NURS 623 LATEST 2026 STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Janet is a 30-year-old who has recently been diagnosed with a herniated disc at the
level of L5-S1. She is currently in the emergency room with suspicion of cauda equina
compression. Which of the following is a sign or symptom of cauda equina
compression?
a. Gastrocnemius weakness
b. A reduced or absent ankle reflex
c. Numbness in the lateral foot
d. Paresthesia of the perineum and buttocks - ✔✔d. Paresthesia of the perineum and
buttocks
✔✔Which of the following statements is true concerning the management of the client
with a herniated disc?
a. Muscle relaxants and narcotics can be used to control moderate pain but should be
discontinued after 3 weeks of use.
b. An epidural injection is helpful in reducing leg pain that has persisted for at least 3
weeks after the herniation occurred.
c. Intolerable pain for more than a 3-month period is an indication for surgical
intervention.
d. All of the above - ✔✔c. Intolerable pain for more than a 3-month period is an
indication for surgical intervention.
✔✔John is a 16-year-old boy who presents to the emergency room after hurting his
knee in a football game. He described twisting his knee and then being unable to extend
it completely. John tells the clinician that he heard a pop when the injury occurred and
has been experiencing localized pain. The clinician suspects a meniscal tear. Which
test would be most appropriate to assess for the presence of a meniscal tear?
a. Valgus stress test
b. McMurray circumduction test
c. Lachman test
d. Varus stress test - ✔✔b. McMurray circumduction test
✔✔Normal estrogen function is important for preventing osteoporosis in both men and
women. Estrogen works to prevent osteoporosis in which of the following ways?
a. By decreasing the erosive activity of osteoclasts
b. By promoting osteoclastogenesis
c. By inhibiting osteoclast apoptosis
d. All of the above - ✔✔a. By decreasing the erosive activity of osteoclasts
✔✔Which of the following tests is considered the gold standard for definitively
diagnosing osteoporosis?
a. Bone alkaline phosphatase levels
b. Urinary N-telopeptide assay
, c. Bone mass density measurement by densitometry
d. Magnetic resonance imaging - ✔✔c. Bone mass density measurement by
densitometry
✔✔Mrs. Allen is a 60-year-old woman who has been diagnosed with osteoporosis. She
is very concerned about the risk of breast cancer associated with hormone replacement
therapy and is wondering what other treatments are available to her. The clinician
explains that bisphosphonates are another class of drugs used in the prevention and
treatment of osteoporosis. What teaching should the clinician give Mrs. Allen in regard
to taking bisphosphonates?
a. Taking bisphosphonates can result in hypercalcemia, so calcium intake should be
decreased while taking this class of drugs.
b. There is potential for upper GI irritation, so these medications are contraindicated in
people with abnormalities of the esophagus or delayed esophageal emptying.
c. This class of drugs can be taken at any time of the day without regard to meals.
d. None of the above - ✔✔b. There is potential for upper GI irritation, so these
medications are contraindicated in people with abnormalities of the esophagus or
delayed esophageal emptying.
✔✔One of the most frequent presenting signs/symptoms of osteoporosis is:
a. Goiter
b. Abnormal serum calcium
c. Elevated urine biochemical markers
d. Bony fracture - ✔✔d. Bony fracture
✔✔Mrs. Thomas was seen in the office complaining of pain and point tenderness in the
area of her elbow. The pain has increased following a day of gardening one week ago.
A physical finding that differentiates the diagnosis and is most consistent with lateral
epicondylitis (tennis elbow) is:
a. Ecchymosis, edema, and erythema over the lateral epicondyle
b. Pain at the elbow with resisted movements at the wrist and forearm
c. Inability to supinate and pronate the arm
d. Inability to flex or extend the elbow against resistance - ✔✔b. Pain at the elbow with
resisted movements at the wrist and forearm
✔✔T/F-Osteoarthritis is primarily a noninflammatory condition. - ✔✔True
✔✔Evaluation of the knee?
ACL - ✔✔Lachmans test
Anterior Drawer test
✔✔Evaluation of the knee?
