NURS 753 Final Exam Study Pack:
Therapeutic Modalities Questions
and Answers with Rationales
Latest Versions
Question 1
A nurse practitioner is developing a treatment plan for a patient with
chronic osteoarthritis. Which intervention represents a non-
pharmacologic therapeutic modality with the strongest evidence for
improving pain and function?
A. Long-term bed rest
B. Structured exercise and physical therapy
C. Daily opioid therapy
D. Routine corticosteroid injections
Correct Answer: B. Structured exercise and physical therapy
Rationale
Exercise improves joint mobility, strengthens periarticular muscles,
decreases pain, and enhances physical function. Supervised physical
therapy and individualized exercise programs are first-line treatments for
osteoarthritis.
• A: Bed rest accelerates muscle wasting and worsens stiffness.
• C: Opioids are reserved only for carefully selected patients
because of dependence and adverse effects.
, • D: Repeated corticosteroid injections should be limited because
they may contribute to cartilage deterioration.
Clinical Pearl
Current guidelines recommend combining exercise, weight reduction,
patient education, and self-management before considering long-term
pharmacologic therapy.
Question 2
A patient with chronic heart failure is prescribed cardiac rehabilitation
after hospital discharge. What is the primary therapeutic goal?
A. Eliminate the need for medications
B. Improve cardiovascular endurance and reduce hospital readmissions
C. Increase resting heart rate
D. Promote complete bed rest
Correct Answer: B. Improve cardiovascular endurance and reduce
hospital readmissions
Rationale
Cardiac rehabilitation combines monitored exercise, nutrition
counseling, medication education, and psychosocial support to improve
functional capacity while reducing mortality and rehospitalization.
• A: Medications remain essential.
• C: Rehabilitation generally lowers resting heart rate through
improved conditioning.
• D: Prolonged inactivity worsens outcomes.
Clinical Pearl
Participation in cardiac rehabilitation significantly improves quality of
life and survival after myocardial infarction and in stable heart failure.
,Question 3
Which therapeutic modality is considered first-line treatment for
chronic nonspecific low back pain?
A. Immediate spinal surgery
B. Exercise therapy combined with education
C. Long-term opioid therapy
D. Strict bed rest
Correct Answer: B. Exercise therapy combined with education
Rationale
Exercise, patient education, and maintaining activity are strongly
recommended because they improve pain and functional outcomes while
minimizing disability.
• Surgery is reserved for specific structural pathology.
• Opioids are not recommended as first-line therapy.
• Bed rest delays recovery.
Question 4
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) begins
pulmonary rehabilitation. Which outcome best demonstrates successful
therapy?
A. Increased oxygen requirements
B. Improved exercise tolerance
C. Progressive weight gain due to inactivity
D. Decreased participation in activities
Correct Answer: B. Improved exercise tolerance
, Rationale
Pulmonary rehabilitation improves endurance, dyspnea, quality of life,
and functional independence through exercise training, breathing
techniques, and education.
Question 5
Which therapeutic modality is most effective for improving swallowing
after an ischemic stroke?
A. Speech-language pathology therapy
B. Continuous sedation
C. Bed rest
D. High-dose opioid therapy
Correct Answer: A. Speech-language pathology therapy
Rationale
Speech-language pathologists evaluate dysphagia and implement
swallowing exercises and compensatory techniques that reduce
aspiration risk.
Question 6
A patient recovering from total knee replacement asks why physical
therapy begins on postoperative day one. The nurse practitioner explains
that early mobilization primarily:
A. Prevents muscle atrophy and thromboembolic complications
B. Delays healing
C. Increases postoperative pain permanently
D. Weakens surgical repair
Therapeutic Modalities Questions
and Answers with Rationales
Latest Versions
Question 1
A nurse practitioner is developing a treatment plan for a patient with
chronic osteoarthritis. Which intervention represents a non-
pharmacologic therapeutic modality with the strongest evidence for
improving pain and function?
A. Long-term bed rest
B. Structured exercise and physical therapy
C. Daily opioid therapy
D. Routine corticosteroid injections
Correct Answer: B. Structured exercise and physical therapy
Rationale
Exercise improves joint mobility, strengthens periarticular muscles,
decreases pain, and enhances physical function. Supervised physical
therapy and individualized exercise programs are first-line treatments for
osteoarthritis.
• A: Bed rest accelerates muscle wasting and worsens stiffness.
• C: Opioids are reserved only for carefully selected patients
because of dependence and adverse effects.
, • D: Repeated corticosteroid injections should be limited because
they may contribute to cartilage deterioration.
Clinical Pearl
Current guidelines recommend combining exercise, weight reduction,
patient education, and self-management before considering long-term
pharmacologic therapy.
Question 2
A patient with chronic heart failure is prescribed cardiac rehabilitation
after hospital discharge. What is the primary therapeutic goal?
A. Eliminate the need for medications
B. Improve cardiovascular endurance and reduce hospital readmissions
C. Increase resting heart rate
D. Promote complete bed rest
Correct Answer: B. Improve cardiovascular endurance and reduce
hospital readmissions
Rationale
Cardiac rehabilitation combines monitored exercise, nutrition
counseling, medication education, and psychosocial support to improve
functional capacity while reducing mortality and rehospitalization.
• A: Medications remain essential.
• C: Rehabilitation generally lowers resting heart rate through
improved conditioning.
• D: Prolonged inactivity worsens outcomes.
Clinical Pearl
Participation in cardiac rehabilitation significantly improves quality of
life and survival after myocardial infarction and in stable heart failure.
,Question 3
Which therapeutic modality is considered first-line treatment for
chronic nonspecific low back pain?
A. Immediate spinal surgery
B. Exercise therapy combined with education
C. Long-term opioid therapy
D. Strict bed rest
Correct Answer: B. Exercise therapy combined with education
Rationale
Exercise, patient education, and maintaining activity are strongly
recommended because they improve pain and functional outcomes while
minimizing disability.
• Surgery is reserved for specific structural pathology.
• Opioids are not recommended as first-line therapy.
• Bed rest delays recovery.
Question 4
A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) begins
pulmonary rehabilitation. Which outcome best demonstrates successful
therapy?
A. Increased oxygen requirements
B. Improved exercise tolerance
C. Progressive weight gain due to inactivity
D. Decreased participation in activities
Correct Answer: B. Improved exercise tolerance
, Rationale
Pulmonary rehabilitation improves endurance, dyspnea, quality of life,
and functional independence through exercise training, breathing
techniques, and education.
Question 5
Which therapeutic modality is most effective for improving swallowing
after an ischemic stroke?
A. Speech-language pathology therapy
B. Continuous sedation
C. Bed rest
D. High-dose opioid therapy
Correct Answer: A. Speech-language pathology therapy
Rationale
Speech-language pathologists evaluate dysphagia and implement
swallowing exercises and compensatory techniques that reduce
aspiration risk.
Question 6
A patient recovering from total knee replacement asks why physical
therapy begins on postoperative day one. The nurse practitioner explains
that early mobilization primarily:
A. Prevents muscle atrophy and thromboembolic complications
B. Delays healing
C. Increases postoperative pain permanently
D. Weakens surgical repair
