RNSG 1430 Review Questions: Comfort, Mobility,
Functional Ability QUESTIONS WITH VERFIED ANSWERS
1. A 65-year-old female patient has been admitted to the medical-surgical unit.
The nurse is assessing the patients risk for falls so that falls prevention can be
implemented if necessary. Select all the risk factors that apply from this patients
history and physical. (Select all that apply.)
a. Being a woman
b. Taking more than six medications
c. Having hypertension
d. Having cataracts
e. Muscle strength 3-5 bilaterally
f. Incontinence Ans✓✓✓ B, D, E, F
(Adverse effects of medications can contribute to falls. Cataracts impair vision,
which is a risk factor for falls. Poor muscle strength is a risk factor for falls.
Incontinence of urine or stool increases risk for falls. Men have a higher risk for
falls. Hypertension itself does not contribute to falls. Dizziness does contribute to
falls.)
1. A patient who has been in the hospital for several weeks is about to be
discharged. The patient is weak from the hospitalization and asks the nurse to
explain why this is happening. The nurses best response is You are weak because
a. your iron level is low. This is known as anemia.
b. of your immobility in the hospital. This is known as deconditioning.
c. of your poor appetite. This is known as malnutrition.
d. of your medications. This is known as drug induced weakness. Ans✓✓✓ B
,(When a person is ill and immobile the body becomes weak. This is known as
deconditioning. Anemia, malnutrition, and medications may have an adverse
effect on the body, but this is not known as deconditioning.)
1. Bones perform five functions in the body: support, protection, movement,
mineral storage, and hematopoiesis. In the discussion of body mechanics, which
are the most important? (Select all that apply.)
a. Support
b. Protection
c. Movement
d. Mineral storage
e. Hematopoiesis Ans✓✓✓ A, C
(Bones perform five functions in the body: support, protection, movement,
mineral storage, and hematopoiesis. In the discussion of body mechanics, two of
these functions—support and movement—are most important. In support, bones
serve as the framework and contribute to the shape, alignment, and positioning
of body parts. In movement, bones together with their joints constitute levers for
muscle attachment. As muscles contract and shorten, they pull on bones,
producing joint movement. Protection involves encasing the soft tissue organs in
a protective cage. Mineral storage helps to strengthen bones but also helps
regulate blood levels of certain nutrients. Hematopoiesis is the formation of blood
cells.)
1. Correct body alignment reduces strain on musculoskeletal structures and
contributes to balance. Balance control is attained by (Select all that apply.)
a. Keeping the body's center of gravity high.
b. Maintaining a wide base of support.
c. Keeping the body's center of gravity low.
d. Maintaining correct body posture.
,e. Maintaining immobility to prevent falls. Ans✓✓✓ B, C, D
(Without balance control, the center of gravity is displaced, thus creating risk for
falls and injuries. Balance is enhanced by keeping the body's center of gravity low
(not high) with a wide base of support and by maintaining correct body posture.
Prolonged immobility leads to impaired balance.)
1. The coordinated efforts of the musculoskeletal and nervous system maintain
balance, posture, and body alignment. Body alignment refers to
a. A low center of gravity balanced over a wide base of support.
b. The result of weight, center of gravity, and balance.
c. The relationship of one body part to another.
d. The force that occurs in a direction to oppose movement. Ans✓✓✓ C
(Body alignment refers to the relationship of one body part to another body part
along a horizontal or vertical line. Body balance occurs when a relatively low
center of gravity is balanced over a wide, stable base of support. Coordinated
body movement is a result of weight, center of gravity, and balance. Friction is a
force that occurs in a direction to oppose movement.)
1. The lack of weight bearing leads to bone _________ and __________ from the
skeletal system. Ans✓✓✓ demineralization, calcium loss
(Weight bearing helps to strengthen the bone. Lack of weight bearing means that
the bone is losing minerals and calcium that strengthen it.)
1. The nurse is assessing a patients functional ability. Which activities most closely
match the definition of functional ability?
a. Healthy individual, works outside the home, uses a cane, well groomed
b. Healthy individual, college educated, travels frequently, can balance a
checkbook
, c. Healthy individual, works out, reads well, cooks and cleans house
d. Healthy individual, volunteers at church, works part time, takes care of family
and house Ans✓✓✓ D
(Functional ability refers to the individuals ability to perform the normal daily
activities required to meet basic needs; fulfill usual roles in the family, workplace,
and community; and maintain health and well-being. The other options are good;
however, each option has advanced or independent activities in the context of
the option.)
1. Understanding classifications of pain helps nurses develop a plan of care. A 62-
year-old male has fallen while trimming tree branches sustaining tissue injury. He
describes his condition as an aching, throbbing back. This is characteristic of
a. neuropathic pain.
b. nociceptive pain.
c. chronic pain.
d. mixed pain syndrome. Ans✓✓✓ B
(Nociceptive pain refers to the normal functioning of physiological systems that
leads to the perception of noxious stimuli (tissue injury) as being painful. Patients
describe this type of pain as aching, cramping, or throbbing. Neuropathic pain is
pathologic and results from abnormal processing of sensory input by the nervous
system as a result of damage to the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves.
Patients describe this type of pain as burning, sharp, and shooting. Chronic pain is
constant and unrelenting such as pain associated with cancer. Mixed pain
syndrome is not easily recognized, is unique with multiple underlying and poorly
understood mechanisms like fibromyalgia and low back pain.)
1. What is meant by "concentric tension" of muscles?
a. Increased muscle contraction results in movement.
b. The speed and direction of movement are controlled.
