Lewis: Medical-Surgical, Chapter 68:Assessment, Diagnosis,
Interprofessional Management, Antibiotic Therapy, IV Infusion Calculations,
Pain Control, Infection Prevention, Bone Integrity, Fracture Risk, Immobilization,
Weight-Bearing Guidelines, Range-of-Motion Exercises, Splinting, Patient
Education, Self-Care Strategies, Laboratory Monitoring, Renal Function, Drug
Toxicity, Bisphosphonates, Vitamin D Supplementation, Calcium Intake, Diet
Management, Pharmacologic Interventions, Acute Osteomyelitis, Chronic
Osteomyelitis, Osteoporosis, Osteomalacia, Postoperative Care, Wound
Assessment, Fever Management, Musculoskeletal Assessment, Mobility
Support, Patient Safety Exam Questions Verified and Provided with Complete
A+ Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026
A patient with acute osteomyelitis of the left femur is hospitalized for regional antibiotic irrigation.
Which intervention will the nurse include in the initial plan of care?
a. Quadriceps-setting exercises
b. Immobilization of the left leg
c. Positioning the left leg in flexion
d. Assisted weight-bearing ambulation
ANS: B
Immobilization of the affected leg helps to decrease pain and reduce the risk for pathologic
fracture. Weight-bearing exercise increases the risk for pathologic fractures. Flexion of the
affected limb is avoided to prevent contractures.
A patient is being discharged after 1 week of IV antibiotic therapy for acute osteomyelitis in the right leg.
Which information will be included in the discharge teaching?
a. How to apply warm packs to the leg to reduce pain
, b. How to monitor and care for a long-term IV catheter
c. The need for daily aerobic exercise to help maintain muscle strength
d. The reason for taking oral antibiotics for 7 to 10 days after discharge
ANS: B
The patient will be taking IV antibiotics for several months. The patient will need to recognize
signs of infection at the IV site and know how to care for the catheter during daily activities
such as bathing. IV antibiotics rather than oral antibiotics are used for acute osteomyelitis.
Patients are instructed to avoid exercise and heat application because these will increase
swelling and the risk for spreading infection.
A patient is receiving IV antibiotics at home to treat chronic osteomyelitis of the left femur.
The nurse identifies a need for additional teaching related to health maintenance when the nurse finds
that the patient..
a. is frustrated with the length of treatment required.
b. takes and records the oral temperature twice a day.
c. is unable to plantar flex the foot on the affected side.
d. uses crutches to avoid weight bearing on the affected leg.
ANS: C
Foot drop is an indication that the foot is not being supported in a neutral position by a splint.
Using crutches and monitoring the oral temperature are appropriate self-care activities.
Frustration with the length of treatment is not an indicator of ineffective health maintenance of the
osteomyelitis.
An assessment finding for a 55-yr-old patient that alerts the nurse to the presence of osteoporosis is
Interprofessional Management, Antibiotic Therapy, IV Infusion Calculations,
Pain Control, Infection Prevention, Bone Integrity, Fracture Risk, Immobilization,
Weight-Bearing Guidelines, Range-of-Motion Exercises, Splinting, Patient
Education, Self-Care Strategies, Laboratory Monitoring, Renal Function, Drug
Toxicity, Bisphosphonates, Vitamin D Supplementation, Calcium Intake, Diet
Management, Pharmacologic Interventions, Acute Osteomyelitis, Chronic
Osteomyelitis, Osteoporosis, Osteomalacia, Postoperative Care, Wound
Assessment, Fever Management, Musculoskeletal Assessment, Mobility
Support, Patient Safety Exam Questions Verified and Provided with Complete
A+ Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026
A patient with acute osteomyelitis of the left femur is hospitalized for regional antibiotic irrigation.
Which intervention will the nurse include in the initial plan of care?
a. Quadriceps-setting exercises
b. Immobilization of the left leg
c. Positioning the left leg in flexion
d. Assisted weight-bearing ambulation
ANS: B
Immobilization of the affected leg helps to decrease pain and reduce the risk for pathologic
fracture. Weight-bearing exercise increases the risk for pathologic fractures. Flexion of the
affected limb is avoided to prevent contractures.
A patient is being discharged after 1 week of IV antibiotic therapy for acute osteomyelitis in the right leg.
Which information will be included in the discharge teaching?
a. How to apply warm packs to the leg to reduce pain
, b. How to monitor and care for a long-term IV catheter
c. The need for daily aerobic exercise to help maintain muscle strength
d. The reason for taking oral antibiotics for 7 to 10 days after discharge
ANS: B
The patient will be taking IV antibiotics for several months. The patient will need to recognize
signs of infection at the IV site and know how to care for the catheter during daily activities
such as bathing. IV antibiotics rather than oral antibiotics are used for acute osteomyelitis.
Patients are instructed to avoid exercise and heat application because these will increase
swelling and the risk for spreading infection.
A patient is receiving IV antibiotics at home to treat chronic osteomyelitis of the left femur.
The nurse identifies a need for additional teaching related to health maintenance when the nurse finds
that the patient..
a. is frustrated with the length of treatment required.
b. takes and records the oral temperature twice a day.
c. is unable to plantar flex the foot on the affected side.
d. uses crutches to avoid weight bearing on the affected leg.
ANS: C
Foot drop is an indication that the foot is not being supported in a neutral position by a splint.
Using crutches and monitoring the oral temperature are appropriate self-care activities.
Frustration with the length of treatment is not an indicator of ineffective health maintenance of the
osteomyelitis.
An assessment finding for a 55-yr-old patient that alerts the nurse to the presence of osteoporosis is
