NCLEX® Neurological and Musculoskeletal Practice Questions
Try Neurological and Musculoskeletal NCLEX Practice Questions
Test your neurological and musculoskeletal knowledge with this nursing neuro/musculoskeletal quiz. To experience UWorld’s official questions, with clinical scenarios, detailed visual rationales, and explanations for every answer choice, see our full library of free NCLEX® practice questions.
Priority Question - Fat Embolism
The nurse is caring for assigned clients.
The nurse should first assess the client who
| 1. has a femur fracture and altered mental status | |
| 2. has a hip fracture and a discrepancy in leg length | |
| 3. has osteomyelitis and reports pain rated as 9 on a scale of 0-10 | |
| 4. had a lower leg amputation and reports paresthesia in the amputated foot |
Intervene Question - Compartment Syndrome
The nurse is observing a staff member caring for a client who has compartment syndrome.
Which of the following actions by the staff member would require the nurse to intervene? Select all that apply.
| 1. elevating the affected extremity above the level of the heart | |
| 2. assessing for a distal pulse in the affected extremity | |
| 3. preparing supplies for a fasciotomy of the affected extremity | |
| 4. placing cold compresses on the affected extremity | |
| 5. applying a compression bandage to the affected extremity |
Plan of Care Question - Traction
The nurse is caring for a client who is in balanced suspension skeletal traction.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
| 1. Place the client in a side-lying position. | |
| 2. Maintain the head of the bed at greater than 30 degrees. | |
| 3. Remove the weights briefly every 2 to 4 hours. | |
| 4. Allow the weights to hang freely off the edge of the bed. |
Medication/Risk factor/Manifestation question - Osteoporosis
The nurse is teaching a client with osteoporosis who is receiving alendronate.
Which of the following information should the nurse include?
| 1. “Ensure you take the medication with food.” | |
| 2. “Lie down for 30 minutes after taking alendronate.” | |
| 3. “Drink an 8 oz glass of water with the medication.” | |
| 4. “Take your other morning medications with alendronate.” |
Teaching questions - Gout
The nurse is teaching a client with gout about low-purine foods.
Which of the following foods should the nurse include? Select all that apply.
| 1. aged cheese | |
| 2. canned tuna | |
| 3. smoked turkey | |
| 4. yogurt | |
| 5. avocado |
Priority question - Septic arthritis
The nurse is caring for a client with septic arthritis.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take? Select all that apply.
| 1. Implement airborne precautions for the client. | |
| 2. Administer analgesics to the client as needed. | |
| 3. Prepare the client for synovial fluid aspiration. | |
| 4. Initiate broad spectrum antibiotic therapy for the client. | |
| 5. Assist the client to perform frequent range-of-motion exercises. |
Intervene question - Position that leads to contractures
The nurse is observing staff members caring for assigned clients.
The nurse should intervene if a staff member is observed
| 1. encouraging a client who had an above-the-knee amputation 6 hours ago to lie in the prone position for 30 minutes | |
| 2. assisting a client who had a below-the-knee amputation 12 hours ago to move from the chair to the bed after sitting for 45 minutes | |
| 3. placing a pillow under the residual limb of a client who had an above-the-knee amputation 2 hours ago | |
| 4. teaching a client who had a below-the-knee amputation 24 hours ago how to perform active and passive range-of-motion exercises |
Plan of care question - Arthritis (movement, meds, etc)
The nurse is teaching a client with osteoarthritis who is reporting pain and swelling of the right knee.
Which of the following information should the nurse include? Select all that apply.
| 1. “Avoid splinting your right knee.” | |
| 2. “Perform weight-bearing aerobic activities regularly.” | |
| 3. “Apply heat and cold therapy to your right knee as needed.” | |
| 4. “Place a pillow under your right knee while you are sleeping.” | |
| 5. “Take prescribed or over-the-counter NSAIDs to manage your pain.” |
Medication/Risk factor/Manifestation question - Wired jaw
The nurse is observing a staff member caring for a client who has intermaxillary fixation of a mandibular fracture.
