Deck 3: Examination Techniques and Equipment

Question 1

Which technique is commonly used to elicit tenderness arising from the liver, gallbladder, or kidneys?

A) Finger percussion
B) Palmar percussion
C) Fist percussion
D) Forearm percussion

Answer 1

Fist percussion

Question 2

Guidelines for Standard Precautions indicate that mask and eye protection or a face mask should be used while performing:

A) tube feedings.
B) patient bathing.
C) wet to dry dressing changes.
D) trachea care and suctioning.

Answer 2

trachea care and suctioning.

Question 3

Expected normal percussion tones include:

A) dullness over the lungs.
B) hyperresonance over the lungs.
C) tympany over an empty stomach.
D) flatness over an empty stomach.

Answer 3

tympany over an empty stomach.

Question 4

Mrs. Smalls is a 42-year-old woman who has presented to the office for a head to toe examination as part of her preventive health care assessment. The room has adequate lighting, and you have access to both sides of the examining table. What position should you assume while conducting this examination?

A) Behind the patient
B) Either side of the patient
C) Seated in a chair in front of the patient
D) To the right side of the patient

Question 5

Mrs. Berger is a 39-year-old woman who presents with a complaint of epigastric abdominal pain. You have completed the inspection of the abdomen. What is your next step in the assessment process?

A) Light palpation
B) Deep palpation
C) Percussion
D) Auscultation

Question 6

Which technique is used during both the history taking and the physical examination process?

A) Auscultation
B) Inspection
C) Palpation
D) Percussion

Question 7

You are caring for a nonambulatory 80-year-old male patient and he tells you, a female nurse, that he feels like he is having drainage from his rectum. Which initial nursing action is appropriate?

A) Drape the patient and observe the rectal area.
B) Tell the patient that his doctor will be notified of his problem.
C) Tell the patient that you will ask the male nurse on the next shift to check on the problem.
D) Give the patient an ice pack to apply to the area.

Question 8

Mr. Walder is a 56-year-old man who has been complaining of chest palpitations. Which position is useful for auscultating heart sounds?

A) Prone
B) Dorsal recumbent
C) Left lateral recumbent
D) Right Sims

Question 9

During percussion, the downward snap of the striking fingers should originate from the:

A) shoulder.
B) forearm.
C) wrist.
D) interphalangeal joint.

Question 10

During percussion, a dull tone is expected to be heard over:

A) healthy lung tissue.
B) emphysemic lungs.
C) the liver.
D) most of the abdomen.

Question 11

Standard Precautions apply:

A) only to patients with bloodborne infections.
B) only to patients with infected, draining wounds.
C) only to patients believed to have an infectious disease.
D) to all patients receiving care in hospitals.

Question 12

Which patient is at the highest risk for developing latex allergy?

A) The new patient who has no chronic illness and has never been hospitalized
B) The patient who has had multiple procedures or surgeries
C) The patient who is a vegetarian
D) The patient who is allergic to contrast dye

Question 13

One recommendation to prevent latex allergy is to:

A) wear latex gloves frequently to reduce sensitivity.
B) use oil-based creams or lotions before donning gloves.
C) wash hands with mild soap after removing gloves and then dry thoroughly.
D) use well-powdered gloves with increased protein content.

Question 14

The use of secondary, tangential lighting is most helpful in the detection of:

A) variations in skin color.
B) enlarged tonsils.
C) foreign objects in the nose or ear.
D) variations in contour of the body surface.

Question 15

When using mediate or indirect percussion, which technique is appropriate?

A) Place the palmar surface of the nondominant hand on the body surface, with the fingers held together.
B) Place the palmar surface of the nondominant hand on the body surface, with the fingers slightly spread apart.
C) Place the ulnar surface of the nondominant hand on the body surface, with the fingers together.
D) Place the ulnar surface of the nondominant hand on the body surface, with the fingers slightly spread apart.

Question 16

You are planning to palpate the abdomen of your patient. Which part of the examiner's hand is best for palpating vibration?

A) Dorsal surface
B) Finger pads
C) Fingertips
D) Ulnar surface

Question 17

Ms. Jones is a 31-year-old female patient who presents for a routine physical examination. Which examination technique will be used first?

A) Light palpation
B) Deep palpation
C) Percussion
D) Inspection

Question 18

The degree of percussion tone is determined by the density of the medium through which the sound waves travel. Which statement is true regarding the relationship between density of the medium and percussion tone?

A) The more dense the medium, the louder is the percussion tone.
B) The less dense the medium, the louder is the percussion tone.
C) The more hollow the area percussed, the quieter is the percussion tone.
D) Percussion over muscle areas produces the loudest percussion tones.

Question 19

The dorsal surface of the hand is most often used for the assessment of:

A) crepitus.
B) temperature.
C) texture.
D) vibration.

Question 20

According to the guidelines for Standard Precautions, the caregiver's hands should be washed:

A) only after touching body fluids with ungloved hands and between patient contacts.
B) only after touching blood products with ungloved hands and after caring for infectious patients.
C) only after working with patients who are thought to be infectious.
D) after touching any body fluids or contaminated items, regardless of whether gloves are worn.

Question 21

Tympanic thermometers measure body temperature when a probe is placed:

A) anterior to the ear.
B) posterior to the ear.
C) under the ear.
D) in the auditory canal.

Question 22

Which of the following occurs when firm pressure is used to apply the stethoscope's bell endpiece to the skin?

A) It transmits low-pitched sounds.
B) It functionally converts to a diaphragm endpiece.
C) Assessment findings are more accurate.
D) Most sounds are occluded.

Question 23

Transillumination functions on the principle that:

A) air, fluid, and tissue transmit light differentially.
B) black light causes certain substances to fluoresce.
C) converging and diverging light brings structures into focus.
D) tangential light casts shadows that illuminate contours.

Question 24

The height-measuring attachment of the standing platform scale should be pulled up:

A) before the patient steps on the scale.
B) before the scale is balanced.
C) after the patient steps on the scale.
D) only after weight has been assessed.

Question 25

A scale used to assess patients' weight should be calibrated:

A) only by the manufacturer.
B) by a qualified technician at regularly scheduled intervals.
C) each time it is used.
D) when necessary, with the patient standing on the scale.

Question 26

You are auscultating a patient's chest. The sounds are not clear, and you are having difficulty distinguishing between respirations and heartbeats. Which technique can you use to facilitate your assessment?

A) Anticipate the next sounds.
B) Isolate each cycle segment.
C) Listen to all sounds together.
D) Move the stethoscope clockwise.

Question 27

The pneumatic attachment for the otoscope is used to evaluate:

A) ear canal patency.
B) eardrum landmarks.
C) hearing acuity.
D) tympanic membrane movement.

Question 28

Tuning forks with a frequency of 500 to 1000 Hz are most commonly used to measure:

A) buzzing or tingling sensations.
B) buzzing from bone conduction.
C) hearing range of normal speech.
D) noise above the threshold level.

Question 29

Weak pulses, fetal heart activity, and vessel patency are all best assessed with which type of stethoscope?

A) Acoustic
B) