Osteomyelitis Exam 2 | Questions with 100% Correct Answers | Updated &Verified | 2024-
2025 | 100% Score
A client is admitted with acute osteomyelitis that developed after an open fracture of the right femur.
When planning this client's care, the nurse should anticipate which measure?
Withholding all oral intake
Administering large doses of I.V. antibiotics as ordered
Administering large doses of oral antibiotics as ordered
Instructing the client to ambulate twice daily - ✔✔Administering large doses of I.V. antibiotics as
ordered
Explanation:
Treatment of acute osteomyelitis includes large doses of I.V. antibiotics (after blood cultures identify the
infecting organism). Surgical drainage may be indicated, and the affected bone is immobilized. The client
usually requires I.V. fluids to maintain hydration, but oral intake isn't necessarily prohibited.
A client with chronic osteomyelitis has undergone 6 weeks of antibiotic therapy. The wound appearance
has not improved. What action would the nurse anticipate to promote healing?
Wound irrigation
Vitamin supplements
Wound packing
Surgical debridement - ✔✔Surgical debridement
Explanation:
In chronic osteomyelitis, surgical debridement is used when the wound fails to respond to antibiotic
therapy. Wound packing, vitamin supplements, and wound irrigation are not the standard of care when
treating chronic osteomyelitis.
A nurse is planning discharge instructions for the client with osteomyelitis. What instructions should the
nurse include in the discharge teaching?
, "You need to perform weight-bearing exercises twice a week."
"You need to limit the amount of protein and calcium in your diet."
"Use your continuous passive motion machine for 2 hours each day."
"You will receive IV antibiotics for 3 to 6 weeks." - ✔✔"You will receive IV antibiotics for 3 to 6 weeks."
Explanation:
Treatment of osteomyelitis requires IV antibiotics for 3 to 6 weeks. Continuous passive range of motion
is used for clients with osteoarthritis. Weight-bearing exercises are used with clients who have
osteoporosis. Limiting protein and calcium is not part of the plan of care for clients with osteomyelitis.
Which term refers to a disease of a nerve root?
Radiculopathy
Involucrum
Sequestrum
Contracture - ✔✔Radiculopathy
Explanation:
When the client reports radiating pain down the leg, the client is describing radiculopathy. Involucrum
refers to new bone growth around the sequestrum. Sequestrum refers to dead bone in an abscess
cavity. Contracture refers to abnormal shortening of muscle or fibrosis of joint structures.
Which assessment findings would the nurse expect in a client diagnosed with osteomyelitis?
1- Thrombocytopenia and ecchymosis
2- Pruritus and uremic frost
3- Petechiae over the chest and abnormal ABGs
4- Leukocytosis and localized bone pain - ✔✔4
A 49-year-old man with a history of poorly controlled type 1 diabetes has developed osteomyelitis
adjacent to a chronic diabetic ulcer on his great toe. The patient has been informed that medical
treatment for osteomyelitis requires a longer course of antibiotics than most other infections because:
2025 | 100% Score
A client is admitted with acute osteomyelitis that developed after an open fracture of the right femur.
When planning this client's care, the nurse should anticipate which measure?
Withholding all oral intake
Administering large doses of I.V. antibiotics as ordered
Administering large doses of oral antibiotics as ordered
Instructing the client to ambulate twice daily - ✔✔Administering large doses of I.V. antibiotics as
ordered
Explanation:
Treatment of acute osteomyelitis includes large doses of I.V. antibiotics (after blood cultures identify the
infecting organism). Surgical drainage may be indicated, and the affected bone is immobilized. The client
usually requires I.V. fluids to maintain hydration, but oral intake isn't necessarily prohibited.
A client with chronic osteomyelitis has undergone 6 weeks of antibiotic therapy. The wound appearance
has not improved. What action would the nurse anticipate to promote healing?
Wound irrigation
Vitamin supplements
Wound packing
Surgical debridement - ✔✔Surgical debridement
Explanation:
In chronic osteomyelitis, surgical debridement is used when the wound fails to respond to antibiotic
therapy. Wound packing, vitamin supplements, and wound irrigation are not the standard of care when
treating chronic osteomyelitis.
A nurse is planning discharge instructions for the client with osteomyelitis. What instructions should the
nurse include in the discharge teaching?
, "You need to perform weight-bearing exercises twice a week."
"You need to limit the amount of protein and calcium in your diet."
"Use your continuous passive motion machine for 2 hours each day."
"You will receive IV antibiotics for 3 to 6 weeks." - ✔✔"You will receive IV antibiotics for 3 to 6 weeks."
Explanation:
Treatment of osteomyelitis requires IV antibiotics for 3 to 6 weeks. Continuous passive range of motion
is used for clients with osteoarthritis. Weight-bearing exercises are used with clients who have
osteoporosis. Limiting protein and calcium is not part of the plan of care for clients with osteomyelitis.
Which term refers to a disease of a nerve root?
Radiculopathy
Involucrum
Sequestrum
Contracture - ✔✔Radiculopathy
Explanation:
When the client reports radiating pain down the leg, the client is describing radiculopathy. Involucrum
refers to new bone growth around the sequestrum. Sequestrum refers to dead bone in an abscess
cavity. Contracture refers to abnormal shortening of muscle or fibrosis of joint structures.
Which assessment findings would the nurse expect in a client diagnosed with osteomyelitis?
1- Thrombocytopenia and ecchymosis
2- Pruritus and uremic frost
3- Petechiae over the chest and abnormal ABGs
4- Leukocytosis and localized bone pain - ✔✔4
A 49-year-old man with a history of poorly controlled type 1 diabetes has developed osteomyelitis
adjacent to a chronic diabetic ulcer on his great toe. The patient has been informed that medical
treatment for osteomyelitis requires a longer course of antibiotics than most other infections because: