
the condition?
Answer: Lower serum alkaline phosphatase
Q18
The nurse is admitting a patient who reports the new onset of lower back pain. To distinguish
between the pain of a lumbar herniated disc from other causes, what is the best question for
the nurse to askthe patient?
Answer: Does the pain radiate down the buttock or into the leg?
