NURS660 Exam 3 COMPLETE EXAM SET 2025
|QUESTIONS AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | 100%
CORRECT ||LATEST UPDATE 2025/26
Differentiate between an acute and a chronic musculoskeletal complaint. -CORRECT
ANSWER Acute: days to weeks
Chronic: months to years
Differentiate between an articular or non-articular MSK complaint. -CORRECT
ANSWER Articular: joint capsule, articular cartilage, synovium, synovial fluid,
intraarticular ligament. Anything having to do with the joint itself
Non-articular: ligaments, tendons, bursa, muscles, fascia, non-articular bone, nerves,
skin
A ligament connects _______ to _______. -CORRECT ANSWER bone to bone
A tendon connects ______ to ___________ -CORRECT ANSWER muscle to bone
Name the four cardinal signs of inflammation. -CORRECT ANSWER Warmth, swelling,
redness, pain
If your musculoskeletal complaint is accompanied by systemic signs, what should be on
your differential list? -CORRECT ANSWER septic arthritis
,Back pain can indicate what concerning condition in older adults? -CORRECT
ANSWER malignancy
should always consider, r/o
Describe a painful arc test for the shoulder and what you suspect. -CORRECT
ANSWER Have patient abduct both their arms and extend their arms above their head.
If painful in the 'middle' of the arc (60-120 degrees), positive for rotator cuff
issue/subacromial impingement.
What is Apley's test? -CORRECT ANSWER Tests for external and internal rotation of
the shoulder by having the patient try and place the back of their hand in the middle of
the scalpulae of their back (internal), then reach over their heads and try and place their
palm in that same spot (external)
In general, when should imaging be ordered for musculoskeletal problems? -CORRECT
ANSWER >4-6 weeks of symptoms
or
red flag symptoms
Describe some general red flag symptoms for MSK problems. -CORRECT ANSWER
Radicular s/s >4-6 weeks
Increasing symptoms
,Osteomyelitis s/s (fever, warmth, redness, pain)
cauda equina syndrome
herniation of disc
epidural abscess
Describe s/s of cauda equina syndrome. -CORRECT ANSWER Saddle anesthesia,
bowel/bladder dysfunction, loss of reflexes, sexual dysfunction
Describe radicular s/s. -CORRECT ANSWER Weakness, tingling, paresthesias,
numbness of the extremities
Sprain is due to a stretching or tearing of... -CORRECT ANSWER ligaments
Strain is due from stretching or tearing of... -CORRECT ANSWER tendons
What patients with fractures required an immediate ED referral? -CORRECT ANSWER
compound or crush fractures
fracture w/ neurovascular compromise (pulses, cap refill, temperature, sensation)
Ottawa Ankle Rules -CORRECT ANSWER Ankle imagery if:
-Bone tenderness at lateral malleolus
-Bone tenderness at medial malleolus
-Bone tenderness at the base of the fifth metatarsal
, -Bone tenderness at the navicular (top middle of foot)
-Inability to to walk 4 steps after injury or during exam
Grades of sprains (1-3) -CORRECT ANSWER Grade 1: minimal, stretched ligament
with mild pain, swelling
Grade 2: incomplete ligament tear, moderate impairment
Grade 3: full, complete tear, loss of integrity
What is typically presenting with more pain, a dislocation or a fracture? -CORRECT
ANSWER dislocation
Name some scenarios in which an MRI would be preferred over an x-ray for
musculoskeletal issues. -CORRECT ANSWER Preferred for soft tissue issues, cartilage
issues, chronic complaints, ligament laxity, compound fractures, back pain
POLICE is an acronym for treatment of what? -CORRECT ANSWER typically grade 1-2
sprains
encourages optimally loading/movement vs resting
would not want to recommend this for a more severe injury though
Pharmacotherapy for sprain, strains, and fractures includes what? -CORRECT
ANSWER typically just NSAIDs and tylenol
|QUESTIONS AND WELL DETAILED ANSWERS | 100%
CORRECT ||LATEST UPDATE 2025/26
Differentiate between an acute and a chronic musculoskeletal complaint. -CORRECT
ANSWER Acute: days to weeks
Chronic: months to years
Differentiate between an articular or non-articular MSK complaint. -CORRECT
ANSWER Articular: joint capsule, articular cartilage, synovium, synovial fluid,
intraarticular ligament. Anything having to do with the joint itself
Non-articular: ligaments, tendons, bursa, muscles, fascia, non-articular bone, nerves,
skin
A ligament connects _______ to _______. -CORRECT ANSWER bone to bone
A tendon connects ______ to ___________ -CORRECT ANSWER muscle to bone
Name the four cardinal signs of inflammation. -CORRECT ANSWER Warmth, swelling,
redness, pain
If your musculoskeletal complaint is accompanied by systemic signs, what should be on
your differential list? -CORRECT ANSWER septic arthritis
,Back pain can indicate what concerning condition in older adults? -CORRECT
ANSWER malignancy
should always consider, r/o
Describe a painful arc test for the shoulder and what you suspect. -CORRECT
ANSWER Have patient abduct both their arms and extend their arms above their head.
If painful in the 'middle' of the arc (60-120 degrees), positive for rotator cuff
issue/subacromial impingement.
What is Apley's test? -CORRECT ANSWER Tests for external and internal rotation of
the shoulder by having the patient try and place the back of their hand in the middle of
the scalpulae of their back (internal), then reach over their heads and try and place their
palm in that same spot (external)
In general, when should imaging be ordered for musculoskeletal problems? -CORRECT
ANSWER >4-6 weeks of symptoms
or
red flag symptoms
Describe some general red flag symptoms for MSK problems. -CORRECT ANSWER
Radicular s/s >4-6 weeks
Increasing symptoms
,Osteomyelitis s/s (fever, warmth, redness, pain)
cauda equina syndrome
herniation of disc
epidural abscess
Describe s/s of cauda equina syndrome. -CORRECT ANSWER Saddle anesthesia,
bowel/bladder dysfunction, loss of reflexes, sexual dysfunction
Describe radicular s/s. -CORRECT ANSWER Weakness, tingling, paresthesias,
numbness of the extremities
Sprain is due to a stretching or tearing of... -CORRECT ANSWER ligaments
Strain is due from stretching or tearing of... -CORRECT ANSWER tendons
What patients with fractures required an immediate ED referral? -CORRECT ANSWER
compound or crush fractures
fracture w/ neurovascular compromise (pulses, cap refill, temperature, sensation)
Ottawa Ankle Rules -CORRECT ANSWER Ankle imagery if:
-Bone tenderness at lateral malleolus
-Bone tenderness at medial malleolus
-Bone tenderness at the base of the fifth metatarsal
, -Bone tenderness at the navicular (top middle of foot)
-Inability to to walk 4 steps after injury or during exam
Grades of sprains (1-3) -CORRECT ANSWER Grade 1: minimal, stretched ligament
with mild pain, swelling
Grade 2: incomplete ligament tear, moderate impairment
Grade 3: full, complete tear, loss of integrity
What is typically presenting with more pain, a dislocation or a fracture? -CORRECT
ANSWER dislocation
Name some scenarios in which an MRI would be preferred over an x-ray for
musculoskeletal issues. -CORRECT ANSWER Preferred for soft tissue issues, cartilage
issues, chronic complaints, ligament laxity, compound fractures, back pain
POLICE is an acronym for treatment of what? -CORRECT ANSWER typically grade 1-2
sprains
encourages optimally loading/movement vs resting
would not want to recommend this for a more severe injury though
Pharmacotherapy for sprain, strains, and fractures includes what? -CORRECT
ANSWER typically just NSAIDs and tylenol
