Health Interview
Normal physical exam findings

Abnormal physical exam findings
Physical Assessment techniques
Miscellaneous
100
1. During a health interview, the patient describes a problem associated with an illness and begins to cry. The best action in this situation is to: a. allow the patient to cry, then resume when the patient is ready. b. change the topic to something less upsetting. c. continue the interview while the patient cries in order to get through it quickly. d. stop the interview and reschedule for another time
a. allow the patient to cry, then resume when the patient is ready.
100
9. The normal color for the tympanic membrane is: a. streaky red. b. pearly yellow. c. pearly gray. d. white.
c. pearly gray
100
25. The client has a macular rash, and the nurse expects to find: a. elevated, firm, well-defined lesions less than 1 centimeter in diameter. b. depressed, firm or scaly, rough lesions greater than 1 centimeter in circumference. c. elevated, fluid-filled lesions not penetrating into the dermis and less than 1 centimeter in diameter. d. flat, well-defined, small lesions differing in color from the surrounding skin, less than 1 centimeter in diameter.
flat, well-defined, small lesions differing in color from the surrounding skin, less than 1 centimeter in diameter.
100
10. The assessment technique of percussion includes: a. using equipment to auscultate sounds. b. striking the tip of the middle finger on a distal interphalangeal joint. c. applying gentle pressure on the abdomen to detect abnormalities. d. using sight, hearing, and smell to gather information
striking the tip of the middle finger on a distal interphalangeal joint
100
22. When pressed firmly on the chest, the diaphragm of the stethoscope is best for hearing relatively high-pitched sounds such as: a. murmur of mitral stenosis b. bruits c. S3 & S4 d. S1 & S2
S1 & S2
200
What is the most important skill when interviewing a patient?
Listening!
200
13. When a lightly vibrating tuning fork is placed on top of the head and the sound is heard in the left ear only, this reveals abnormal lateralization of sound. What is the name of this test? a. Rinne test b. Allen test c. Weber test d. Pneumatic test
Weber
200
27. Your client has a history of right carotid artery narrowing. What do you expect to find on assessment? a. A friction rub over the heart b. A bruit over the right carotid artery c. A blood pressure below normal limits d. A pulse that is more brisk than expected
A bruit over the right carotid artery
200
11. You are observing your lab partner perform the Rinne test. Correct technique involves initially placing the tuning fork: a. over the frontal bone. b. on the top of the head. c. over the mastoid process. d. in front of the external ear.
over the mastoid process.
200
23. On inspection of the diameters of the chest wall, which of the following would the examiner recognize as normal? a. Anterio-posterior (A-P) diameter is equal to transverse diameter b. A-P diameter is double the transverse diameter c. A-P diameter is half of the transverse diameter d. None of the above
A-P diameter is half of the transverse diameter
300
3. During the interview, the client states that she doesn’t use many drugs. The nurse’s best response to this statement is: a. “Tell me about the drugs you use now.” b. “Six or seven can be considered not many by most people.” c. “Do you know that illicit drugs are illegal?” d. “What kind of drugs are you talking about?”
a. “Tell me about the drugs you use now.”
300
15. You ask your client to clench his teeth and lightly brush cotton over the face. What cranial nerve are you assessing? a. CN II b. CN V c. CN VII d. CN XII
b. CN V
300
68. A bruit and murmur are both caused by: a. hypertension. b. bradycardia. c. tachypnea. d. turbulent blood flow.
turbulent blood flow.
300
12. For an otoscopic exam of an adult, the auricle should be: a. firmly pulled up and out b. gently pulled down and out c. gently pulled up and back d. left exactly as it is when the patient walks into the exam room
gently pulled up and back
300
30. Which great vessel arises out of the left ventricle? The a. aorta. b. pulmonary vein. c. superior vena cava. d. pulmonary artery.
a. aorta
400
Effective interviewing techniques include all of the following except a. Introduce yourself b. Greet the patient c. Make eye contact d. Interrupting
d. Interrupting
400
18. Rapid, rhythmic alternating movements are used to assess: a. motor ability. b. coordination. c. sensation. d. reflexes.
b. coordination.
400
67. Diminished lower leg hair, cool skin temperature, and capillary refill of 4 seconds is indicative of: a. peripheral arterial disease. b. peripheral venous disease. c. coronary artery disease. d. acute respiratory failure.
a. peripheral arterial disease.
400
15. You ask your client to clench his teeth and lightly brush cotton over the face. What cranial nerve are you assessing? a. CN II b. CN V c. CN VII d. CN XII
CN V
400
32. What is the name of the vertical line that is drawn from the middle of the clavicle down to the floor? a. Midsternal b. Midclavicular c. Anterior axillary line d. Posterior axillary line
Midclavicular
500
. Challenging patients require the following except a. Avoiding intense direct eye contact b. Demonstrating control over the situation without assuming an overly authoritarian stance. c. Listening to the patient d. Asking “why” questions
d. Asking “why” questions
500
28. When assessing a client with aortic valve stenosis, the nurse notes a thrill, which is characterized as a: a. sustained thrust of the heart against the chest wall during systole. b. visible sinking in of the tissues between and around the ribs. c. fine, palpable vibration felt over the precordium. d. bounding pulse at the point of maximum impulse.
c. fine, palpable vibration felt over the precordium.
500
29. You are auscultating an elderly client’s chest and hear an extra sound immediately after S2. They are in heart failure. What is the most likely heart sound a. A normal variation b. Presence of an S3 c. Presence of an S4 d. Midsystolic click
b. Presence of an S3
500
17. A deep tendon reflex is elicited by a brisk tap over a: a. flexed joint. b. contracted muscle. c. stretched tendon. d. bone.
stretched tendon.
500
34. What is the name given to the palpable vibrations transmitted through the bronchopulmonary system to the chest wall when the patient repeats “99”? a. Tactile fremitus b. Egophony c. Whispered pectoriloquy d. Bronchophony
Tactile fremitus
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