The nurse is caring for a client with a left fractured humerus. Which data warrant intervention by the nurse?
- A. Capillary refill time is less than three (3) seconds.
- B. Pain is not relieved by the patient-controlled analgesia.
- C. Left fingers are edematous and the left hand is purple.
- D. Warm and dry skin on left fingers distal to the elastic bandage.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Edema and purple discoloration indicate neurovascular compromise, requiring immediate intervention. Normal refill, unrelieved pain, and warm skin are less urgent.
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Which of the following might interfere with the effectiveness of Russell's traction?
- A. The rope is strung tautly from pulley to pulley.
- B. The trapeze is hanging above the client's chest.
- C. The rope is knotted at the location of a pulley.
- D. The weight is about 24'' (61 cm) from the floor.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A knotted rope at the pulley disrupts smooth movement, reducing traction effectiveness by altering the pull. Taut ropes, a properly placed trapeze, and weights hanging freely are correct for effective traction.
The client is diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Which sign/symptom should the nurse expect the client to exhibit?
- A. Severe bone deformity.
- B. Joint stiffness.
- C. Waddling gait.
- D. Swan-neck fingers.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Joint stiffness, especially in the morning, is a hallmark of OA due to cartilage loss. Severe deformity and swan-neck fingers are more typical of rheumatoid arthritis, and waddling gait is nonspecific.
When planning the client's postoperative care, which is the least desirable position in which the nurse can place the client?
- A. Lying supine
- B. Sitting in a chair
- C. Lying prone
- D. Standing to shower
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Prone positioning stresses the stump and impairs healing.
The nurse is caring for an 80-year-old client admitted with a fractured right femoral neck who is oriented x3. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
- A. Check for a positive Homans' sign.
- B. Encourage the client to take deep breaths and cough.
- C. Determine the client's normal orientation status.
- D. Monitor the client's Buck's traction.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Confirming baseline orientation ensures accurate neurological assessment in an elderly fracture patient. Homans’ sign, breathing exercises, and traction monitoring follow.
When the nurse is documenting the client's progress while using a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine, which assessment data are essential to include?
- A. Degree of flexion, number of cycles, and condition of the skin
- B. Degree of flexion, number of cycles, and amount of time the client used the machine
- C. Degree of flexion, number of cycles, and characteristics of drainage from the wound
- D. Degree of flexion, number of cycles, and presence and quality of arterial pulses
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Flexion degree, cycles, and usage time measure CPM effectiveness.
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