Orthopaedic Nurse Test Technology & Digital Applications 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of imaging technology uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of soft tissue around bones?
- Computed Tomography (CT)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) (Correct answer)
- Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA)
- Fluoroscopy
Correct answer: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves, making it superior for visualizing soft tissues, cartilage, and ligaments surrounding orthopaedic structures.
Question 2: An orthopaedic nurse is reviewing a patient's Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) images. What is the PRIMARY purpose of PACS in orthopaedic care?
- To schedule surgical procedures automatically
- To store, retrieve, and distribute digital medical images electronically (Correct answer)
- To calculate medication dosages based on imaging findings
- To transmit billing information to insurance providers
Correct answer: To store, retrieve, and distribute digital medical images electronically
PACS allows digital radiographic and other imaging studies to be stored electronically and accessed remotely by authorized clinicians.
Question 3: During continuous passive motion (CPM) therapy after total knee arthroplasty, which parameter is MOST important for the nurse to monitor on the device display?
- Battery charge level
- Range of motion settings and patient comfort (Correct answer)
- Network connectivity status
- Device manufacturer identification number
Correct answer: Range of motion settings and patient comfort
The nurse must verify that ROM settings align with the surgeon's orders and continuously assess patient comfort and tolerance during CPM therapy.
Question 4: A patient with a hip fracture has a sequential compression device (SCD) alarm activating repeatedly. What is the nurse's FIRST action?
- Silence the alarm and document it
- Assess the device placement and patient's leg for complications (Correct answer)
- Remove the device and notify the surgeon immediately
- Increase compression pressure on the device
Correct answer: Assess the device placement and patient's leg for complications
The nurse should first assess whether the device is properly positioned and check the patient's extremity for signs of DVT, skin integrity issues, or improper fit causing the alarm.
Question 5: Which digital tool helps orthopaedic nurses track antibiotic-impregnated cement spacer protocols and infection management in periprosthetic joint infection (PJI)?
- Medication administration record (MAR) in the EHR (Correct answer)
- Physical therapy scheduling software
- Hospital dietary management system
- Payroll processing software
Correct answer: Medication administration record (MAR) in the EHR
The EHR's medication administration record tracks antibiotic dosing, spacer placement dates, and infection management protocols integral to PJI treatment.
Question 6: A traction device is connected to a patient post-femur fracture. The digital weight display reads inconsistently. What should the nurse do FIRST?
- Add more weight to stabilize the reading
- Check all connections, pulleys, and ensure weights hang freely (Correct answer)
- Call biomedical engineering immediately without assessing
- Document the inconsistency and continue monitoring
Correct answer: Check all connections, pulleys, and ensure weights hang freely
Before escalating, the nurse should inspect all mechanical components—ropes, pulleys, and weights—to identify and correct the source of the inconsistent reading.
Question 7: Which technology is commonly used in the operating room to provide real-time intraoperative imaging guidance during orthopaedic procedures such as spinal fusion?
- Fluoroscopy (C-arm) (Correct answer)
- PET scan
- DEXA scan
- Ultrasound elastography
Correct answer: Fluoroscopy (C-arm)
Fluoroscopy using a C-arm provides real-time X-ray imaging during procedures, enabling surgeons to confirm implant placement and alignment intraoperatively.
Orthopaedic Nurse Test Technology & Digital Applications 2
Which type of imaging technology uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of soft tissue around bones?