A nurse in a busy emergency department provides care for many patients who present with contusions, strains, or sprains. Treatment modalities that are common to all of these musculoskeletal injuries include which of the following? Select all that apply.
- A. Massage
- B. Applying ice
- C. Compression dressings
- D. Resting the affected extremity
- E. Corticosteroids
- F. Elevating the injured limb
Correct Answer: B,C,D,F
Rationale: Treatment of contusions, strains, and sprains consists of resting and elevating the affected part, applying cold, and using a compression bandage. Massage and corticosteroids are not used to treat these injuries.
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A nurse is caring for a patient who has suffered an unstable thoracolumbar fracture. Which of the following is the priority during nursing care?
- A. Preventing infection
- B. Maintaining spinal alignment
- C. Maximizing function
- D. Preventing increased intracranial pressure
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patients with an unstable fracture must have their spine in alignment at all times in order to prevent neurologic damage. This is a greater threat, and higher priority, than promoting function and preventing infection, even though these are both valid considerations. Increased ICP is not a high risk.
A rehabilitation nurse is working with a patient who has had a below-the-knee amputation. The nurse knows the importance of the patients active participation in self-care. In order to determine the patients ability to be an active participant in self-care, the nurse should prioritize assessment of what variable?
- A. The patients attitude
- B. The patients learning style
- C. The patients nutritional status
- D. The patients presurgical level of function
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Amputation of an extremity affects the patients ability to provide adequate self-care. The patient is encouraged to be an active participant in self-care. The patient and the nurse need to maintain positive attitudes and to minimize fatigue and frustration during the learning process. Balanced nutrition and the patients learning style are important variables in the rehabilitation process but the patients attitude is among the most salient variables. The patients presurgical level of function may or may not affect participation in rehabilitation.
The orthopedic nurse should assess for signs and symptoms of Volkmanns contracture if a patient has fractured which of the following bones?
- A. Femur
- B. Humerus
- C. Radial head
- D. Clavicle
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The most serious complication of a supracondylar fracture of the humerus is Volkmanns ischemic contracture, which results from antecubital swelling or damage to the brachial artery. This complication is specific to humeral fractures.
A nurse is writing a care plan for a patient admitted to the emergency department (ED) with an open fracture. The nurse will assign priority to what nursing diagnosis for a patient with an open fracture of the radius?
- A. Risk for Infection
- B. Risk for Ineffective Role Performance
- C. Risk for Perioperative Positioning Injury
- D. Risk for Powerlessness
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The patient has a significant risk for osteomyelitis and tetanus due to the fact that the fracture is open. Powerlessness and ineffective role performance are psychosocial diagnoses that may or may not apply, and which would be superseded by immediate physiologic threats such as infection. Surgical positioning injury is not plausible, since surgery is not likely indicated.
A nurse is planning the care of an older adult patient who will soon be discharged home after treatment for a fractured hip. In an effort to prevent future fractures, the nurse should encourage which of the following? Select all that apply.
- A. Regular bone density testing
- B. A high-calcium diet
- C. Use of falls prevention precautions
- D. Use of corticosteroids as ordered
- E. Weight-bearing exercise
Correct Answer: A,B,C,E
Rationale: Health promotion measures after an older adults hip fracture include weight-bearing exercise, promotion of a healthy diet, falls prevention, and bone density testing. Corticosteroids have the potential to reduce bone density and increase the risk for fractures.
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