Reference no: EM133383037

S.T. is a 72-year-old female patient. Her husband died 6 months ago, and she lives alone now. She is seeing the health care provider for her annual physical examination. She has a history of hypertension and osteoarthritis. She currently takes the following medications:

Furosemide 20 mg PO daily every morning

Inderal LA 80 mg PO daily every morning

Celecoxib 200 mg PO daily every morning

Subjective Data

Has "some" pain in her right knee

States "It looks like I lost a half an inch this past year"

Objective Data

Temperature 98.2°F, pulse 72, respirations 16, blood pressure 130/76

Height 5 feet 2½ inches, weight 170 lbs., BMI 30.6 kg/m²

Unsteady gait, walks with a limp

Question 1

What are some important questions the nurse may ask that would illicit subjective information related to her musculoskeletal system?

Question 2

Describe what you would include in S.T.'s musculoskeletal assessment.

Question 3

What are some musculoskeletal findings would you expect as part of the normal aging process?

Question 4

Based on her past medical history and diagnosis of osteoarthritis as well as the subjective data and physical assessment findings of right knee swelling and tenderness to palpation and decreased range of motion, S.T. is at risk for falls. What are some fall prevention strategies you could teach S.T.?

Question 5

What could you teach S.T. to help improve some of her symptoms?

Question 6

Based on the subjective and objective data S.T.'s health care provider orders an x-ray examination of the right knee and after reading the radiographs, recommends S.T. have a right knee arthroscopy with possible debridement to visualize the contents of the knee to determine the cause of the pain and identify treatment options. What should you explain to S.T. about this procedure?