©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
MSK Exam Questions With Correct Answers
A+
1. A client is 1 day postoperative after a total hip replacement. The client should be placed in
which of the following position?
a. Supine
b. Semi Fowler's
c. Orthopneic
d. Trendelenburg - Answer✔b. Semi Fowler's
2. A client who has had a plaster of Paris cast applied to his forearm is receiving pain
medication. To detect early manifestations of compartment syndrome, which of these
assessments should the nurse make?
a. Observe the color of the fingers
b. Palpate the radial pulse under the cast
c. Check the cast for odor and drainage
d. Evaluate the response to analgesics - Answer✔d. Evaluate the response to analgesics
3. After a computer tomography scan with intravenous contrast medium, a client returns to the
unit complaining of shortness of breath and itching. The nurse should be prepared to treat the
client for:
a. An anaphylactic reaction to the dye
b. Inflammation from the extravasation of fluid during injection.
c. Fluid overload from the volume of the infusions
1
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
d. A normal reaction to the stress of the diagnostic procedure. - Answer✔a. An anaphylactic
reaction to the dye
4. While caring for a client with a newly applied plaster of Paris cast, the nurse makes note of all
the following conditions. Which assessment finding requires immedite notification of the
physician?
a. Moderate pain, as reported by the client
b. Report, by client, the heat is being felt under the cast
c. Presence of slight edema of the toes of the casted foot
d. Onset of paralysis in the toes of the casted foot - Answer✔d. Onset of paralysis in the toes of
the casted foot
5. Which of these nursing actions will best promote independence for the client in skeletal
traction?
a. Instruct the client to call for an analgesic before pain becomes severe.
b. Provide an overhead trapeze for client use
c. Encourage leg exercise within the limits of traction
d. Provide skin care to prevent skin breakdown. - Answer✔b. Provide an overhead trapeze for
client use
6. A client presents in the emergency department after falling from a roof. A fracture of the
femoral neck is suspected. Which of these assessments best support this diagnosis.
a. The client reports pain in the affected leg
b. A large hematoma is visible in the affected extremity
c. The affected extremity is shortenend, adducted, and extremely rotated
d. The affected extremity is edematous. - Answer✔c. The affected extremity is shortenend,
adducted, and extremely rotated
7. The nurse is caring for a client with compound fracture of the tibia and fibula. Skeletal traction
is applied. Which of these priorities should the nurse include in the care plan?
a. Order a trapeze to increase the client's ambulation
2
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
b. Maintain the client in a flat, supine position at all times.
c. Provide pin care at least every hour
d. Remove traction weights for 20 minutes every two hours. - Answer✔c. Provide pin care at
least every hour
8. To prevent foot drop in a client with Buck's traction, the nurse should:
a. Place pillows under the client's heels.
b. Tuck the sheets into the foot of the bed
c. Teach the client isometric exercises
d. Ensure proper body positioning. - Answer✔d. Ensure proper body positioning.
9. Which nursing intervention is appropriate for a client with skeletal traction?
a. Pin care
b. Prone positioning
c. Intermittent weights
d. 5lb weight limit - Answer✔a. Pin care
10. In order for Buck's traction applied to the right leg to be effective, the client should be placed
in which position?
a. Supine
b. Prone
c. Sim's
d. Lithotomy - Answer✔a. Supine
11. An elderly client has sustained intertrochanteric fracture of the hip and has just returned from
surgery where a nail plate was inserted for internal fixation. The client has been instructed that
she should not flex her hip. The best explanation of why this movement would be harmful is:
a. It will be very painful for the client
b. The soft tissue around the site will be damaged
3
MSK Exam Questions With Correct Answers
A+
1. A client is 1 day postoperative after a total hip replacement. The client should be placed in
which of the following position?
a. Supine
b. Semi Fowler's
c. Orthopneic
d. Trendelenburg - Answer✔b. Semi Fowler's
2. A client who has had a plaster of Paris cast applied to his forearm is receiving pain
medication. To detect early manifestations of compartment syndrome, which of these
assessments should the nurse make?
a. Observe the color of the fingers
b. Palpate the radial pulse under the cast
c. Check the cast for odor and drainage
d. Evaluate the response to analgesics - Answer✔d. Evaluate the response to analgesics
3. After a computer tomography scan with intravenous contrast medium, a client returns to the
unit complaining of shortness of breath and itching. The nurse should be prepared to treat the
client for:
a. An anaphylactic reaction to the dye
b. Inflammation from the extravasation of fluid during injection.
c. Fluid overload from the volume of the infusions
1
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
d. A normal reaction to the stress of the diagnostic procedure. - Answer✔a. An anaphylactic
reaction to the dye
4. While caring for a client with a newly applied plaster of Paris cast, the nurse makes note of all
the following conditions. Which assessment finding requires immedite notification of the
physician?
a. Moderate pain, as reported by the client
b. Report, by client, the heat is being felt under the cast
c. Presence of slight edema of the toes of the casted foot
d. Onset of paralysis in the toes of the casted foot - Answer✔d. Onset of paralysis in the toes of
the casted foot
5. Which of these nursing actions will best promote independence for the client in skeletal
traction?
a. Instruct the client to call for an analgesic before pain becomes severe.
b. Provide an overhead trapeze for client use
c. Encourage leg exercise within the limits of traction
d. Provide skin care to prevent skin breakdown. - Answer✔b. Provide an overhead trapeze for
client use
6. A client presents in the emergency department after falling from a roof. A fracture of the
femoral neck is suspected. Which of these assessments best support this diagnosis.
a. The client reports pain in the affected leg
b. A large hematoma is visible in the affected extremity
c. The affected extremity is shortenend, adducted, and extremely rotated
d. The affected extremity is edematous. - Answer✔c. The affected extremity is shortenend,
adducted, and extremely rotated
7. The nurse is caring for a client with compound fracture of the tibia and fibula. Skeletal traction
is applied. Which of these priorities should the nurse include in the care plan?
a. Order a trapeze to increase the client's ambulation
2
, ©Jason MacConnell 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
b. Maintain the client in a flat, supine position at all times.
c. Provide pin care at least every hour
d. Remove traction weights for 20 minutes every two hours. - Answer✔c. Provide pin care at
least every hour
8. To prevent foot drop in a client with Buck's traction, the nurse should:
a. Place pillows under the client's heels.
b. Tuck the sheets into the foot of the bed
c. Teach the client isometric exercises
d. Ensure proper body positioning. - Answer✔d. Ensure proper body positioning.
9. Which nursing intervention is appropriate for a client with skeletal traction?
a. Pin care
b. Prone positioning
c. Intermittent weights
d. 5lb weight limit - Answer✔a. Pin care
10. In order for Buck's traction applied to the right leg to be effective, the client should be placed
in which position?
a. Supine
b. Prone
c. Sim's
d. Lithotomy - Answer✔a. Supine
11. An elderly client has sustained intertrochanteric fracture of the hip and has just returned from
surgery where a nail plate was inserted for internal fixation. The client has been instructed that
she should not flex her hip. The best explanation of why this movement would be harmful is:
a. It will be very painful for the client
b. The soft tissue around the site will be damaged
3
