Chapter 45: Concepts of Care for Patients With Musculoskeletal Problems

1. The nurse is teaching a client who has osteopenia about alendronate. Which statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching? A. "I will take this drug at night to prevent nausea." B. "I need a dental checkup before taking the drug." C. "I need to sit up for 30 minutes after taking the drug." D. "I will drink plenty of water after I take the drug."

A

2. The nurse is caring for a client who was admitted with a draining diabetic ulcer on the lower extremity. What personal protective equipment will the nurse teach the staff to use? Select all that apply. A. Gown B. Gloves C. Mask D. Foot covers

A, B

Which assessment data are factors that increase the risk for osteoporosis for an older Euro-American female? Select all that apply. A. Drinks 3 to 4 glasses of wine each day B. Sits at a desk all day at her job C. Smokes a pack of cigarettes a day D. Takes a mile-long walk 5 days a week E. Takes 1000 mg acetaminophen for arthritis daily F. Weighs 110 lb (50 kg)

A, B, C, F

3. A client has been advised to perform weight-bearing exercises to help slow bone loss, but has not followed this advice. What response by the nurse is appropriate at this time? a. Ask the client about fear of falling. b. Instruct the client to increase calcium. c. Suggest other exercises the client can do. d. Tell the client to try weight lifting.

ANS: A Fear of falling can limit participation in activity. The nurse would first assess if the client has this fear and then offer suggestions for dealing with it. The client may or may not need extra calcium, other exercises, or weight lifting.

10. A client has a metastatic bone tumor in the left leg. What action by the nurse is appropriate? a. Administer pain medication as prescribed. b. Elevate the extremity and apply moist heat. c. Teach the client about amputation care. d. Place the client on protective precautions.

ANS: A Pain medication should be given to control metastatic bone pain. Elevation and heat may or may not be helpful. Protective precautions are not needed for this client.

11. A client with bone cancer is hospitalized for a limb salvage procedure. How can the nurse best address the client's psychosocial needs? a. Assess the client's coping skills and support systems. b. Explain that the surgery leads to a longer life expectancy. c. Refer the client to the social worker or hospital chaplain. d. Reinforce physical therapy to aid with ambulating normally.

ANS: A The first step in the nursing process is assessment. The nurse would assess coping skills and possible support systems that will be helpful in this client's treatment. Explaining that a limb salvage procedure will extend life does not address the client's psychosocial needs. Referrals may be necessary, but the nurse should assess first. Reinforcing physical therapy is also helpful but again does not address the psychosocial needs of the client.

14. What information does the nurse teach a women's group about osteoporosis? a. "Primary osteoporosis occurs in postmenopausal women due to lack of estrogen." b. "Men actually have higher rates of the disease but are underdiagnosed." c. "There is no way to prevent or slow osteoporosis after menopause." d. "Women and men have an equal chance of getting osteoporosis."

ANS: A Women are more at risk of developing primary osteoporosis after menopause due to the lack of estrogen. Men have a slower loss of bone after the age of 75. Many treatments are now available for women to slow osteoporosis after menopause.

16. A nurse is assessing a community group for dietary factors that contribute to osteoporosis. In addition to inquiring about calcium, the nurse also assesses for which other dietary components? (Select all that apply.) a. Alcohol b. Caffeine c. Fat d. Carbonated beverages e. Vitamin D

ANS: A, B, D, E Dietary components that affect the development of osteoporosis include alcohol, caffeine, high phosphorus intake, carbonated beverages, and vitamin D. Tobacco is also a contributing lifestyle factor. Fat intake does not contribute to osteoporosis.

19. The nurse is assessing a client for chronic osteomyelitis. Which features distinguish this from the acute form of the disease? (Select all that apply.) a. Draining sinus tracts b. High fevers c. Presence of foot ulcers d. Swelling and redness e. Tenderness or pain

ANS: A, C Draining sinus tracts and foot ulcers are seen in chronic osteomyelitis. High fever, swelling, and redness are more often seen in acute osteomyelitis. Pain or tenderness can be in either case.