The nurse should intervene if the staff member is observed
| 1. attaching wire cutters to the head of the client’s bed | |
| 2. ensuring suction equipment is available for the client | |
| 3. instructing the client to rinse the mouth after meals and snacks | |
| 4. discouraging the client from speaking while the wires are in place |
Teaching question - Back pain (prevent, body mechanics, walk)
The nurse is teaching clients at a community health fair about prevention of back pain.
Which of the following information should the nurse include?
| 1. “Lift heavy boxes using your arms.” | |
| 2. “Avoid body movements that twist your spine.” | |
| 3. “Pull rather than push when you are moving objects.” | |
| 4. “Lock your knees when standing for extended periods of time.” |
Watch Expert NCLEX Neurological and Musculoskeletal Question Breakdown
Watch our expert nursing educators break down high-yield neurological and musculoskeletal National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX®) questions step by step. Learn how to identify priority findings, recognize neurological changes, and approach challenging exam scenarios.
Which Action Is Correct for a Client in Skeletal Traction?
What Should the Nurse Teach a Client Taking Alendronate for Osteoporosis?
Which Low-Purine Foods Should the Nurse Include for a Client With Gout? (SATA)
When Should the Nurse Intervene During Post-Amputation Care?
What Information Should the Nurse Include for a Client With Osteoarthritis? (SATA)
How to Answer NCLEX Neurological and Musculoskeletal Questions
Neurological and musculoskeletal questions often hinge on recognizing subtle changes before they become serious problems. Learn how to identify key findings, prioritize care, and work through neurological and musculoskeletal scenarios with a clear strategy.
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Master High-Yield Neurological and Musculoskeletal Topics
Focus on these high-yield topics to reinforce the neurological and musculoskeletal concepts most frequently tested on the NCLEX. These are the concepts that appear most often in patient care scenarios, prioritization questions, and NGN case studies.
Immobility and Mobility
Mobility assessment, gait, strength, circulation, and the prevention of immobility-related complications form the foundation of neurological and musculoskeletal nursing care.
Orthopedic and Traction Devices
Traction systems, casts, external fixation devices, and orthopedic equipment require ongoing monitoring and maintenance.
Neurological Status and Complications
Level of consciousness, muscle strength, mobility, and sensory changes are key indicators of neurological status and decline.
Intracranial Pressure (ICP)
ICP monitoring, neurological assessment, and interventions for increased intracranial pressure are core neurological concepts.
Seizure Management
Seizure precautions, patient safety, and post-seizure care are frequently tested nursing responsibilities.
Musculoskeletal Positioning and Safety
Logrolling, abduction pillows, body alignment, and movement precautions help prevent further injury and complications.
Sensory and Cognitive Impairments
Visual, auditory, sensory, and cognitive impairments require adaptive care strategies and appropriate safety interventions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who writes UWorld’s neurological and musculoskeletal NCLEX questions?
Every UWorld question is crafted through a rigorous, multi-step authoring process. A dedicated team of more than 40+ practicing nurses and nurse educators writes, reviews, and continuously updates each item to ensure it meets strict National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) standards and matches the difficulty of the actual exam.
Our clinical team also works alongside professional designers with advanced degrees to create the medical illustrations and visuals that accompany each explanation. The result is a question bank (QBank) that doesn’t just test you, it teaches you the clinical reasoning behind every answer.
How much are neurological and musculoskeletal concepts tested on the NCLEX?
Neurological and musculoskeletal concepts are heavily tested on the NCLEX and are commonly assessed through the Physiological Adaptation, Reduction of Risk Potential, and Basic Care and Comfort categories. However, neurological and musculoskeletal concepts are not assigned their own standalone percentage on the NCLEX test plan. Instead, they are integrated throughout patient care scenarios involving mobility, neurological assessment, injury prevention, orthopedic devices, seizure management, and increased intracranial pressure.
