Nursing practice questions with comprehensive rationales
NurseDive Free Nursing Practice Question
A nurse is caring for a client who has a fractured hip and was placed in skeletal traction 2 hours ago. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Provide pin care when the client is 4 hours postoperative.
Providing pin care when the client is 4 hours postoperative is not appropriate. The client has just undergone skeletal traction placement, and pin care is usually initiated after 24 hours to allow for initial wound healing.
B. Remove the weights from the traction while repositioning the client in bed.
Removing the weights from the traction while repositioning the client in bed is unsafe and not recommended. The weights should remain in place to provide continuous traction and alignment for the fractured hip.
C. Assess the client's circulation every 4 hours.
Assessing the client's circulation every 4 hours is essential to monitor for any signs of impaired circulation, such as swelling, pallor, or decreased pulses. Early detection of circulatory compromise is critical to prevent complications like compartment syndrome.
D. Request the client to perform ankle exercises on the affected extremity.
Requesting the client to perform ankle exercises on the affected extremity is not appropriate after skeletal traction placement. Ankle exercises could disrupt traction and hinder the healing process of the fractured hip.
This question is an excerpt from Nurse Dive's nursing test bank - ATI RN VATI Adult Medical Surgical S 2019 Proctored Exam. Take the full exam now
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Providing pin care when the client is 4 hours postoperative is not appropriate. The client has just undergone skeletal traction placement, and pin care is usually initiated after 24 hours to allow for initial wound healing.
Choice B rationale:
Removing the weights from the traction while repositioning the client in bed is unsafe and not recommended. The weights should remain in place to provide continuous traction and alignment for the fractured hip.
Choice C rationale:
Assessing the client's circulation every 4 hours is essential to monitor for any signs of impaired circulation, such as swelling, pallor, or decreased pulses. Early detection of circulatory compromise is critical to prevent complications like compartment syndrome.
Choice D rationale:
Requesting the client to perform ankle exercises on the affected extremity is not appropriate after skeletal traction placement. Ankle exercises could disrupt traction and hinder the healing process of the fractured hip.
Similar Questions
A nurse is preparing to discharge a client who is postoperative following a total hip arthroplasty. Which of the following equipment should the nurse ensure that the client has available at home prior to discharge?
A. Continuous passive motion device.
Providing a continuous passive motion (CPM) device is not necessary for a client following a total hip arthroplasty. CPM devices are more commonly used after knee arthroplasty to improve joint mobility.
B. Elevated toilet seat.
Ensuring the client has an elevated toilet seat at home is important following a total hip arthroplasty. The elevated seat reduces the amount of hip flexion required during toileting, which helps prevent hip dislocation and strain on the surgical site.
C. Trapeze bar.
Providing a trapeze bar is not essential for a client following a total hip arthroplasty. Trapeze bars are typically used to assist with repositioning in bed for clients with limited mobility, but they are not specific to hip arthroplasty recovery.
D. Compression garment.
Providing a compression garment is not necessary after total hip arthroplasty. Compression garments are often used for conditions like venous insufficiency or to manage swelling, but they are not routinely used for hip arthroplasty recovery.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Providing a continuous passive motion (CPM) device is not necessary for a client following a total hip arthroplasty. CPM devices are more commonly used after knee arthroplasty to improve joint mobility.
Choice B rationale:
Ensuring the client has an elevated toilet seat at home is important following a total hip arthroplasty. The elevated seat reduces the amount of hip flexion required during toileting, which helps prevent hip dislocation and strain on the surgical site.
Choice C rationale:
Providing a trapeze bar is not essential for a client following a total hip arthroplasty. Trapeze bars are typically used to assist with repositioning in bed for clients with limited mobility, but they are not specific to hip arthroplasty recovery.
Choice D rationale:
Providing a compression garment is not necessary after total hip arthroplasty. Compression garments are often used for conditions like venous insufficiency or to manage swelling, but they are not routinely used for hip arthroplasty recovery.
A nurse is providing teaching about disease management to a client who has multiple sclerosis. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. "Schedule all physical activities for the morning hours.".
