NCLEX MUSCULOSKELETAL EXAM
1. The nurse witnesses a client sustain a fall and
suspects that the client's leg may be fractured. Immobilize the leg before mov-
Which action is the priority? ing the client.
2. A client with a hip fracture asks the nurse why
Buck's extension traction is being applied before Provides comfort by reducing
surgery. The nurse's response is based on the muscle spasms and provides
understanding that Buck's extension traction has fracture immobilization
which primary function?
3. The nurse is evaluating the pin sites of a client in
skeletal traction. The nurse would be least con- Serous drainage
cerned with which finding?
4. The nurse is caring for the client who has had
skeletal traction applied to the left leg. The client Check the client's alignment in
is complaining of severe left leg pain. Which ac- bed.
tion should the nurse take first?
5. The nurse has provided instructions regarding
Performing active range of mo-
specific leg exercises for the client immobilized in tion (ROM) to the right ankle and
right skeletal lower leg traction. The nurse deter- knee
mines that the client needs further teaching if the
nurse observes the client doing which activity?
6. Presence of a "hot spot" on the
cast
, NCLEX MUSCULOSKELETAL EXAM
The nurse is checking the casted extremity of a
client. The nurse should check for which sign in-
dicative of infection?
7. A client has sustained a closed fracture and has Impaired tissue perfusion
just had a cast applied to the affected arm. The
client is complaining of intense pain. The nurse
has elevated the limb, applied an ice bag, and
administered an analgesic, which was ineffective
in relieving the pain. The nurse interprets that this
pain may be caused by which condition?
8. The nurse is assigned to care for a client with Elevate the leg on pillows contin-
multiple traumas who is admitted to the hospital. uously for 24 to 48 hours.
The client has a leg fracture, and a plaster cast has
been applied. In positioning the casted leg, the
nurse should perform which intervention?
9. A client is complaining of skin irritation from the Petaling the cast edges with ad-
edges of a cast applied the previous day. The hesive tape
nurse should plan for which intervention?
10. The nurse is preparing a list of cast care instruc- Keep the cast and extremity ele-
tions for a client who just had a plaster cast vated.
applied to his right forearm. Which instructions The cast needs to be kept clean
should the nurse include on the list? Select all that and dry.
apply. Allow the wet cast 24 to 72 hours
to dry.
11. The nurse is planning to reinforce instructions 8 inches to the front and side of
to the client about how to stand on crutches. In the client's toes
the instructions, the nurse should plan to tell the
client to place the crutches in which position?
, NCLEX MUSCULOSKELETAL EXAM
12. The nurse is evaluating the client's use of a cane Moves the cane when the right
for left-sided weakness. The nurse should inter- leg is moved
vene and correct the client if the nurse observed
that the client performed which action?
13. The nurse is caring for a client with fresh ap- Elevating the limb and applying
plication of a plaster leg cast. The nurse should ice to the attected leg
plan to prevent the development of compartment
syndrome by which action?
14. A client is being discharged home after applica- "I need to avoid getting the cast
tion of a plaster leg cast. The nurse determines wet."
that the client understands proper care of the cast
if the client makes which statement?
15. A client has just had a cast removed and the un- "I need to scrub the skin vigor-
derlying skin is yellow-brown and crusted. The ously with soap and water."
nurse determines that further skin care instruc-
tions are required if the client makes which state-
ment?
16. A client has had skeletal traction applied to the Left heel
right leg and has an overhead trapeze available
for use. The nurse should monitor which as a
high-risk area for pressure and breakdown?
17. A client has been placed in Buck's extension trac- Slightly elevating the foot of the
tion. Which technique provided by the nurse will bed
provide countertraction?
18. A client with diabetes mellitus has had a right Separation of wound edges
below-knee amputation. The nurse should be es-
1. The nurse witnesses a client sustain a fall and
suspects that the client's leg may be fractured. Immobilize the leg before mov-
Which action is the priority? ing the client.
2. A client with a hip fracture asks the nurse why
Buck's extension traction is being applied before Provides comfort by reducing
surgery. The nurse's response is based on the muscle spasms and provides
understanding that Buck's extension traction has fracture immobilization
which primary function?
3. The nurse is evaluating the pin sites of a client in
skeletal traction. The nurse would be least con- Serous drainage
cerned with which finding?
4. The nurse is caring for the client who has had
skeletal traction applied to the left leg. The client Check the client's alignment in
is complaining of severe left leg pain. Which ac- bed.
tion should the nurse take first?
5. The nurse has provided instructions regarding
Performing active range of mo-
specific leg exercises for the client immobilized in tion (ROM) to the right ankle and
right skeletal lower leg traction. The nurse deter- knee
mines that the client needs further teaching if the
nurse observes the client doing which activity?
6. Presence of a "hot spot" on the
cast
, NCLEX MUSCULOSKELETAL EXAM
The nurse is checking the casted extremity of a
client. The nurse should check for which sign in-
dicative of infection?
7. A client has sustained a closed fracture and has Impaired tissue perfusion
just had a cast applied to the affected arm. The
client is complaining of intense pain. The nurse
has elevated the limb, applied an ice bag, and
administered an analgesic, which was ineffective
in relieving the pain. The nurse interprets that this
pain may be caused by which condition?
8. The nurse is assigned to care for a client with Elevate the leg on pillows contin-
multiple traumas who is admitted to the hospital. uously for 24 to 48 hours.
The client has a leg fracture, and a plaster cast has
been applied. In positioning the casted leg, the
nurse should perform which intervention?
9. A client is complaining of skin irritation from the Petaling the cast edges with ad-
edges of a cast applied the previous day. The hesive tape
nurse should plan for which intervention?
10. The nurse is preparing a list of cast care instruc- Keep the cast and extremity ele-
tions for a client who just had a plaster cast vated.
applied to his right forearm. Which instructions The cast needs to be kept clean
should the nurse include on the list? Select all that and dry.
apply. Allow the wet cast 24 to 72 hours
to dry.
11. The nurse is planning to reinforce instructions 8 inches to the front and side of
to the client about how to stand on crutches. In the client's toes
the instructions, the nurse should plan to tell the
client to place the crutches in which position?
, NCLEX MUSCULOSKELETAL EXAM
12. The nurse is evaluating the client's use of a cane Moves the cane when the right
for left-sided weakness. The nurse should inter- leg is moved
vene and correct the client if the nurse observed
that the client performed which action?
13. The nurse is caring for a client with fresh ap- Elevating the limb and applying
plication of a plaster leg cast. The nurse should ice to the attected leg
plan to prevent the development of compartment
syndrome by which action?
14. A client is being discharged home after applica- "I need to avoid getting the cast
tion of a plaster leg cast. The nurse determines wet."
that the client understands proper care of the cast
if the client makes which statement?
15. A client has just had a cast removed and the un- "I need to scrub the skin vigor-
derlying skin is yellow-brown and crusted. The ously with soap and water."
nurse determines that further skin care instruc-
tions are required if the client makes which state-
ment?
16. A client has had skeletal traction applied to the Left heel
right leg and has an overhead trapeze available
for use. The nurse should monitor which as a
high-risk area for pressure and breakdown?
17. A client has been placed in Buck's extension trac- Slightly elevating the foot of the
tion. Which technique provided by the nurse will bed
provide countertraction?
18. A client with diabetes mellitus has had a right Separation of wound edges
below-knee amputation. The nurse should be es-
