NUR 603 Final Exam Study Guide Questions with
Detailed Verified Answers
You have detected the presence of crepitus on examination of a patient with a
musculoskeletal complaint. Additionally, there is limited range of motion (ROM with
both active and passive movement. These findings suggest that the origin of the
musculoskeletal complaint is: Ans: Articular
Which of the following signs or symptoms indicate an inflammatory etiology to
musculoskeletal pain? Ans: Morning stiffness
Which of the following statements concerning the musculoskeletal examination is true?
Ans: The uninvolved side should be examined initially and then compared to the
involved side.
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 examination
reveals a 75% reduction in both active and passive ROM 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 history supports this diagnosis? Ans: Her history of diabetes
mellitus
Jennifer is an 18-year-old woman 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 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 are true concerning shoulder dislocation? Ans: There is a risk of
neurovascular and neurosensory trauma, so the clinician should check for distal pulses.
Fred has been diagnosed with a trigger finger of the ring finger. Which of the following
management strategies is appropriate? Ans: Local anesthetic injection into the tendon
sheath
,Mrs. Anderson is a 35-year-old woman who has been recently diagnosed with carpal
tunnel syndrome. She has two 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?
Ans: People with occupations that require repeated flexion extension of the wrist, use
of hand tools that require forceful gripping, or use of hand tools that vibrate are at risk
for developing carpal tunnel.
Which of the following statements is true regarding the treatment of carpal tunnel
syndrome? Ans: All of the above: goal of tx is to prevent flexion and extension
movements of wrist, splints are used because they allow for free movement of the
fingers and thumb while maintaining the wrist in neutral position, and corticosteroid
injections are discouraged in the treatment because the risks for median nerve
damage, scarring, and infection
Sam is a 25-year-old who has been diagnosed with low back strain based on his history
of localized low back pain and muscle spasm along with a normal neurological
examination. As the clinician, you explain to Sam that low back pain is a diagnosis of
exclusion. Which of the following symptoms would alert the clinician to the more
serious finding of a herniated nucleus pulposus or ruptured disc? Ans: Unilateral
radicular pain symptoms that extend below the knee and are equal to or greater than
the back pain
The clinician has instructed Sirius, a 23-year-old patient with low back strain, to us
NSAIDs to manage his symptoms of pain and discomfort. Which of the following
statements would be most appropriate when teaching Sam about the use of NSAIDs?
Ans: "You should start with the lowest dose that is effective in managing your pain,
because long-term use of NSAIDs can result in gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as
ulcers and hemorrhage.
Which of the following statements is true concerning the management of the client
with a herniated disc? Ans: Intolerable pain for more than a 3mo 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
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
, 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? Ans:
McMurray circumduction test
The clinician is caring for Diane, a 22-year-old woman who presents with an injured
ankle. Diane asks the clinician if she will need an x-ray. The clinician explains to Diane
that an x-ray is not always necessary for an injured ankle and that the decision to
obtain radiographs is dependent on the examination and Diane's description of her
injury. Which of the following clues in Diane's examination or history would alert the
clinician to the need for obtaining radiographs? Ans: All of the above: Inability to bear
weight immediately after the injury, development of marked ankle swelling and
discoloration after the injury, and crepitation with palpation or movement of the ankle
Mr. Jackson is a 65-year-old man recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis. The clinician
has explained to Mr. Jackson that the goals for managing osteoarthritis include
controlling pain, maximizing functional independence and mobility, minimizing disability,
and preserving quality of life. Mr. Jackson explains to the clinician that his first choice
would be to use complementary therapies to control his condition and asks what
therapies are most effecting in treating osteoarthritis. What would be the most
appropriate response from the clinician? Ans: "I would be happy to discuss all the
treatment options available to you. Complementary therapies, such as acupuncture,
acupressure, and tai-chi, are being studied for use in the treatment of osteoarthritis
and have shown promise when used with standard medical therapy."
Chris is a 28-year-old male who complains of lower back pain that began 3 days ago.
The pain is worse when he stands or bends, and it is somewhat relieved when he sits.
The clinician performs the straight leg raise test and it is negative. Plain film x-ray is
positive. Which diagnosis is most likely? Ans: Muscle strain
A clinician has performed a synovial fluid analysis and the results are as follows: visual
analysis: turbid and yellow, viscosity: decreased, 52,000 white blood cells (WBCs) per
mm3, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs): 75%, protein: 5g/dL. Which of the
following conditions could this result be attributed to? Ans: Septic arthritis
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
Detailed Verified Answers
You have detected the presence of crepitus on examination of a patient with a
musculoskeletal complaint. Additionally, there is limited range of motion (ROM with
both active and passive movement. These findings suggest that the origin of the
musculoskeletal complaint is: Ans: Articular
Which of the following signs or symptoms indicate an inflammatory etiology to
musculoskeletal pain? Ans: Morning stiffness
Which of the following statements concerning the musculoskeletal examination is true?
