The nurse is aware that positioning and range-of-motion (ROM) exercises most help the immobilized patient to prevent:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: For an immobilized patient, maintaining joint and muscle function is a priority, and contractures permanent shortening of muscles or tendons due to prolonged immobility are a significant risk. Positioning and ROM exercises keep joints flexible and muscles stretched, counteracting the tendency for tissues to stiffen and shorten when unused. Increased pain might occur with immobility, but ROM exercises primarily address stiffness rather than pain itself. Pressure ulcers result from prolonged pressure on skin, prevented more by repositioning than ROM alone. Compromised circulation can occur with immobility, but it's more directly managed by elevation or compression, not ROM exercises. Contractures are the most relevant outcome these interventions target, as they can lead to permanent disability if not addressed early, making this the primary focus of such care in immobilization scenarios.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Rheumatic arthritis requires exercises to maintain joint mobility and strength, but they must be tailored to avoid worsening inflammation. Doing them daily, 3-10 times per joint, promotes consistency and flexibility without overexertion, fitting a balanced program. Exercising during active inflammation can damage joints further, as rest is then advised. Continuing past pain risks injury, contradicting pain-as-a-guide principles. Doubling after a missed day could strain joints excessively. The daily repetition approach supports gradual improvement, respecting the condition's need for regular, gentle movement to manage stiffness and function, making it the safest, most effective instruction.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: A compound fracture, with bone piercing skin, risks bleeding and infection, so the immediate action is stabilizing it. Splinting the leg as it lies immobilizes the fracture, minimizing further damage, blood loss, and pain until medical help arrives. Lying flat might worsen alignment or bleeding without stabilization. A tourniquet is extreme, used only for uncontrolled hemorrhage, not standard here. Straightening the leg risks worsening the injury, driving bone deeper or increasing bleeding. Splinting preserves the current state, aligning with first-aid principles for open fractures, ensuring safety and reducing complications before transport.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The insertion is the attachment of a muscle tendon to a movable bone, contrasting with the origin, which is attached to a stationary bone. When a muscle contracts, the insertion moves toward the origin, producing motion. For example, in the quadriceps, the insertion on the tibia moves during knee extension. The diaphragm is a specific muscle, not an attachment type. Compartments refer to muscle groups, not individual attachments. Superficial indicates location, not a connection point. The insertion's role as the movable end is a foundational concept in muscle anatomy, making it the correct answer, as it directly corresponds to the definition provided and distinguishes it from the stationary origin.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: In a lever system, motion occurs when the effort (muscle contraction force) at the insertion exceeds the load (resistance), causing the movable bone to shift. For example, in a bicep curl, the biceps' effort at the radius (insertion) must overcome the weight to flex the elbow. If resistance at the insertion exceeds the load, it implies no motion, as the load wins. If the force is less than the load, no movement happens. Effort at the origin (stationary point) doesn't directly cause motion. Effort at the insertion exceeding the load is the correct biomechanical condition for lever movement, making it the right answer, reflecting how muscles drive skeletal levers.