NURS 623 PRACTICE EXAM ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Marsha, age 34, presents with symptoms resembling both fibromyalgia and chronic
fatigue syndrome, which have many similarities. Which of the following is more
characteristic of fibromyalgia than of chronic fatigue syndrome?
a. musculoskeletal pain
b. difficulty sleeping
c. depression
d. fatigue - ✔✔A.
✔✔A coccygeal fracture is treated with:
a. traction
b. surgical repair
c. analgesia and by use of a donut cushion when sitting
d. prolonged bedrest for 6 weeks. - ✔✔C.
✔✔The most common cause of cauda equina syndrome is:
a. fracture
b. hematoma
c. lumbar intervertebral disk herniation.
d. space occupying lesion. - ✔✔C.
✔✔If any limitation or any increase in range of motion occurs when assessing the
musculoskeletal system, the angles of the bones should be measured using:
a. Phalen's test
b. skeletometry
c. The Thomas test
d. a goniometer. - ✔✔D.
✔✔Management of fibromyalgia would include:
a. giving psychotropic drugs, such as amitriptyline (Elavil), in a low dose at bedtime.
b. instructing clients to keep as busy as possible to keep their minds off the symptoms.
c. using high doses of NSAIDS.
d. avoiding exercise. - ✔✔A.
✔✔Mrs. Kelly, age 80, has a curvature of the spine. This is likely to indicate which age-
related change?
a. Lordosis
b. Dorsal kyphosis
c. Scoliosis
d. Kyphoscoliosis - ✔✔B.
, ✔✔When Maxwell, age 12, slid into home plate while playing baseball, he injured his
ankle. The NP is trying to differentiate between a sprain and a strain. A sprain:
a. is an injury to the ligaments that attach to bones in a joint.
b. is an injury to the tendons that attach to the muscles in a joint.
c. is an injury resulting in extensive tears of the muscles.
d. is an injury that does not result in joint instability. - ✔✔A.
✔✔Which of the following is NOT a management principle for an acute musculoskeletal
injury that does not require emergent treatment?
a. RICE
b. NSAIDS or acetaminophen
c. Imaging studies.
d. skeletal muscle relaxants. - ✔✔C.
✔✔The valgus stress test, Varus stress test, Lachman test, and Thumb test are all
considered standard tests to check the integrity of the ligaments of the knee. Which test
would the NP choose to assess the ACL, which is the most commonly involved
structure in severe knee injury?
a. Valgus stress test
b. Varus stress test
c. Lachman test
d. Thumb sign - ✔✔C.
✔✔Lillian, age 70, was told that she has osteoporosis. When she asks you what this is,
you respond that osteoporosis:
a. develops when loss of bone occurs more rapidly than new bone growth.
b. is a degenerative joint disease characterized by loss of cartilage in certain joints.
c. is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects multiple joints.
d. is a bone disorder that has to do with inadequate mineralization of bones. - ✔✔A.
✔✔A clinical manifestation of symmetric neurogenic pain may indicate:
a. radiculopathy
b. reflex sympathetic dystrophy
c. entrapment neuropathy
d. peripheral neuropathy. - ✔✔D.
✔✔Mike, age 42, a golf pro, has had chronic back pain for many years. His work-up
reveals that it is not the result of a degenerative disk problem. His back "goes out" about
twice per year, and he is out of work for about a week each time. Which of the following
should the NP advise him to do:
a. consider changing careers to a less physical job
b. begin a planned exercise program to strengthen back muscles
c. make an appointment with a neurosurgeon for a surgical consultation.
d. start on a daily low-dose narcotic to take away the pain. - ✔✔B.
ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Marsha, age 34, presents with symptoms resembling both fibromyalgia and chronic
fatigue syndrome, which have many similarities. Which of the following is more
characteristic of fibromyalgia than of chronic fatigue syndrome?
a. musculoskeletal pain
b. difficulty sleeping
c. depression
d. fatigue - ✔✔A.
✔✔A coccygeal fracture is treated with:
a. traction
b. surgical repair
c. analgesia and by use of a donut cushion when sitting
d. prolonged bedrest for 6 weeks. - ✔✔C.
✔✔The most common cause of cauda equina syndrome is:
a. fracture
b. hematoma
c. lumbar intervertebral disk herniation.
d. space occupying lesion. - ✔✔C.
✔✔If any limitation or any increase in range of motion occurs when assessing the
musculoskeletal system, the angles of the bones should be measured using:
a. Phalen's test
b. skeletometry
c. The Thomas test
d. a goniometer. - ✔✔D.
✔✔Management of fibromyalgia would include:
a. giving psychotropic drugs, such as amitriptyline (Elavil), in a low dose at bedtime.
b. instructing clients to keep as busy as possible to keep their minds off the symptoms.
c. using high doses of NSAIDS.
d. avoiding exercise. - ✔✔A.
✔✔Mrs. Kelly, age 80, has a curvature of the spine. This is likely to indicate which age-
related change?
a. Lordosis
b. Dorsal kyphosis
c. Scoliosis
d. Kyphoscoliosis - ✔✔B.
, ✔✔When Maxwell, age 12, slid into home plate while playing baseball, he injured his
ankle. The NP is trying to differentiate between a sprain and a strain. A sprain:
a. is an injury to the ligaments that attach to bones in a joint.
b. is an injury to the tendons that attach to the muscles in a joint.
c. is an injury resulting in extensive tears of the muscles.
d. is an injury that does not result in joint instability. - ✔✔A.
✔✔Which of the following is NOT a management principle for an acute musculoskeletal
injury that does not require emergent treatment?
a. RICE
b. NSAIDS or acetaminophen
c. Imaging studies.
d. skeletal muscle relaxants. - ✔✔C.
✔✔The valgus stress test, Varus stress test, Lachman test, and Thumb test are all
considered standard tests to check the integrity of the ligaments of the knee. Which test
would the NP choose to assess the ACL, which is the most commonly involved
structure in severe knee injury?
a. Valgus stress test
b. Varus stress test
c. Lachman test
d. Thumb sign - ✔✔C.
✔✔Lillian, age 70, was told that she has osteoporosis. When she asks you what this is,
you respond that osteoporosis:
a. develops when loss of bone occurs more rapidly than new bone growth.
b. is a degenerative joint disease characterized by loss of cartilage in certain joints.
c. is a chronic inflammatory disorder that affects multiple joints.
d. is a bone disorder that has to do with inadequate mineralization of bones. - ✔✔A.
✔✔A clinical manifestation of symmetric neurogenic pain may indicate:
a. radiculopathy
b. reflex sympathetic dystrophy
c. entrapment neuropathy
d. peripheral neuropathy. - ✔✔D.
✔✔Mike, age 42, a golf pro, has had chronic back pain for many years. His work-up
reveals that it is not the result of a degenerative disk problem. His back "goes out" about
twice per year, and he is out of work for about a week each time. Which of the following
should the NP advise him to do:
a. consider changing careers to a less physical job
b. begin a planned exercise program to strengthen back muscles
c. make an appointment with a neurosurgeon for a surgical consultation.
d. start on a daily low-dose narcotic to take away the pain. - ✔✔B.
