Chapter 46: Amputations
Linton: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 7th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse is aware that a patient who is having his leg amputated is also having a prosthesis
fitted during at the same time as the surgery. Which fact should the preoperative teaching plan
include?
a. Extra preoperative medications will be needed.
b. A rigid dressing will be applied to accommodate the prosthesis.
c. A series of temporary prostheses will be put in place before the permanent one.
d. Wiring the residual limb will be needed to ensure acceptance of the prosthesis.
ANS: B
A rigid dressing will be applied to the residual limb to accommodate the prosthesis
immediately after surgery.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 900 OBJ: 3
TOP: Preoperative Teaching KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
2. A patient asks when he should expect to be up and walking after his below-the-knee
amputation. When should the nurse assure him that most people with amputations can fully
bear weight?
a. 3 weeks
b. 1 month
c. 6 weeks
d. 3 months
ANS: D
Most people with amputations can fully bear weight 3 months after surgery.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 900 OBJ: 5
TOP: Amputation Recovery KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
3. A nurse is conducting a safety seminar and reminds the audience that upper extremity
amputations are most frequently caused by trauma. Which population has the highest
incidence of this type of amputation?
a. School-aged girls
b. School-aged boys
c. Young men
d. Young women
ANS: C
Young men are at greater risk from work trauma because they are traditionally the ones
working with farm and heavy machinery.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 898 OBJ: 1
TOP: Incidence KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Early Detection of Disease
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, 4. An 80-year-old man with diabetes has had vascular problems with his feet and lower legs for
10 years and is scheduled for a left below-the-knee amputation. Which remark by the patient
indicates an understanding of the procedure?
a. “I am glad this amputation will end my diabetic problems.”
b. “After they have hacked my leg, I won’t be able to drive.”
c. “If this heals well, how long until I get a prosthesis?”
d. “I hate that my left knee is going to be useless without a foot.”
ANS: C
Only this option indicates that the patient realizes the extent of the surgery.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 902 OBJ: 4
TOP: Amputation KEY: Nursing Process Step: Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Psychosocial Adaptation
5. What routine preoperative diagnostic tests are appropriate for a patient anticipating a below-
the-knee amputation?
a. Pulse volume recording and white blood cell (WBC) count
b. Cardiac catheterization and WBC count
c. Pulse volume recording and radiographic images
d. Thermography and cardiac catheterization
ANS: A
Pulse volume recording and WBC count are two diagnostic tests for patients anticipating a
below-the-knee amputation.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 903 OBJ: 4
TOP: Diagnostic Tests and Procedures KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
6. Where is the limb severed with an elbow disarticulation?
a. Just above the elbow joint
b. Just below the elbow joint
c. Between the shoulder and elbow
d. Through the elbow joint
ANS: D
Disarticulations sever the limbs through the joints.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 898 OBJ: 2
TOP: Type of Amputation KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
7. A patient with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and diabetes asks what he can do to help
prevent an amputation. What is the best response of the nurse?
a. “There is not really anything you can do to help.”
b. “Stopping smoking would help prevent vasoconstriction.”
c. “You will not need to check your blood glucose levels.”
d. “It is important to eat big meals so your body can heal.”
ANS: B
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Linton: Medical-Surgical Nursing, 7th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse is aware that a patient who is having his leg amputated is also having a prosthesis
fitted during at the same time as the surgery. Which fact should the preoperative teaching plan
include?
a. Extra preoperative medications will be needed.
b. A rigid dressing will be applied to accommodate the prosthesis.
c. A series of temporary prostheses will be put in place before the permanent one.
d. Wiring the residual limb will be needed to ensure acceptance of the prosthesis.
ANS: B
A rigid dressing will be applied to the residual limb to accommodate the prosthesis
immediately after surgery.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 900 OBJ: 3
TOP: Preoperative Teaching KEY: Nursing Process Step: Planning
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
2. A patient asks when he should expect to be up and walking after his below-the-knee
amputation. When should the nurse assure him that most people with amputations can fully
bear weight?
a. 3 weeks
b. 1 month
c. 6 weeks
d. 3 months
ANS: D
Most people with amputations can fully bear weight 3 months after surgery.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 900 OBJ: 5
TOP: Amputation Recovery KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Physiological Adaptation
3. A nurse is conducting a safety seminar and reminds the audience that upper extremity
amputations are most frequently caused by trauma. Which population has the highest
incidence of this type of amputation?
a. School-aged girls
b. School-aged boys
c. Young men
d. Young women
ANS: C
Young men are at greater risk from work trauma because they are traditionally the ones
working with farm and heavy machinery.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 898 OBJ: 1
TOP: Incidence KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Prevention and Early Detection of Disease
This study source was downloaded by 100000812546443 from CourseHero.com on 07-21-2023 14:55:26 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/93304331/46rtf/
, 4. An 80-year-old man with diabetes has had vascular problems with his feet and lower legs for
10 years and is scheduled for a left below-the-knee amputation. Which remark by the patient
indicates an understanding of the procedure?
a. “I am glad this amputation will end my diabetic problems.”
b. “After they have hacked my leg, I won’t be able to drive.”
c. “If this heals well, how long until I get a prosthesis?”
d. “I hate that my left knee is going to be useless without a foot.”
ANS: C
Only this option indicates that the patient realizes the extent of the surgery.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 902 OBJ: 4
TOP: Amputation KEY: Nursing Process Step: Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity: Psychosocial Adaptation
5. What routine preoperative diagnostic tests are appropriate for a patient anticipating a below-
the-knee amputation?
a. Pulse volume recording and white blood cell (WBC) count
b. Cardiac catheterization and WBC count
c. Pulse volume recording and radiographic images
d. Thermography and cardiac catheterization
ANS: A
Pulse volume recording and WBC count are two diagnostic tests for patients anticipating a
below-the-knee amputation.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 903 OBJ: 4
TOP: Diagnostic Tests and Procedures KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
6. Where is the limb severed with an elbow disarticulation?
a. Just above the elbow joint
b. Just below the elbow joint
c. Between the shoulder and elbow
d. Through the elbow joint
ANS: D
Disarticulations sever the limbs through the joints.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 898 OBJ: 2
TOP: Type of Amputation KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity: Basic Care and Comfort
7. A patient with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and diabetes asks what he can do to help
prevent an amputation. What is the best response of the nurse?
a. “There is not really anything you can do to help.”
b. “Stopping smoking would help prevent vasoconstriction.”
c. “You will not need to check your blood glucose levels.”
d. “It is important to eat big meals so your body can heal.”
ANS: B
This study source was downloaded by 100000812546443 from CourseHero.com on 07-21-2023 14:55:26 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/93304331/46rtf/
