Nokea
A nurse is caring for a patient who has just had an arthroscopy as an outpatient and is getting ready to go home. The nurse should teach the patient to monitor closely for what postprocedure complication?
- A. Fever
- B. Crepitus
- C. Fasciculations
- D. Synovial fluid leakage
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Following arthroscopy, the patient and family are informed of complications to watch for, including fever. Synovial fluid leakage is unlikely and crepitus would not develop as a postprocedure complication. Fasciculations are muscle twitches and do not involve joint integrity or function.
You may also like to solve these questions
A nurse is providing care for a patient whose pattern of laboratory testing reveals longstanding hypocalcemia. What other laboratory result is most consistent with this finding?
- A. An elevated parathyroid hormone level
- B. An increased calcitonin level
- C. An elevated potassium level
- D. A decreased vitamin D level
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In the response to low calcium levels in the blood, increased levels of parathyroid hormone prompt the mobilization of calcium and the demineralization of bone. Increased calcitonin levels would exacerbate hypocalcemia. Vitamin D levels do not increase in response to low calcium levels. Potassium levels would likely be unaffected.
A nurse is caring for a patient whose cancer metastasis has resulted in bone pain. Which of the following are typical characteristics of bone pain?
- A. A dull, deep ache that is boring in nature
- B. Soreness or aching that may include cramping
- C. Sharp, piercing pain that is relieved by immobilization
- D. Spastic or sharp pain that radiates
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Bone pain is characteristically described as a dull, deep ache that is boring in nature, whereas muscular pain is described as soreness or aching and is referred to as muscle cramps. Fracture pain is sharp and piercing and is relieved by immobilization. Sharp pain may also result from bone infection with muscle spasm or pressure on a sensory nerve.
A patient is receiving ongoing nursing care for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. When assessing this patient's gait, what finding is most closely associated with this health problem?
- A. Spastic hemiparesis gait
- B. Shuffling gait
- C. Rapid gait
- D. Steppage gait
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A variety of neurologic conditions are associated with abnormal gaits, such as a spastic hemiparesis gait (stroke), steppage gait (lower motor neuron disease), and shuffling gait (Parkinson's disease). A rapid gait is not associated with Parkinson's disease.
A nurse is performing a nursing assessment of a patient suspected of having a musculoskeletal disorder. What is the primary focus of the nursing assessment with a patient who has a musculoskeletal disorder?
- A. Range of motion
- B. Activities of daily living
- C. Gait
- D. Strength
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nursing assessment is primarily a functional evaluation, focusing on the patient's ability to perform activities of daily living. The nurse also assesses strength, gait, and ROM, but these are assessed to identify their effect on functional status rather than to identify a medical diagnosis.
A nurse is assessing a patient who is experiencing peripheral neurovascular dysfunction. What assessment findings are most consistent with this diagnosis?
- A. Hot skin with a capillary refill of 1 to 2 seconds
- B. Absence of feeling, capillary refill of 4 to 5 seconds, and cool skin
- C. Pain, diaphoresis, and erythema
- D. Jaundiced skin, weakness, and capillary refill of 3 seconds
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Indicators of peripheral neurovascular dysfunction include pale, cyanotic, or mottled skin with a cool temperature; capillary refill greater than 3 seconds; weakness or paralysis with motion; and paresthesia, unrelenting pain, pain on passive stretch, or absence of feeling. Jaundice, diaphoresis, and warmth are inconsistent with peripheral neurovascular dysfunction.