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NURS 671 DUNPHY FINAL CLINICAL EXAM PRACTICE
2026 COMPLETE (105) CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.
NURS 671
Prepare for the NURS 671 Dunphy Final Clinical Exam with this comprehensive
practice resource designed to strengthen your advanced clinical knowledge and exam
readiness. It features exam-style questions covering patient assessment, differential
diagnosis, evidence-based treatment planning, pharmacology, clinical decision-
making, and primary care management. Use it to reinforce essential concepts, assess
your understanding, and build confidence before your final clinical exam. An excellent
study aid for graduate nursing students preparing for the NURS 671 Dunphy Final
Clinical Exam.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
Question 1: One of the initial steps in assessing patients with
musculoskeletal complaints is to determine whether the complaint is
articular or nonarticular in origin. Which of the following is an example of an
articular structure?
A. Bone
B. Synovium
C. Tendons
D. Fascia
Correct answer: B. Synovium
Rationale: Articular structures include the synovium, cartilage, joint
capsule, and synovial fluid. Tendons, fascia, and bone (when considered
separately from the joint) are nonarticular structures .
Question 2: You have detected the presence of crepitus on examination of a
patient with a musculoskeletal complaint. Additionally, there is limited range
of motion with both active and passive movement. These findings suggest that
the origin of the musculoskeletal complaint is:
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A. Nonarticular
B. Articular
C. Tendon-related
D. Ligament-related
Correct answer: B. Articular
Rationale: Articular disorders cause limited ROM with both active and
passive movement, along with crepitus. Nonarticular disorders typically
limit active movement only .
Question 3: Which of the following signs or symptoms indicate an
inflammatory etiology to musculoskeletal pain?
A. Decreased CRP
B. Hyperalbuminemia
C. Morning stiffness
D. Weight gain
Correct answer: C. Morning stiffness
Rationale: Morning stiffness lasting >30 minutes is a hallmark of
inflammatory arthritis. CRP is elevated (not decreased) in inflammation;
weight loss, not gain, is common .
Question 4: Which of the following statements concerning the
musculoskeletal exam is true?
A. The uninvolved side should be examined initially and then compared to the
involved side.
B. The part of the body that is causing the pain should be examined first.
C. When possible, the patient should not be asked to perform active range of
motion exercises to avoid causing pain.
D. Radiographs should always be obtained prior to examination so as not to
cause further injury to the patient.
Correct answer: A. The uninvolved side should be examined initially and
then compared to the involved side.
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Rationale: It is standard practice to first examine the uninvolved side to
establish a baseline and then compare it with the involved side for
differences in range of motion, tenderness, and function .
Question 5: You are performing muscle strength testing on a patient
presenting with musculoskeletal pain and find that the patient has complete
range of motion with gravity eliminated. Which numeric grade of muscle
strength would you give this patient (1-5)?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Correct answer: B. 2
Rationale: A grade of 2 indicates that the patient has complete range of
motion with gravity eliminated, but cannot move against gravity. This is
indicative of fair muscle strength .
Question 6: Mrs. Gray is a 55-year-old woman who presents with tightness,
pain, and limited movement in her right shoulder. She denies any history of
trauma. Her exam reveals a 75% reduction in both active and passive range of
motion of the right shoulder. Mrs. Gray also is experiencing tenderness with
motion and pain at the deltoid insertion. Her medical history is significant for
type 1 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Her social history reveals that she
is a secretary and that she is right-handed. Based on her examination and
medical history, you suspect adhesive capsulitis, or "frozen shoulder." Which
clue in Mrs. Gray's history supports this diagnosis?
A. Her occupation as a secretary
B. Her history of diabetes
C. Her right-handedness
D. Her history of hypertension
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Correct answer: B. Her history of diabetes
Rationale: Diabetes is a known risk factor for adhesive capsulitis. Patients
with type 1 or type 2 diabetes have a significantly higher risk of developing
frozen shoulder .
Question 7: Jennifer is an 18-year-old who comes to the emergency room
after a fall during a soccer game. Jennifer explains that she fell on her left side
and kept her arm out straight to break her fall. She has been experiencing
severe pain and limited ROM in her left shoulder. The clinician has diagnosed
Jennifer with a dislocated shoulder. Which of the following statements is true
concerning shoulder dislocation?
A. Posterior dislocations are more common than anterior dislocations
B. There is a risk of neurovascular and neurosensory trauma, so the clinician
should check for distal pulses
C. Recurrent dislocations are uncommon and would require great force to
result in injury
D. Surgery is most commonly the treatment of choice
Correct answer: B. There is a risk of neurovascular and neurosensory
trauma, so the clinician should check for distal pulses
Rationale: Anterior dislocations are more common than posterior.
Neurovascular injury (axillary nerve, brachial plexus) is a significant risk;
distal pulses and sensation must be assessed. Recurrence is common in
young patients .
Question 8: Mrs. Anderson is a 35-year-old woman who has been recently
diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. She has 2 young children and asks
the clinician what the chances are that they also will develop carpal tunnel
syndrome. Which of the following responses would be correct regarding the
risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome?
A. Carpal tunnel syndrome commonly occurs in families. Genetic factors are
thought to account for about one-half the risk of developing carpal tunnel.
