NUR 324 (Med/Surg) Midterm Exam Study Guide with Practice Questions and
Definitions 2024- 2025 GRADE A 100% VERIFIED
A nurse is caring for a client with a cast on the left arm after sustaining a fracture. Which assessment
finding is most significant for this client?
A. Fingers on the left hand are swollen and cool
B. Presence of a normal popliteal pulse
C. Minimal pain in the left arm
D. Cast edges are rough, with skin irritation present- ANS>>> A. Fingers on the left hand are swollen and
cool
To reduce the incidence of complications in a client in traction, which intervention should be included in
the care plan?
A. Remove the weights during linen changes.
B. Increase fiber intake.
C. Reduce fluid intake.
D. Increase calorie intake.- ANS>>> B. Increase fiber intake.
Which is a benefit of a continuous passive motion (CPM) device when applied after knee surgery?
A. It prevents infection and controls edema and bleeding.
B. It promotes healing by increasing circulation and movement of the knee joint.
C. It provides active range of motion.
D. It promotes healing by immobilizing the knee joint.- ANS>>> B. It promotes healing by increasing
circulation and movement of the knee joint.
Which nursing action would help prevent deep vein thrombosis in a client who has had an orthopedic
surgery?
A. Instruct about exercise, as prescribed
B. Apply cold packs
C. Apply antiembolism stockings
D. Instruct about using client-controlled analgesia, if prescribed- ANS>>> C. Apply antiembolism
stockings
,Which is an inaccurate principle of traction?
A. The weights are not removed unless intermittent treatment is prescribed.
B. Skeletal traction is interrupted to turn and reposition the client.
C. The client must be in good alignment in the center of the bed.
D. The weights must hang freely.- ANS>>> B. Skeletal traction is interrupted to turn and reposition the
client.
The client displays manifestations of compartment syndrome. What treatment will the nurse expect the
client to be scheduled for?
A. A fasciotomy
B. A total hip replacement
C. A total knee replacement
D. An open reduction- ANS>>> A. A fasciotomy
Following a total knee replacement, the surgeon orders a continuous passive motion (CPM) device. The
client asks about the purpose of this treatment. What is the best response by the nurse?
A. "CPM increases range of motion of the joint."
B. "CPM prevents injury by limiting flexion of the knee."
C. "CPM delivers analgesic agents directly into the joint."
D. "CPM strengthens the muscles of the leg."- ANS>>> A. "CPM increases range of motion of the joint."
The nurse is checking the traction apparatus for a client in skin traction. Which finding would require the
nurse to intervene?
A. Ropes freely moving over pulleys
B. Body aligned opposite to line of traction pull
C. Weights hanging and touching the floor
D. Pulleys without evidence of the obstruction- ANS>>> C. Weights hanging and touching the floor
,The nurse is providing instructions to the client who is being prepared for skeletal traction. Which
statement by the client indicates teaching was effective?
A. "Metal pins will go through my skin to the bone."
B. "The traction can be removed once a day so I can shower."
C. "I will wear a boot with weights attached."
D. "A belt will go around my pelvis and weights will be attached."- ANS>>> A. "Metal pins will go through
my skin to the bone."
A client with a right leg fracture is returning to the orthopedist to have the cast removed. What would
the physician prescribe as further treatment?
A. discontinue use of crutches
B. cold compresses to leg for swelling
C. physical therapy
D. no options are correct.- ANS>>> C. physical therapy
A client is reporting pain following orthopedic surgery. Which intervention will help relieve pain?
A. Elevate the affected extremity and use cold applications.
B. Breathe deeply and cough every 2 hours until ambulation is possible.
C. Do ROM exercises as indicated.
D. Apply antiembolism stockings as indicated.- ANS>>> A. Elevate the affected extremity and use cold
applications.
Which is not a guideline for avoiding hip dislocation after replacement surgery?
A. Put a pillow between the legs when sleeping.
B. Keep the knees apart at all times.
C. Never cross the legs when seated.
D. The hip may be flexed to put on clothing such as pants, stockings, socks, or shoes.- ANS>>> D. The hip
may be flexed to put on clothing such as pants, stockings, socks, or shoes.
A client has severe osteoarthritis in the left hip and is having surgery to replace both articular surfaces of
the hip. What type of surgical procedure will the nurse prepare the client for?
, A. Arthrodesis
B. Hemiarthroplasty
C. Total arthroplasty
D. Osteotomy- ANS>>> C. Total arthroplasty
A client is brought to the emergency department by a softball team member who states the client and
another player ran into each other, and the client is having severe pain in the right shoulder. What
symptoms of a fractured clavicle does the nurse recognize?
A. Right shoulder is elevated above the left.
B. Right shoulder slopes downward and droops inward.
C. Client complains of tingling and numbness in the right shoulder.
D. Client complains of pain in the unaffected shoulder.- ANS>>> B. Right shoulder slopes downward and
droops inward.
Rationale:
The client with a fractured clavicle has restricted motion, and the affected shoulder appears to slope
downward and droop inward. The client will have pain, not typically tingling and numbness in the right
shoulder. Pain is not felt in the unaffected shoulder.
The nurse is caring for a client with an external fixator that requires pin care twice a day. The nurse
observes that there is a new purulent drainage around one of the pins. What intervention should the
nurse anticipate doing?
A. Obtaining a culture
B. Scrubbing the drainage from around the pin site
C. Applying iodine-based solution
D. Apply ointment to the pin site.- ANS>>> A. Obtaining a culture
Rationale:
A culture should be obtained if purulent drainage is present. Drainage should be gently removed, not
scrubbed. Iodine-based products interfere with tissue healing and are not recommended for cleaning
pin sites. Ointment should not be applied to the pin site unless specifically ordered.
Which principle applies to the client in traction?