18. A client with chronic osteomyelitis is being discharged from the hospital. What information is important for the nurse to teach this client and family? (Select all that apply.) a. Adherence to the antibiotic regimen b. Correct intramuscular injection technique c. Eating high-protein and high-carbohydrate foods d. Keeping daily follow-up appointments e. Proper use of the intravenous equipment

ANS: A, C, E The client going home with chronic osteomyelitis will need long-term antibiotic therapy—first intravenous, and then oral. The client needs education on how to properly administer IV antibiotics, care for the IV line, adhere to the regimen, and eat a healthy diet to encourage wound healing. The antibiotics are not given by IM injection. The client does not need daily follow-up.

1. A client has a bone density score of -2.8. What intervention would the nurse anticipate based on this assessment? a. Asking the client to complete a food diary b. Planning to teach about bisphosphonates c. Scheduling another scan in 2 years d. Scheduling another scan in 6 months

ANS: B A T-score from a bone density scan at or lower than -2.5 indicates osteoporosis. The nurse would plan to teach about medications used to treat this disease, such as the bisphosphonates. A food diary is helpful to determine if the client gets adequate calcium and vitamin D, but at this point, dietary changes will not prevent the disease. Simply scheduling another scan will not help treat the disease either.

5. A client has been prescribed denosumab. What health teaching about this drug is most appropriate for the nurse to include? a. "Drink at least 8 ounces (240 mL) of water with it." b. "Make appointments to come get your injection." c. "Sit upright for 30 to 60 minutes after taking it." d. "Take the drug on an empty stomach."

ANS: B Denosumab is given by subcutaneous injection twice a year. The client does not need to drink 8 ounces (240 mL) of water with this medication as it is not taken orally. The client does not need to remain upright for 30 to 60 minutes after taking this medication, nor does the client need to take the drug on an empty stomach

15. A client with osteoporosis is going home where the client lives alone. What action by the nurse is best? a. Refer the client to Meals on Wheels. b. Arrange a home safety evaluation. c. Ensure that the client has a walker at home. d. Help the client look into assisted living.

ANS: B This client has several risk factors that place him or her at a high risk for falling. The nurse should consult social work or home health care to conduct a home safety evaluation. The other options may or may not be needed based upon the client's condition at discharge.

2. The nurse teaches assistive personnel (AP) about care of an older adult diagnosed with osteoporosis. What teaching would the nurse include? a. "Teach the client to eat high-calcium foods in the diet." b. "Assist the client with activities of daily living." c. "Osteoporosis places the client is at risk for fractures." d. "The client should stay in bed to prevent falling."

ANS: C Anyone who has osteoporosis is at risk for fragility fractures even if he or she does not experience trauma like a fall. The client needs to keep active rather than stay in bed where more bone could be lost. High-calcium foods may not be helpful because bone loss is already severe. There is no indication that the client needs assistance with ADLs.

8. An older client with diabetes is admitted with a heavily draining leg wound. The client's white blood cell count is 38,000/mm3 (38 109/L) but the client is afebrile. Which nursing action is most appropriate at this time? a. Administer acetaminophen as needed. b. Educate the client on amputation. c. Place the client on Contact Precautions. d. Refer the client to the wound care nurse.

ANS: C In the presence of a heavily draining wound, the nurse would place the client on Contact Precautions. If the client has discomfort, acetaminophen can be used, but this client has not reported pain and is afebrile. The client may or may not need an amputation in the future. The wound care nurse may be consulted but not as the most appropriate action.

13. A nurse assesses clients in an osteoporosis clinic. Which client would the nurse assess first? a. Client taking calcium with vitamin D who reports flank pain 2 weeks ago. b. Client taking ibandronate who cannot remember when the last dose was. c. Client taking raloxifene who reports unilateral calf swelling. d. Client taking risedronate who reports occasional dyspepsia.

ANS: C The client on raloxifene needs to be assessed first because of the potential for deep vein thrombosis, which is an adverse effect of raloxifene. The client with flank pain may have had a kidney stone but is not acutely ill now. The client who cannot remember taking the last dose of ibandronate can be seen last. The client on risedronate may need to change medications

12. A client had a bunionectomy with osteotomy. The client asks why healing may take up to 3 months. What explanation by the nurse is best? a. "The bones in your feet are hard to operate on." b. "The surrounding bones and tissue are damaged." c. "Your feet have less blood flow, so healing is slower." d. "Your feet bear weight so they never really heal."

