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Nursing 354 Fracture Management
Practice Exam Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant Download
Pdf
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1. A patient with a suspected femur fracture arrives in the emergency
department. Which assessment should the nurse perform first?
A. Assess the patient's pain level
B. Inspect the affected extremity for bruising
C. Assess airway, breathing, and circulation
D. Obtain the patient's orthopedic history
Answer: Assess airway, breathing, and circulation
Rationale: Fractures can occur with significant trauma and blood loss. The nurse
prioritizes airway, breathing, and circulation before focusing on the injured
extremity or pain.
2. Which finding is most characteristic of a closed fracture?
A. Bone protruding through the skin
B. Skin remains intact over the fracture
,C. Severe bleeding from the wound
D. Visible bone fragments
Answer: Skin remains intact over the fracture
Rationale: A closed fracture does not communicate with the external
environment because the skin remains intact.
3. A patient with a fractured lower leg reports increasing pain that is not
relieved by prescribed analgesics. Which complication should the nurse
suspect?
A. Osteoarthritis
B. Fat embolism
C. Compartment syndrome
D. Delayed union
Answer: Compartment syndrome
Rationale: Severe, progressive pain that is disproportionate to the injury and
poorly relieved by analgesics is an important early warning sign of compartment
syndrome.
4. Which assessment finding is particularly concerning for compartment
syndrome?
A. Mild swelling
B. Pain with passive movement
C. Bruising around the fracture
D. Limited range of motion due to discomfort
Answer: Pain with passive movement
Rationale: Pain with passive stretching of muscles within a swollen
compartment is a classic early finding of compartment syndrome and requires
urgent intervention.
5. A patient has a newly applied cast on the lower leg. Which instruction
should the nurse provide?
,A. Insert objects under the cast to relieve itching
B. Keep the extremity dependent
C. Elevate the extremity as prescribed
D. Cover the cast with plastic continuously
Answer: Elevate the extremity as prescribed
Rationale: Elevation helps decrease swelling after cast application. Objects
should never be inserted under a cast because they can injure the skin.
6. Which finding after cast application requires immediate nursing attention?
A. Mild warmth of the toes
B. Slight itching beneath the cast
C. Capillary refill of 2 seconds
D. Increasing numbness and inability to move the toes
Answer: Increasing numbness and inability to move the toes
Rationale: New neurologic or circulatory impairment may indicate
neurovascular compromise and requires immediate evaluation.
7. A nurse is assessing a patient with a fractured extremity. Which assessment
is most appropriate for evaluating distal circulation?
A. Bowel sounds
B. Peripheral pulse
C. Lung sounds
D. Pupillary response
Answer: Peripheral pulse
Rationale: Distal pulses provide information about arterial circulation beyond
the site of injury.
8. Which intervention is appropriate immediately after a suspected extremity
fracture?
A. Massage the injured area
B. Attempt to straighten the extremity
, C. Immobilize the affected extremity
D. Encourage active range-of-motion exercises
Answer: Immobilize the affected extremity
Rationale: Immobilization reduces movement, pain, and additional tissue
damage and helps prevent further injury to blood vessels and nerves.
9. A patient with a fractured arm is placed in a splint. What is the primary
purpose of the splint?
A. Permanently realign the bone
B. Prevent movement of the injured area
C. Increase muscle strength
D. Eliminate the need for follow-up care
Answer: Prevent movement of the injured area
Rationale: Splints stabilize the injured area while allowing room for swelling and
are commonly used during initial fracture management.
10.Which type of fracture involves the bone breaking into several fragments?
A. Greenstick fracture
B. Transverse fracture
C. Comminuted fracture
D. Oblique fracture
Answer: Comminuted fracture
Rationale: A comminuted fracture produces multiple bone fragments and is
often associated with significant trauma.
11.Which fracture is characterized by an incomplete break commonly seen in
children?