MCL & LCL - ✔✔Valgus/Varus stress
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Janet is a 30-year-old who has recently been diagnosed with a herniated disc at the
level of L5-S1. She is currently in the emergency room with suspicion of cauda equina
compression. Which of the following is a sign or symptom of cauda equina
compression?
a. Gastrocnemius weakness
b. A reduced or absent ankle reflex
c. Numbness in the lateral foot
d. Paresthesia of the perineum and buttocks - ✔✔d. Paresthesia of the perineum and
buttocks
✔✔Which of the following statements is true concerning the management of the client
with a herniated disc?
a. Muscle relaxants and narcotics can be used to control moderate pain but should be
discontinued after 3 weeks of use.
b. An epidural injection is helpful in reducing leg pain that has persisted for at least 3
weeks after the herniation occurred.
c. Intolerable pain for more than a 3-month period is an indication for surgical
intervention.
d. All of the above - ✔✔c. Intolerable pain for more than a 3-month period is an
indication for surgical intervention.
✔✔John is a 16-year-old boy who presents to the emergency room after hurting his
knee in a football game. He described twisting his knee and then being unable to extend
it completely. John tells the clinician that he heard a pop when the injury occurred and
has been experiencing localized pain. The clinician suspects a meniscal tear. Which
test would be most appropriate to assess for the presence of a meniscal tear?
a. Valgus stress test
b. McMurray circumduction test
c. Lachman test
d. Varus stress test - ✔✔b. McMurray circumduction test
✔✔Normal estrogen function is important for preventing osteoporosis in both men and
women. Estrogen works to prevent osteoporosis in which of the following ways?
a. By decreasing the erosive activity of osteoclasts
b. By promoting osteoclastogenesis
c. By inhibiting osteoclast apoptosis
d. All of the above - ✔✔a. By decreasing the erosive activity of osteoclasts
✔✔Which of the following tests is considered the gold standard for definitively
diagnosing osteoporosis?
a. Bone alkaline phosphatase levels
b. Urinary N-telopeptide assay
, c. Bone mass density measurement by densitometry
d. Magnetic resonance imaging - ✔✔c. Bone mass density measurement by
densitometry
✔✔Mrs. Allen is a 60-year-old woman who has been diagnosed with osteoporosis. She
is very concerned about the risk of breast cancer associated with hormone replacement
therapy and is wondering what other treatments are available to her. The clinician
explains that bisphosphonates are another class of drugs used in the prevention and
treatment of osteoporosis. What teaching should the clinician give Mrs. Allen in regard
to taking bisphosphonates?
a. Taking bisphosphonates can result in hypercalcemia, so calcium intake should be
decreased while taking this class of drugs.
b. There is potential for upper GI irritation, so these medications are contraindicated in
people with abnormalities of the esophagus or delayed esophageal emptying.
c. This class of drugs can be taken at any time of the day without regard to meals.
d. None of the above - ✔✔b. There is potential for upper GI irritation, so these
medications are contraindicated in people with abnormalities of the esophagus or
delayed esophageal emptying.
✔✔One of the most frequent presenting signs/symptoms of osteoporosis is:
a. Goiter
b. Abnormal serum calcium
c. Elevated urine biochemical markers
d. Bony fracture - ✔✔d. Bony fracture
✔✔Mrs. Thomas was seen in the office complaining of pain and point tenderness in the
area of her elbow. The pain has increased following a day of gardening one week ago.
A physical finding that differentiates the diagnosis and is most consistent with lateral
epicondylitis (tennis elbow) is:
a. Ecchymosis, edema, and erythema over the lateral epicondyle
b. Pain at the elbow with resisted movements at the wrist and forearm
c. Inability to supinate and pronate the arm
d. Inability to flex or extend the elbow against resistance - ✔✔b. Pain at the elbow with
resisted movements at the wrist and forearm
✔✔T/F-Osteoarthritis is primarily a noninflammatory condition. - ✔✔True
✔✔Evaluation of the knee?
ACL - ✔✔Lachmans test
Anterior Drawer test
✔✔Evaluation of the knee?
MCL & LCL - ✔✔Valgus/Varus stress