In practice, you’ll encounter neurological and musculoskeletal topics across conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury (TBI), seizures, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), fractures, traction devices, and mobility impairments, often within broader clinical judgment and NCLEX-style case-study questions.
What neurological and musculoskeletal topics are most important for the NCLEX?
Focus on neurological assessment, mobility, level of consciousness, seizure precautions, increased intracranial pressure (ICP), orthopedic devices, and injury prevention. High-yield conditions that appear repeatedly on nursing exams include stroke, spinal cord injury (SCI), traumatic brain injury (TBI), seizures, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), fractures, and mobility-related complications.
What is the best way to study neurological and musculoskeletal NCLEX topics?
The most effective approach is to study neurological and musculoskeletal content through pattern recognition rather than memorizing isolated facts. Learn how to recognize neurological changes, identify safety risks, connect precautions to specific conditions, and recognize the complications that require immediate intervention.
What makes UWorld’s neurological and musculoskeletal questions different from other QBanks?
Three things:
- Every question comes with an in-depth explanation that covers every answer choice, correct and incorrect, so you understand the reasoning, not just the answer.
- Our questions are written to match the difficulty and clinical judgment demands of the actual NCLEX, not simplified recall questions.
- Our explanations include professionally designed medical illustrations that visualize neurological and musculoskeletal concepts like nerve pathways, mobility limitations, orthopedic devices, and neurological complications, which is the kind of context that helps these questions make sense instead of feeling like memorized facts.
How many neurological and musculoskeletal questions does UWorld’s QBank include?
UWorld’s NCLEX QBank includes hundreds of neurological and musculoskeletal questions spanning stroke, spinal cord injury, seizures, increased intracranial pressure (ICP), mobility, orthopedic devices, neurological assessment, and nursing interventions. You can also filter neurological and musculoskeletal content when creating custom practice tests.
Does UWorld cover NCLEX-style question types for neurological and musculoskeletal topics?
Yes. Our QBank includes every item type: Unfolding Case Studies, Bow-tie, Matrix, Extended SATA, Drag-and-Drop, Drop-Down, Highlight, and Trend questions across all subjects, including neurological and musculoskeletal nursing. You’ll practice the exact question formats you’ll face on exam day, with the same partial-credit scoring the real NCLEX uses.
How does partial credit work on NCLEX neurological and musculoskeletal questions?
The NCLEX uses a plus/minus (+/−) scoring model for Select All That Apply (SATA) and other scored item types. You earn points for correct selections and lose points for incorrect ones. The lowest possible score on any individual item is zero, you cannot receive a negative score.
How do I answer stroke questions on the NCLEX?
Start by identifying the neurological deficits and determining whether the patient’s condition is stable or worsening. Pay close attention to the level of consciousness, motor function, speech changes, sensation, and swallowing ability, as these findings often drive nursing priorities.
Rather than memorizing every possible stroke presentation, focus on recognizing neurological changes, safety concerns, and the interventions that require immediate attention.
Can I use UWorld to focus specifically on neurological and musculoskeletal topics?
Yes. UWorld lets you create unlimited custom practice tests filtered by subject, body system, question status, and difficulty level. Select “Neurological and Musculoskeletal” to generate a practice test made entirely of neurological and musculoskeletal questions, or combine it with a specific system filter (e.g., Adult Health + Neurological and Musculoskeletal) to drill into the exact intersection you need.
Does UWorld offer a free trial for NCLEX neurological and musculoskeletal practice?
Yes. UWorld offers a 7-day free trial that includes 50 exam-style NCLEX practice questions with full in-depth explanations and access to review videos, no credit card required. It’s the fastest way to experience how UWorld teaches this topic differently.
**98% of UWorld NCLEX-RN Review users who completed at least 75% of the QBank passed the NCLEX-RN the first time.