ANS: C The feet are the most distal to the heart and receive less blood flow than other organs and tissues, prolonging the healing time after surgery. The other explanations are not correct.

6. The nurse is performing an assessment of a client with possible plantar fasciitis in the right foot. What assessment finding would the nurse expect in the right foot? a. Multiple toe deformities b. Numbness and paresthesias c. Severe pain in the arch of the foot d. Redness and severe swelling

ANS: C The most common assessment finding is the client's report of severe pain in the arch of the foot, especially when walking. The other findings are not typical in clients with this health problem.

9. A nurse is caring for four clients. After the hand-off report, which client would the nurse see first? a. Client with osteoporosis and a white blood cell count of 27,000/mm3 (27 109/L) b. Client with osteoporosis and a bone fracture who requests pain medication c. Post-microvascular bone transfer client whose distal leg is cool and pale d. Client with suspected bone tumor who just returned from having a spinal CT

ANS: C This client is the priority because the assessment findings indicate a critical lack of perfusion. A high white blood cell count is an expected finding for the client with osteoporosis. The client requesting pain medication should be seen second. The client who just returned from a CT scan is stable and needs no specific postprocedure care.

17. A nurse is providing education to a community women's group about lifestyle changes helpful in preventing osteoporosis. What topics does the nurse cover? (Select all that apply.) a. Cut down on tobacco product use. b. Limit alcohol to two drinks a day. c. Strengthening exercises are important. d. Take recommended calcium and vitamin D. e. Walk for 30 minutes at least three times a week

ANS: C, D, E Lifestyle changes can be made to decrease the occurrence of osteoporosis and include strengthening and weight-bearing exercises and getting the recommended amounts of both calcium and vitamin D. Tobacco should be totally avoided. Women should not have more than one drink per day

20. The nurse reviews a list of drugs that can cause secondary osteoporosis. Which drugs are most commonly associated with this health problem? (Select all that apply.) a. Antianxiety agents b. Antibiotics c. Barbiturates d. Corticosteroids e. Loop diuretics

ANS: C, D, E Several classes of drugs can cause secondary osteoporosis, including barbiturates, corticosteroids, and loop diuretics. Antianxiety agents and antibiotics are not associated with the formation of osteoporosis.

4. The nurse is caring for several clients with osteoporosis. For which client would bisphosphonates not be a good option? a. Client with diabetes who has a serum creatinine of 0.8 mg/dL (61 mcmol/L). b. Client who recently fell and has vertebral compression fractures. c. Hypertensive client who takes calcium channel blockers. d. Client with a spinal cord injury who cannot tolerate sitting up.

ANS: D Clients on bisphosphonates must be able to sit upright for 30 to 60 minutes after taking them. The client who cannot tolerate sitting up is not a good candidate for this class of drug. Poor renal function also makes clients poor candidates for this drug, but the client with a creatinine of 0.8 mg/dL (61 mcmol/L) is within normal range. Diabetes and hypertension are not related unless the client also has renal disease. The client who recently fell and sustained fractures is a good candidate for this drug if the fractures are related to osteoporosis.

7. The nurse is caring for a young client who has been diagnosed with osteopenia. Which risk factor in the client's history most likely contributed to the bone loss? a. Osteoarthritis b. Hypothyroidism c. Addison disease d. Rheumatoid arthritis

ANS: D Rheumatoid arthritis often occurs in young female adults and can lead to osteoporosis as a common complication. Cushing disease (rather than Addison disease) and hyperthyroidism (rather than hypothyroidism) are also risk factors. Osteoarthritis is a joint disease

The nurse assesses a client recently diagnosed with metastatic vertebral bone cancer. Which intervention is the priority when caring for this client? A. Consultation with rehabilitative therapy B. Referral to hospice care C. Drug therapy to manage persistent pain D. Oxygen therapy to prevent dyspnea

C

The nurse is caring for a client immediately after a bunionectomy. What is the nurse's priority action? A. Relieve or reduce the client's pain. B. Maintain the client's airway. C. Assess neurovascular status in the surgical foot. D. Apply a hot compress to the surgical area.

C