A. Knots in the ropes should touch the pulley.
Definitions 2024- 2025 GRADE A 100% VERIFIED
A nurse is caring for a client with a cast on the left arm after sustaining a fracture. Which assessment
finding is most significant for this client?
A. Fingers on the left hand are swollen and cool
B. Presence of a normal popliteal pulse
C. Minimal pain in the left arm
D. Cast edges are rough, with skin irritation present- ANS>>> A. Fingers on the left hand are swollen and
cool
To reduce the incidence of complications in a client in traction, which intervention should be included in
the care plan?
A. Remove the weights during linen changes.
B. Increase fiber intake.
C. Reduce fluid intake.
D. Increase calorie intake.- ANS>>> B. Increase fiber intake.
Which is a benefit of a continuous passive motion (CPM) device when applied after knee surgery?
A. It prevents infection and controls edema and bleeding.
B. It promotes healing by increasing circulation and movement of the knee joint.
C. It provides active range of motion.
D. It promotes healing by immobilizing the knee joint.- ANS>>> B. It promotes healing by increasing
circulation and movement of the knee joint.
Which nursing action would help prevent deep vein thrombosis in a client who has had an orthopedic
surgery?
A. Instruct about exercise, as prescribed
B. Apply cold packs
C. Apply antiembolism stockings
D. Instruct about using client-controlled analgesia, if prescribed- ANS>>> C. Apply antiembolism
stockings
,Which is an inaccurate principle of traction?
A. The weights are not removed unless intermittent treatment is prescribed.
B. Skeletal traction is interrupted to turn and reposition the client.
C. The client must be in good alignment in the center of the bed.
D. The weights must hang freely.- ANS>>> B. Skeletal traction is interrupted to turn and reposition the
client.
The client displays manifestations of compartment syndrome. What treatment will the nurse expect the
client to be scheduled for?
A. A fasciotomy
B. A total hip replacement
C. A total knee replacement
D. An open reduction- ANS>>> A. A fasciotomy
Following a total knee replacement, the surgeon orders a continuous passive motion (CPM) device. The
client asks about the purpose of this treatment. What is the best response by the nurse?
A. "CPM increases range of motion of the joint."
B. "CPM prevents injury by limiting flexion of the knee."
C. "CPM delivers analgesic agents directly into the joint."
D. "CPM strengthens the muscles of the leg."- ANS>>> A. "CPM increases range of motion of the joint."
The nurse is checking the traction apparatus for a client in skin traction. Which finding would require the
nurse to intervene?
A. Ropes freely moving over pulleys
B. Body aligned opposite to line of traction pull
C. Weights hanging and touching the floor
D. Pulleys without evidence of the obstruction- ANS>>> C. Weights hanging and touching the floor
,The nurse is providing instructions to the client who is being prepared for skeletal traction. Which
statement by the client indicates teaching was effective?
A. "Metal pins will go through my skin to the bone."
B. "The traction can be removed once a day so I can shower."
C. "I will wear a boot with weights attached."
D. "A belt will go around my pelvis and weights will be attached."- ANS>>> A. "Metal pins will go through
my skin to the bone."
A client with a right leg fracture is returning to the orthopedist to have the cast removed. What would
the physician prescribe as further treatment?
A. discontinue use of crutches
B. cold compresses to leg for swelling
C. physical therapy
D. no options are correct.- ANS>>> C. physical therapy
A client is reporting pain following orthopedic surgery. Which intervention will help relieve pain?
A. Elevate the affected extremity and use cold applications.
B. Breathe deeply and cough every 2 hours until ambulation is possible.
C. Do ROM exercises as indicated.
D. Apply antiembolism stockings as indicated.- ANS>>> A. Elevate the affected extremity and use cold
applications.
Which is not a guideline for avoiding hip dislocation after replacement surgery?
A. Put a pillow between the legs when sleeping.
B. Keep the knees apart at all times.
C. Never cross the legs when seated.
D. The hip may be flexed to put on clothing such as pants, stockings, socks, or shoes.- ANS>>> D. The hip
may be flexed to put on clothing such as pants, stockings, socks, or shoes.
A client has severe osteoarthritis in the left hip and is having surgery to replace both articular surfaces of
the hip. What type of surgical procedure will the nurse prepare the client for?
, A. Arthrodesis
B. Hemiarthroplasty
C. Total arthroplasty
D. Osteotomy- ANS>>> C. Total arthroplasty
A client is brought to the emergency department by a softball team member who states the client and
another player ran into each other, and the client is having severe pain in the right shoulder. What
symptoms of a fractured clavicle does the nurse recognize?
A. Right shoulder is elevated above the left.
B. Right shoulder slopes downward and droops inward.
C. Client complains of tingling and numbness in the right shoulder.
D. Client complains of pain in the unaffected shoulder.- ANS>>> B. Right shoulder slopes downward and
droops inward.
Rationale:
The client with a fractured clavicle has restricted motion, and the affected shoulder appears to slope
downward and droop inward. The client will have pain, not typically tingling and numbness in the right
shoulder. Pain is not felt in the unaffected shoulder.
The nurse is caring for a client with an external fixator that requires pin care twice a day. The nurse
observes that there is a new purulent drainage around one of the pins. What intervention should the
nurse anticipate doing?
A. Obtaining a culture
B. Scrubbing the drainage from around the pin site
C. Applying iodine-based solution
D. Apply ointment to the pin site.- ANS>>> A. Obtaining a culture
Rationale:
A culture should be obtained if purulent drainage is present. Drainage should be gently removed, not
scrubbed. Iodine-based products interfere with tissue healing and are not recommended for cleaning
pin sites. Ointment should not be applied to the pin site unless specifically ordered.
Which principle applies to the client in traction?
A. Knots in the ropes should touch the pulley.