A. Greenstick fracture
B. Comminuted fracture
C. Spiral fracture
D. Compression fracture
Nursing 354 Fracture Management
Practice Exam Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant Download
___________________________________________________________________
1. A patient with a suspected femur fracture arrives in the emergency
department. Which assessment should the nurse perform first?
A. Assess the patient's pain level
B. Inspect the affected extremity for bruising
C. Assess airway, breathing, and circulation
D. Obtain the patient's orthopedic history
Answer: Assess airway, breathing, and circulation
Rationale: Fractures can occur with significant trauma and blood loss. The nurse
prioritizes airway, breathing, and circulation before focusing on the injured
extremity or pain.
2. Which finding is most characteristic of a closed fracture?
A. Bone protruding through the skin
B. Skin remains intact over the fracture
,C. Severe bleeding from the wound
D. Visible bone fragments
Answer: Skin remains intact over the fracture
Rationale: A closed fracture does not communicate with the external
environment because the skin remains intact.
3. A patient with a fractured lower leg reports increasing pain that is not
relieved by prescribed analgesics. Which complication should the nurse
suspect?
A. Osteoarthritis
B. Fat embolism
C. Compartment syndrome
D. Delayed union
Answer: Compartment syndrome
Rationale: Severe, progressive pain that is disproportionate to the injury and
poorly relieved by analgesics is an important early warning sign of compartment
syndrome.
4. Which assessment finding is particularly concerning for compartment
syndrome?
A. Mild swelling
B. Pain with passive movement
C. Bruising around the fracture
D. Limited range of motion due to discomfort
Answer: Pain with passive movement
Rationale: Pain with passive stretching of muscles within a swollen
compartment is a classic early finding of compartment syndrome and requires
urgent intervention.
5. A patient has a newly applied cast on the lower leg. Which instruction
should the nurse provide?
,A. Insert objects under the cast to relieve itching
B. Keep the extremity dependent
C. Elevate the extremity as prescribed
D. Cover the cast with plastic continuously
Answer: Elevate the extremity as prescribed
Rationale: Elevation helps decrease swelling after cast application. Objects
should never be inserted under a cast because they can injure the skin.
6. Which finding after cast application requires immediate nursing attention?
A. Mild warmth of the toes
B. Slight itching beneath the cast
C. Capillary refill of 2 seconds
D. Increasing numbness and inability to move the toes
Answer: Increasing numbness and inability to move the toes
Rationale: New neurologic or circulatory impairment may indicate
neurovascular compromise and requires immediate evaluation.
7. A nurse is assessing a patient with a fractured extremity. Which assessment
is most appropriate for evaluating distal circulation?
A. Bowel sounds
B. Peripheral pulse
C. Lung sounds
D. Pupillary response
Answer: Peripheral pulse
Rationale: Distal pulses provide information about arterial circulation beyond
the site of injury.
8. Which intervention is appropriate immediately after a suspected extremity
fracture?
A. Massage the injured area
B. Attempt to straighten the extremity
, C. Immobilize the affected extremity
D. Encourage active range-of-motion exercises
Answer: Immobilize the affected extremity
Rationale: Immobilization reduces movement, pain, and additional tissue
damage and helps prevent further injury to blood vessels and nerves.
9. A patient with a fractured arm is placed in a splint. What is the primary
purpose of the splint?
A. Permanently realign the bone
B. Prevent movement of the injured area
C. Increase muscle strength
D. Eliminate the need for follow-up care
Answer: Prevent movement of the injured area
Rationale: Splints stabilize the injured area while allowing room for swelling and
are commonly used during initial fracture management.
10.Which type of fracture involves the bone breaking into several fragments?
A. Greenstick fracture
B. Transverse fracture
C. Comminuted fracture
D. Oblique fracture
Answer: Comminuted fracture
Rationale: A comminuted fracture produces multiple bone fragments and is
often associated with significant trauma.
11.Which fracture is characterized by an incomplete break commonly seen in
children?
A. Greenstick fracture
B. Comminuted fracture
C. Spiral fracture
D. Compression fracture