Functional Ability QUESTIONS WITH VERFIED ANSWERS
1. A 65-year-old female patient has been admitted to the medical-surgical unit.
The nurse is assessing the patients risk for falls so that falls prevention can be
implemented if necessary. Select all the risk factors that apply from this patients
history and physical. (Select all that apply.)
a. Being a woman
b. Taking more than six medications
c. Having hypertension
d. Having cataracts
e. Muscle strength 3-5 bilaterally
f. Incontinence Ans✓✓✓ B, D, E, F
(Adverse effects of medications can contribute to falls. Cataracts impair vision,
which is a risk factor for falls. Poor muscle strength is a risk factor for falls.
Incontinence of urine or stool increases risk for falls. Men have a higher risk for
falls. Hypertension itself does not contribute to falls. Dizziness does contribute to
falls.)
1. A patient who has been in the hospital for several weeks is about to be
discharged. The patient is weak from the hospitalization and asks the nurse to
explain why this is happening. The nurses best response is You are weak because
a. your iron level is low. This is known as anemia.
b. of your immobility in the hospital. This is known as deconditioning.
c. of your poor appetite. This is known as malnutrition.
d. of your medications. This is known as drug induced weakness. Ans✓✓✓ B
,(When a person is ill and immobile the body becomes weak. This is known as
deconditioning. Anemia, malnutrition, and medications may have an adverse
effect on the body, but this is not known as deconditioning.)
1. Bones perform five functions in the body: support, protection, movement,
mineral storage, and hematopoiesis. In the discussion of body mechanics, which
are the most important? (Select all that apply.)
a. Support
b. Protection
c. Movement
d. Mineral storage
e. Hematopoiesis Ans✓✓✓ A, C
(Bones perform five functions in the body: support, protection, movement,
mineral storage, and hematopoiesis. In the discussion of body mechanics, two of
these functions—support and movement—are most important. In support, bones
serve as the framework and contribute to the shape, alignment, and positioning
of body parts. In movement, bones together with their joints constitute levers for
muscle attachment. As muscles contract and shorten, they pull on bones,
producing joint movement. Protection involves encasing the soft tissue organs in
a protective cage. Mineral storage helps to strengthen bones but also helps
regulate blood levels of certain nutrients. Hematopoiesis is the formation of blood
cells.)
1. Correct body alignment reduces strain on musculoskeletal structures and
contributes to balance. Balance control is attained by (Select all that apply.)
a. Keeping the body's center of gravity high.
b. Maintaining a wide base of support.
c. Keeping the body's center of gravity low.
d. Maintaining correct body posture.
,e. Maintaining immobility to prevent falls. Ans✓✓✓ B, C, D
(Without balance control, the center of gravity is displaced, thus creating risk for
falls and injuries. Balance is enhanced by keeping the body's center of gravity low
(not high) with a wide base of support and by maintaining correct body posture.
Prolonged immobility leads to impaired balance.)
1. The coordinated efforts of the musculoskeletal and nervous system maintain
balance, posture, and body alignment. Body alignment refers to
a. A low center of gravity balanced over a wide base of support.
b. The result of weight, center of gravity, and balance.
c. The relationship of one body part to another.
d. The force that occurs in a direction to oppose movement. Ans✓✓✓ C
(Body alignment refers to the relationship of one body part to another body part
along a horizontal or vertical line. Body balance occurs when a relatively low
center of gravity is balanced over a wide, stable base of support. Coordinated
body movement is a result of weight, center of gravity, and balance. Friction is a
force that occurs in a direction to oppose movement.)
1. The lack of weight bearing leads to bone _________ and __________ from the
skeletal system. Ans✓✓✓ demineralization, calcium loss
(Weight bearing helps to strengthen the bone. Lack of weight bearing means that
the bone is losing minerals and calcium that strengthen it.)
1. The nurse is assessing a patients functional ability. Which activities most closely
match the definition of functional ability?
a. Healthy individual, works outside the home, uses a cane, well groomed
b. Healthy individual, college educated, travels frequently, can balance a
checkbook
, c. Healthy individual, works out, reads well, cooks and cleans house
d. Healthy individual, volunteers at church, works part time, takes care of family
and house Ans✓✓✓ D
(Functional ability refers to the individuals ability to perform the normal daily
activities required to meet basic needs; fulfill usual roles in the family, workplace,
and community; and maintain health and well-being. The other options are good;
however, each option has advanced or independent activities in the context of
the option.)
1. Understanding classifications of pain helps nurses develop a plan of care. A 62-
year-old male has fallen while trimming tree branches sustaining tissue injury. He
describes his condition as an aching, throbbing back. This is characteristic of
a. neuropathic pain.
b. nociceptive pain.
c. chronic pain.
d. mixed pain syndrome. Ans✓✓✓ B
(Nociceptive pain refers to the normal functioning of physiological systems that
leads to the perception of noxious stimuli (tissue injury) as being painful. Patients
describe this type of pain as aching, cramping, or throbbing. Neuropathic pain is
pathologic and results from abnormal processing of sensory input by the nervous
system as a result of damage to the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves.
Patients describe this type of pain as burning, sharp, and shooting. Chronic pain is
constant and unrelenting such as pain associated with cancer. Mixed pain
syndrome is not easily recognized, is unique with multiple underlying and poorly
understood mechanisms like fibromyalgia and low back pain.)
1. What is meant by "concentric tension" of muscles?
a. Increased muscle contraction results in movement.
b. The speed and direction of movement are controlled.
