Nokea
The results of a nurse's musculoskeletal examination show an increase in the lumbar curvature of the spine. The nurse should recognize the presence of what health problem?
- A. Osteoporosis
- B. Kyphosis
- C. Lordosis
- D. Scoliosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse documents the spinal abnormality as lordosis. Lordosis is an increase in lumbar curvature of the spine. Kyphosis is an increase in the convex curvature of the spine. Scoliosis is a lateral curvature of the spine. Osteoporosis is the significant loss of bone mass and strength with an increased risk for fracture.
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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 nurse is taking a health history on a new patient who has been experiencing unexplained paresthesia. What question should guide the nurse's assessment of the patient's altered sensations?
- A. How does the strength in the affected extremity compare to the strength in the unaffected extremity?
- B. Does the color in the affected extremity match the color in the unaffected extremity?
- C. How does the feeling in the affected extremity compare with the feeling in the unaffected extremity?
- D. Does the patient have a family history of paresthesia or other forms of altered sensation?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Questions that the nurse should ask regarding altered sensations include How does this feeling compare to sensation in the unaffected extremity? Asking questions about strength and color are not relevant and a family history is unlikely.
A patient's fracture is healing and callus is being deposited in the bone matrix. This process characterizes what phase of the bone healing process?
- A. The reparative phase
- B. The reactive phase
- C. The remodeling phase
- D. The revascularization phase
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Callus formation takes place during the reparative phase of bone healing. The reactive phase occurs immediately after injury and the remodeling phase builds on the reparative phase. There is no discrete revascularization phase.
An older adult patient has symptoms of osteoporosis and is being assessed during her annual physical examination. The assessment shows that the patient will require further testing related to a possible exacerbation of her osteoporosis. The nurse should anticipate what diagnostic test?
- A. Bone densitometry
- B. Hip bone radiography
- C. Computed tomography (CT)
- D. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Bone densitometry is considered the most accurate test for osteoporosis and for predicting a fracture. As such, it is more likely to be used than CT, MRI, or x-rays.
A patient is scheduled for a bone scan to rule out osteosarcoma of the pelvic bones. What would be most important for the nurse to assess before the patient's scan?
- A. That the patient completed the bowel cleansing regimen
- B. That the patient emptied the bladder
- C. That the patient is not allergic to penicillins
- D. That the patient has fasted for at least 8 hours
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Before the scan, the nurse asks the patient to empty the bladder, because a full bladder interferes with accurate scanning of the pelvic bones. Bowel cleansing and fasting are not indicated for a bone scan and an allergy to penicillins is not a contraindication.