ATI RN
Muscular System Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
What are two major disadvantages of MRI scans?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: MRI disadvantages include high cost (expensive machines) and need for shielding from strong magnetic fields, protecting nearby devices/patients. It doesn't release radiation (a, d), images are high-quality (not a), views all tissues (not c), and confinement is a minor issue. Cost and shielding, per imaging tech, make 'b' correct.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse explains that, if muscles are not regularly stretched and contracted, the muscles will become:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Muscles require regular movement to maintain their length and elasticity. Without stretching and contraction, they adapt to a shortened position due to immobility, losing their ability to elongate fully over time. This results in reduced elasticity, making them prone to stiffness and contractures. Longer and flexed muscles would imply active stretching, which doesn't occur without intervention. Fibrosis and spasticity suggest scarring or neurological overactivity, more common in specific conditions like cerebral palsy, not general immobility. Shorter and painful could occur, but pain isn't a universal outcome of disuse shortening and loss of elasticity are the primary physiological changes. This explanation underscores the need for exercise to preserve muscle function, aligning with the natural response of tissues to prolonged inactivity.
Question 3 of 5
The patient s plan of care includes using the continuous passive motion (CPM) machine. Which statement by the patient indicates the need for further teaching?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A CPM machine gently flexes and extends a joint post-surgery, like a knee replacement, to prevent stiffness and promote healing. The statement about resetting it to go faster and flex more suggests misunderstanding, as the machine's settings are calibrated by professionals to optimize recovery without overstraining the joint. Too much speed or flexion could damage tissues or delay healing. The other statements reflect humor, acceptance of rest periods, or comfort with the device, aligning with its use. Further teaching is needed to clarify that adjusting the CPM independently risks harm, emphasizing the importance of following prescribed parameters for safe, effective rehabilitation.
Question 4 of 5
When caring for a patient who has an abductor wedge in place following a total hip replacement, the nurse should assess for:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An abductor wedge keeps the legs apart post-hip replacement to prevent dislocation by maintaining proper alignment. Assessing peripheral circulation is critical, as pressure from the wedge could compress blood vessels or nerves, leading to numbness, swelling, or impaired flow, which needs prompt correction. Muscle spasms might occur but aren't the primary concern with the wedge's positioning. Compression fractures relate to spinal issues, not hip surgery. Wedge size matters for comfort but is secondary to circulation, which directly impacts tissue health. Monitoring circulation ensures the device supports recovery without causing vascular compromise, a key risk in this context.
Question 5 of 5
A patient in Russell s traction with a Pearson attachment for a fracture of the tibia complains of intense pain at the fracture site. The nurse assesses a temperature of 102°F and increased swelling at the fracture site. These assessment findings suggest:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Intense pain, fever (102°F), and swelling at a fracture site in traction point to osteomyelitis, a bone infection possibly from pin sites or open injury, common in such setups. The acute inflammatory signs fit this diagnosis, requiring urgent antibiotics or surgery. Fat embolism causes respiratory distress and petechiae, not localized swelling and fever. Traction misalignment might cause pain but not systemic fever or such swelling. Nonunion is a chronic failure to heal, not an acute febrile state. Osteomyelitis matches the sudden, severe presentation, demanding immediate attention to prevent bone damage or sepsis.