NSG 3130 Exam 2 Questions with Correct
Answers
1. Your patient will be using crutches for mobility. After educating the patient on how
to adjust the crutches to fit correctly, you assess how well the patient understood the
instructions. What findings demonstrate that the crutches were adjusted correctly by
the patient? Select all that apply:*
A. The hand grips of the crutches are even with the mid-forearm.
B. When the patient grips the hand grips of the crutches the elbow bends at about 30
degrees.
C. The patient has a 2-3 finger width distance between the axillae and crutch rest pad.
D. The patient places weight on the axillae rather than the hands while ambulating.
The answers are B and C. Properly fitted crutches should be a 2-3 finger width (about 1-1.5
inches) distance between the axillae (armpit area) and the crutch rest pads during ambulation.
This prevents damaging the nerves that are located in the axillae during ambulation. In
addition, when the patient grips the hand grips of the crutches the elbow should slightly bend
at about 30 degrees. Option A is wrong because the hand grips of the crutches should be even
with the hip line (not the mid-forearm), and option D is wrong because the patient should
place weight on the HANDS while ambulating NOT the axillae area (this can cause nerve
damage).
2. Your patient is using a cane for the first time. Before using the cane, you assess that
the cane properly fits the patient. Which findings below demonstrate the cane properly
fits the patient? Select all that apply:*
,A. The arm that is holding the cane is flexed at about a 40 degree angle.
B. The top of the cane is at the level of the greater trochanter.
C. When the patient dangles their arms, the top of the cane is even with the crease of the
wrist closest to the hand.
D. There is a 1.5 inch gap between the top of the cane and the axillae.
The answers are B and C. Option B and C are correct because these are the two methods used
to determine a proper fit for a cane. Option A is wrong because the arm holding the cane
should be flexed at about 15-30 degree angle (NOT 40 degree angle). Option D is wrong
because proper measurement of a cane has nothing to do with the axillae region (this is
applicable only for crutches).
3. A patient will be using a walker for the first time. You adjust the walker to fit the
patient. Which finding below demonstrates that the walker properly fits the patient?*
A. There is a 2-3 finger width distance between the hand grips of the walker and the
wrists.
B. The elbows bend at about a 15-30 degree angle when the patient holds onto the hand
grips of the walker.
C. The patient's back is mid-line with the crossbar of the walker.
D. The crossbar of the walker is even with the greater trochanter.
The answer is B. When a patient holds the hand grips of the walker, the elbows should
slightly bend at a 15-30 degree angle.
4. Your patient is prescribed to use crutches for ambulation. The patient can bear
partial weight and needs to be taught how to use the two-point gait while using crutches.
Which description below best describes this type of gait with crutches?*
, A. The patient moves both crutches forward and then moves both legs forward to the
same point as the crutches.
B. The patient moves the right crutch (injured side), then moves the left foot (non-
injured side), then moves the left crutch (non-injured side), and then moves the right
foot (injured side).
C. The patient moves both the right crutch (injured side) and left foot (non-injured side)
forward together, and then moves the left crutch (non-injured side) and right foot
(injured side) forward together.
D. The patient moves both crutches and injured leg forward together, and then moves
the non-injured leg forward.
The answer is C. The two-point gait is where the patient moves both the right crutch (injured
side) and left foot (non-injured side) forward TOGETHER, and then moves the left crutch
(non-injured side) and right foot (injured side) forward TOGETHER.
5. While your patient is ambulating with crutches he moves both crutches forward
along with the injured leg and then moves the non-injured forward. When you
document you will note that the patient used what type of gait while ambulating with
crutches?*
A. Two-point gait
B. Three-point gait
C. Four-point gait
D. Swing-to-gait
The answer is B. This describes the three-point gait while using crutches
Answers
1. Your patient will be using crutches for mobility. After educating the patient on how
to adjust the crutches to fit correctly, you assess how well the patient understood the
instructions. What findings demonstrate that the crutches were adjusted correctly by
the patient? Select all that apply:*
A. The hand grips of the crutches are even with the mid-forearm.
B. When the patient grips the hand grips of the crutches the elbow bends at about 30
degrees.
C. The patient has a 2-3 finger width distance between the axillae and crutch rest pad.
D. The patient places weight on the axillae rather than the hands while ambulating.
The answers are B and C. Properly fitted crutches should be a 2-3 finger width (about 1-1.5
inches) distance between the axillae (armpit area) and the crutch rest pads during ambulation.
This prevents damaging the nerves that are located in the axillae during ambulation. In
addition, when the patient grips the hand grips of the crutches the elbow should slightly bend
at about 30 degrees. Option A is wrong because the hand grips of the crutches should be even
with the hip line (not the mid-forearm), and option D is wrong because the patient should
place weight on the HANDS while ambulating NOT the axillae area (this can cause nerve
damage).
2. Your patient is using a cane for the first time. Before using the cane, you assess that
the cane properly fits the patient. Which findings below demonstrate the cane properly
fits the patient? Select all that apply:*
,A. The arm that is holding the cane is flexed at about a 40 degree angle.
B. The top of the cane is at the level of the greater trochanter.
C. When the patient dangles their arms, the top of the cane is even with the crease of the
wrist closest to the hand.
D. There is a 1.5 inch gap between the top of the cane and the axillae.
The answers are B and C. Option B and C are correct because these are the two methods used
to determine a proper fit for a cane. Option A is wrong because the arm holding the cane
should be flexed at about 15-30 degree angle (NOT 40 degree angle). Option D is wrong
because proper measurement of a cane has nothing to do with the axillae region (this is
applicable only for crutches).
3. A patient will be using a walker for the first time. You adjust the walker to fit the
patient. Which finding below demonstrates that the walker properly fits the patient?*
A. There is a 2-3 finger width distance between the hand grips of the walker and the
wrists.
B. The elbows bend at about a 15-30 degree angle when the patient holds onto the hand
grips of the walker.
C. The patient's back is mid-line with the crossbar of the walker.
D. The crossbar of the walker is even with the greater trochanter.
The answer is B. When a patient holds the hand grips of the walker, the elbows should
slightly bend at a 15-30 degree angle.
4. Your patient is prescribed to use crutches for ambulation. The patient can bear
partial weight and needs to be taught how to use the two-point gait while using crutches.
Which description below best describes this type of gait with crutches?*
, A. The patient moves both crutches forward and then moves both legs forward to the
same point as the crutches.
B. The patient moves the right crutch (injured side), then moves the left foot (non-
injured side), then moves the left crutch (non-injured side), and then moves the right
foot (injured side).
C. The patient moves both the right crutch (injured side) and left foot (non-injured side)
forward together, and then moves the left crutch (non-injured side) and right foot
(injured side) forward together.
D. The patient moves both crutches and injured leg forward together, and then moves
the non-injured leg forward.
The answer is C. The two-point gait is where the patient moves both the right crutch (injured
side) and left foot (non-injured side) forward TOGETHER, and then moves the left crutch
(non-injured side) and right foot (injured side) forward TOGETHER.
5. While your patient is ambulating with crutches he moves both crutches forward
along with the injured leg and then moves the non-injured forward. When you
document you will note that the patient used what type of gait while ambulating with
crutches?*
A. Two-point gait
B. Three-point gait
C. Four-point gait
D. Swing-to-gait
The answer is B. This describes the three-point gait while using crutches
