A 28-year-old man with a fractured humerus calls the nurse into his room. Upon assessment, the nurse finds the patient to be tachycardic, pale, and confused. The nurse suspects the patient may be experiencing which of the following complications?

Compartment syndrome

Deep vein thrombosis

Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy

Fat embolism

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A reason: Compartment syndrome involves increased pressure within a muscle compartment, causing pain, swelling, and neurovascular compromise. It typically presents with localized symptoms like severe pain and paresthesia, not systemic signs like tachycardia, pallor, or confusion. These findings in a humerus fracture suggest a broader complication, making this less likely.

Choice B reason: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) causes localized swelling, pain, and redness, primarily in the lower limbs. Systemic symptoms like tachycardia or confusion are rare unless DVT progresses to pulmonary embolism. A humerus fracture is less associated with DVT, and the patient’s symptoms point to a more acute, systemic issue.

Choice C reason: Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) involves widespread clotting and bleeding, often triggered by sepsis or trauma. While possible in severe trauma, it typically presents with bleeding or bruising, not primarily tachycardia, pallor, and confusion. These symptoms align more closely with fat embolism in the context of a long bone fracture.

Choice D reason: Fat embolism syndrome, common in long bone fractures like the humerus, occurs when fat globules enter the bloodstream, obstructing pulmonary or cerebral vessels. This causes tachycardia, pallor (from hypoxia), and confusion (from cerebral hypoxia). These systemic symptoms match the patient’s presentation, making fat embolism the most likely complication requiring urgent intervention.

Nursing Test Bank

Test Bank #1: RN Pharmacology Exams Test Bank #2: RN Medical-Surgical Exams Test Bank #3: RN Fundamentals Exams Test Bank #4: RN Maternal-Newborn Exams Test Bank #5: RN Anatomy and Physiology Exams Test Bank #6: RN Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Test Bank #7: RN Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Test Bank #9: RN Adult Health Test Bank #10: RN Dosage Calculation Test Bank #11: RN Community Health Exams Test Bank #12: RN Psychology Exams Test Bank #13: RN Nursing Care Of Children Test Bank #14: RN Foundations of Nursing Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Exam #1: RN Comprehensive predictor 2023 proctored exam Exam #2: Ati rn vati comprehensive predictor proctored exam Exam #3: Ati Rn Comprehensive Predictor Proctored Exam 2023 Exam #4: Rn Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Proctored Exam - St. Joseph Exam #5: RN Comprehensive Predictor Proctored Exam (National U CA San Diego) Exam #6: Ati rn comprehensive predictor 2023 retake proctored exam Exam #7: RN Hesi Exit Proctored Exam Exam #8: Hesi RN Exit proctored exam Exam #9: Hesi rn exit proctored exam Exam #10: Hesi Rn compass exit B proctored exam

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Tennis involves high-impact movements, twisting, and sudden directional changes, which stress the lumbar spine and exacerbate low back pain. These actions increase pressure on intervertebral discs and strain paraspinal muscles, risking further injury. For clients with back pain, low-impact exercises are preferred to avoid aggravating the condition.

Choice B reason: Swimming is a low-impact aerobic exercise that strengthens core and back muscles without stressing the spine. Buoyancy in water reduces gravitational load on vertebrae, minimizing disc compression. Freestyle or backstroke promotes spinal alignment and flexibility, making it an ideal recommendation for managing low back pain safely and effectively.

Choice C reason: Rowing involves repetitive forward flexion and rotation, which can strain lumbar muscles and compress spinal discs, worsening low back pain. The seated position and pulling motion increase intradiscal pressure, risking injury. This high-intensity activity is not suitable for clients seeking back pain relief through exercise.

Choice D reason: Canoeing requires prolonged sitting and repetitive twisting, which stress the lower back. The forward paddling motion increases lumbar flexion, straining muscles and discs. This activity is not recommended, as it can exacerbate pain and lacks the supportive, low-impact qualities needed for safe back pain management.

A. The weights are equal on each side. B. The ropes are securely attached to the pins. C. The weights rest against the foot of the bed. D. The ropes are in the center of the wheel grooves.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: Equal weights on each side are appropriate in skeletal traction, ensuring balanced force to maintain bone alignment. This finding supports the traction’s purpose of stabilizing the fracture without causing uneven stress on the bone or soft tissues. No correction is needed, as this is a correct setup.

Choice B reason: Securely attached ropes to pins are essential in skeletal traction to transmit consistent force to the bone. Loose attachments could disrupt alignment or cause pin site complications like infection. This finding is correct and does not require correction, as it ensures effective traction and patient safety.

Choice C reason: Weights resting against the bed negate the traction’s pulling force, failing to maintain bone alignment. Weights must hang freely to apply continuous tension, counteracting muscle spasms and stabilizing the fracture. This finding requires correction to restore effective traction and prevent malunion or delayed healing.

Choice D reason: Ropes centered in wheel grooves ensure smooth movement and consistent traction force without fraying or misalignment. This is a correct setup, as misaligned ropes could reduce traction effectiveness or cause mechanical issues. No correction is needed, as this supports proper traction mechanics.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A 28-year-old man with a fractured humerus calls the nurse into his room. Upon assessment, the nurse finds the patient to be tachycardic, pale, and confused. The nurse suspects the patient may be experiencing which of the following complications?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is caring for a client who reports low back pain and asks the nurse for specific exercise recommendations. Which of the following activities should the nurse suggest?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A nurse is assessing a client who is in skeletal traction. The nurse should correct which of the following findings?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A 28-year-old man with a fractured humerus calls the nurse into his room. Upon assessment, the nurse finds the patient to be tachycardic, pale, and confused. The nurse suspects the patient may be experiencing which of the following complications?

The nurse provides counseling to a family of a patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy with the knowledge that

A nurse is teaching a client who has chronic tophaceous gout about his new prescription for allopurinol. The nurse should explain that the purpose of this medication is to reduce blood levels of which of the following substances?

Which description is most characteristic of osteoarthritis (OA) when compared to rheumatoid arthritis (RA)?

A nurse is assessing a client who has a cast in place for a fractured tibia. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A nurse is caring for a client who has acute osteomyelitis. Which of the following interventions is the nurse’s priority?

The patient with osteoporosis had a spontaneous hip fracture. How would the nurse document this type of fracture?

A nurse is educating coworkers about how to minimize back strain and avoid repeated episodes of low back pain. Which of the following strategies should the nurse include? (Select all that apply)