The nurse should not advise the client with multiple sclerosis to schedule all physical activities for the morning hours. While some individuals with multiple sclerosis may experience increased fatigue later in the day, the best approach is to encourage the client to schedule activities at times when they feel the most energetic and to balance physical activity with rest throughout the day.
B. "When taking fingolimod, you should monitor your blood pressure.".
Monitoring blood pressure is essential while taking fingolimod, a medication used to treat multiple sclerosis, as it can cause a transient decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. Therefore, the nurse should include this statement in the teaching to ensure the client's safety and early detection of any issues.
C. "Avoid rigorous activities that increase body temperature.".
This is the correct statement to include in the teaching. Clients with multiple sclerosis should avoid rigorous activities that increase body temperature, as this can worsen their symptoms due to the sensitivity of demyelinated nerves to heat. Activities such as hot baths or engaging in strenuous exercise in hot weather should be avoided.
D. "Corticosteroids should be taken daily for the rest of your life.".
Corticosteroids are not typically used as a long-term treatment for multiple sclerosis. Instead, they are used for short courses during exacerbations to reduce inflammation and manage acute symptoms. Long-term use of corticosteroids can lead to significant adverse effects, so the nurse should not include this statement in the teaching.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale:
The nurse should not advise the client with multiple sclerosis to schedule all physical activities for the morning hours. While some individuals with multiple sclerosis may experience increased fatigue later in the day, the best approach is to encourage the client to schedule activities at times when they feel the most energetic and to balance physical activity with rest throughout the day.
Choice B rationale:
Monitoring blood pressure is essential while taking fingolimod, a medication used to treat multiple sclerosis, as it can cause a transient decrease in heart rate and blood pressure.
Therefore, the nurse should include this statement in the teaching to ensure the client's safety and early detection of any issues.
Choice C rationale:
This is the correct statement to include in the teaching. Clients with multiple sclerosis should avoid rigorous activities that increase body temperature, as this can worsen their symptoms due to the sensitivity of demyelinated nerves to heat. Activities such as hot baths or engaging in strenuous exercise in hot weather should be avoided.
Choice D rationale:
Corticosteroids are not typically used as a long-term treatment for multiple sclerosis. Instead, they are used for short courses during exacerbations to reduce inflammation and manage acute symptoms. Long-term use of corticosteroids can lead to significant adverse effects, so the nurse should not include this statement in the teaching.
A nurse is teaching a group of middle adult clients about osteoporosis. Which of the following risk factors should the nurse include?
A. Prolonged sun exposure.
Prolonged sun exposure is a risk factor for osteoporosis because it can lead to vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption, and low levels of vitamin D can contribute to reduced bone density and increased risk of fractures.
B. Reduced intake of vitamin E.
Reduced intake of vitamin E is not a well-established risk factor for osteoporosis. Vitamin E is an antioxidant and plays a role in various bodily processes, but its association with osteoporosis is not supported by strong evidence.
C. Drinking one glass of wine per day.
Drinking one glass of wine per day is not a risk factor for osteoporosis. In fact, moderate alcohol consumption has been suggested to have a protective effect on bone density in some studies.
D. Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke.
Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke is a risk factor for osteoporosis. Smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke have been linked to decreased bone density and increased risk of fractures, making this an important point to include in the teaching.
Full Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Prolonged sun exposure is a risk factor for osteoporosis because it can lead to vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption, and low levels of vitamin D can contribute to reduced bone density and increased risk of fractures.
Choice B rationale:
Reduced intake of vitamin E is not a well-established risk factor for osteoporosis. Vitamin E is an antioxidant and plays a role in various bodily processes, but its association with osteoporosis is not supported by strong evidence.
Choice C rationale:
Drinking one glass of wine per day is not a risk factor for osteoporosis. In fact, moderate alcohol consumption has been suggested to have a protective effect on bone density in some studies.
Choice D rationale:
Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke is a risk factor for osteoporosis. Smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke have been linked to decreased bone density and increased risk of fractures, making this an important point to include in the teaching.