Ans: The uninvolved side should be examined initially and then compared to the
involved side.
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 examination
reveals a 75% reduction in both active and passive ROM 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 history supports this diagnosis? Ans: Her history of diabetes
mellitus
Jennifer is an 18-year-old woman 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 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 are true concerning shoulder dislocation? Ans: There is a risk of
neurovascular and neurosensory trauma, so the clinician should check for distal pulses.
Fred has been diagnosed with a trigger finger of the ring finger. Which of the following
management strategies is appropriate? Ans: Local anesthetic injection into the tendon
sheath
,Mrs. Anderson is a 35-year-old woman who has been recently diagnosed with carpal
tunnel syndrome. She has two 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?
Ans: People with occupations that require repeated flexion extension of the wrist, use
of hand tools that require forceful gripping, or use of hand tools that vibrate are at risk
for developing carpal tunnel.
Which of the following statements is true regarding the treatment of carpal tunnel
syndrome? Ans: All of the above: goal of tx is to prevent flexion and extension
movements of wrist, splints are used because they allow for free movement of the
fingers and thumb while maintaining the wrist in neutral position, and corticosteroid
injections are discouraged in the treatment because the risks for median nerve
damage, scarring, and infection
Sam is a 25-year-old who has been diagnosed with low back strain based on his history
of localized low back pain and muscle spasm along with a normal neurological
examination. As the clinician, you explain to Sam that low back pain is a diagnosis of
exclusion. Which of the following symptoms would alert the clinician to the more
serious finding of a herniated nucleus pulposus or ruptured disc? Ans: Unilateral
radicular pain symptoms that extend below the knee and are equal to or greater than
the back pain
The clinician has instructed Sirius, a 23-year-old patient with low back strain, to us
NSAIDs to manage his symptoms of pain and discomfort. Which of the following
statements would be most appropriate when teaching Sam about the use of NSAIDs?
Ans: "You should start with the lowest dose that is effective in managing your pain,
because long-term use of NSAIDs can result in gastrointestinal (GI) disorders such as
ulcers and hemorrhage.
Which of the following statements is true concerning the management of the client
with a herniated disc? Ans: Intolerable pain for more than a 3mo 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
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
, 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? Ans:
McMurray circumduction test
The clinician is caring for Diane, a 22-year-old woman who presents with an injured
ankle. Diane asks the clinician if she will need an x-ray. The clinician explains to Diane
that an x-ray is not always necessary for an injured ankle and that the decision to
obtain radiographs is dependent on the examination and Diane's description of her
injury. Which of the following clues in Diane's examination or history would alert the
clinician to the need for obtaining radiographs? Ans: All of the above: Inability to bear
weight immediately after the injury, development of marked ankle swelling and
discoloration after the injury, and crepitation with palpation or movement of the ankle
Mr. Jackson is a 65-year-old man recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis. The clinician
has explained to Mr. Jackson that the goals for managing osteoarthritis include
controlling pain, maximizing functional independence and mobility, minimizing disability,
and preserving quality of life. Mr. Jackson explains to the clinician that his first choice
would be to use complementary therapies to control his condition and asks what
therapies are most effecting in treating osteoarthritis. What would be the most
appropriate response from the clinician? Ans: "I would be happy to discuss all the
treatment options available to you. Complementary therapies, such as acupuncture,
acupressure, and tai-chi, are being studied for use in the treatment of osteoarthritis
and have shown promise when used with standard medical therapy."
Chris is a 28-year-old male who complains of lower back pain that began 3 days ago.
The pain is worse when he stands or bends, and it is somewhat relieved when he sits.
The clinician performs the straight leg raise test and it is negative. Plain film x-ray is
positive. Which diagnosis is most likely? Ans: Muscle strain
A clinician has performed a synovial fluid analysis and the results are as follows: visual
analysis: turbid and yellow, viscosity: decreased, 52,000 white blood cells (WBCs) per
mm3, polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs): 75%, protein: 5g/dL. Which of the
following conditions could this result be attributed to? Ans: Septic arthritis
© Get it right 2025 Getaway - Stuvia US All rights reserved