B. Only people with occupations that require repeated flexion extension of the
NURS 671 DUNPHY FINAL CLINICAL EXAM PRACTICE
2026 COMPLETE (105) CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.
NURS 671
Prepare for the NURS 671 Dunphy Final Clinical Exam with this comprehensive
practice resource designed to strengthen your advanced clinical knowledge and exam
readiness. It features exam-style questions covering patient assessment, differential
diagnosis, evidence-based treatment planning, pharmacology, clinical decision-
making, and primary care management. Use it to reinforce essential concepts, assess
your understanding, and build confidence before your final clinical exam. An excellent
study aid for graduate nursing students preparing for the NURS 671 Dunphy Final
Clinical Exam.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
Question 1: One of the initial steps in assessing patients with
musculoskeletal complaints is to determine whether the complaint is
articular or nonarticular in origin. Which of the following is an example of an
articular structure?
A. Bone
B. Synovium
C. Tendons
D. Fascia
Correct answer: B. Synovium
Rationale: Articular structures include the synovium, cartilage, joint
capsule, and synovial fluid. Tendons, fascia, and bone (when considered
separately from the joint) are nonarticular structures .
Question 2: You have detected the presence of crepitus on examination of a
patient with a musculoskeletal complaint. Additionally, there is limited range
of motion with both active and passive movement. These findings suggest that
the origin of the musculoskeletal complaint is:
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A. Nonarticular
B. Articular
C. Tendon-related
D. Ligament-related
Correct answer: B. Articular
Rationale: Articular disorders cause limited ROM with both active and
passive movement, along with crepitus. Nonarticular disorders typically
limit active movement only .
Question 3: Which of the following signs or symptoms indicate an
inflammatory etiology to musculoskeletal pain?
A. Decreased CRP
B. Hyperalbuminemia
C. Morning stiffness
D. Weight gain
Correct answer: C. Morning stiffness
Rationale: Morning stiffness lasting >30 minutes is a hallmark of
inflammatory arthritis. CRP is elevated (not decreased) in inflammation;
weight loss, not gain, is common .
Question 4: Which of the following statements concerning the
musculoskeletal exam is true?
A. The uninvolved side should be examined initially and then compared to the
involved side.
B. The part of the body that is causing the pain should be examined first.
C. When possible, the patient should not be asked to perform active range of
motion exercises to avoid causing pain.
D. Radiographs should always be obtained prior to examination so as not to
cause further injury to the patient.
Correct answer: A. The uninvolved side should be examined initially and
then compared to the involved side.
, Page 3 of 44
Rationale: It is standard practice to first examine the uninvolved side to
establish a baseline and then compare it with the involved side for
differences in range of motion, tenderness, and function .
Question 5: You are performing muscle strength testing on a patient
presenting with musculoskeletal pain and find that the patient has complete
range of motion with gravity eliminated. Which numeric grade of muscle
strength would you give this patient (1-5)?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Correct answer: B. 2
Rationale: A grade of 2 indicates that the patient has complete range of
motion with gravity eliminated, but cannot move against gravity. This is
indicative of fair muscle strength .
Question 6: Mrs. Gray is a 55-year-old woman who presents with tightness,
pain, and limited movement in her right shoulder. She denies any history of
trauma. Her exam reveals a 75% reduction in both active and passive range of
motion of the right shoulder. Mrs. Gray also is experiencing tenderness with
motion and pain at the deltoid insertion. Her medical history is significant for
type 1 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Her social history reveals that she
is a secretary and that she is right-handed. Based on her examination and
medical history, you suspect adhesive capsulitis, or "frozen shoulder." Which
clue in Mrs. Gray's history supports this diagnosis?
A. Her occupation as a secretary
B. Her history of diabetes
C. Her right-handedness
D. Her history of hypertension
, Page 4 of 44
Correct answer: B. Her history of diabetes
Rationale: Diabetes is a known risk factor for adhesive capsulitis. Patients
with type 1 or type 2 diabetes have a significantly higher risk of developing
frozen shoulder .
Question 7: Jennifer is an 18-year-old who comes to the emergency room
after a fall during a soccer game. Jennifer explains that she fell on her left side
and kept her arm out straight to break her fall. She has been experiencing
severe pain and limited ROM in her left shoulder. The clinician has diagnosed
Jennifer with a dislocated shoulder. Which of the following statements is true
concerning shoulder dislocation?
A. Posterior dislocations are more common than anterior dislocations
B. There is a risk of neurovascular and neurosensory trauma, so the clinician
should check for distal pulses
C. Recurrent dislocations are uncommon and would require great force to
result in injury
D. Surgery is most commonly the treatment of choice
Correct answer: B. There is a risk of neurovascular and neurosensory
trauma, so the clinician should check for distal pulses
Rationale: Anterior dislocations are more common than posterior.
Neurovascular injury (axillary nerve, brachial plexus) is a significant risk;
distal pulses and sensation must be assessed. Recurrence is common in
young patients .
Question 8: Mrs. Anderson is a 35-year-old woman who has been recently
diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. She has 2 young children and asks
the clinician what the chances are that they also will develop carpal tunnel
syndrome. Which of the following responses would be correct regarding the
risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome?
A. Carpal tunnel syndrome commonly occurs in families. Genetic factors are
thought to account for about one-half the risk of developing carpal tunnel.
B. Only people with occupations that require repeated flexion extension of the
