Orthopaedic Nurse Test Risk Assessment & Management 3

Question 1

Which complication is MOST closely associated with tourniquet use during orthopaedic limb surgery?

Accepted Answer

Compartment syndrome and nerve injury

Answer

Prolonged tourniquet use can cause compartment syndrome and pressure-related nerve injury distal to the cuff.

Question 2

A nurse notes that a patient's cast on their forearm feels tight and the patient reports numbness. What is the FIRST priority action?

Accepted Answer

Notify the provider immediately for cast bivalving or removal

Answer

Numbness and tightness in a casted extremity suggest impending compartment syndrome requiring immediate intervention.

Question 3

Which scoring tool is commonly used in orthopaedic settings to assess a patient's fall risk?

Accepted Answer

Morse Fall Scale

Answer

The Morse Fall Scale is a widely used, validated tool to assess fall risk in hospitalized patients.

Question 4

A patient with a femur fracture develops sudden onset of petechiae, respiratory distress, and confusion 48 hours post-injury. The nurse should suspect:

Accepted Answer

Fat embolism syndrome

Answer

The classic triad of petechiae, respiratory distress, and neurological changes within 72 hours of long bone fracture indicates fat embolism syndrome.

Question 5

When using the Wells Score for DVT in an orthopaedic patient, which finding INCREASES the pretest probability?

Accepted Answer

Pitting edema confined to the symptomatic leg

Answer

Pitting edema localized to the symptomatic leg is a positive criterion on the Wells DVT score.

Orthopaedic Nurse Test Practice Test

Orthopaedic Nurse Test Practice Test

Orthopaedic Nurse Test Risk Assessment & Management 3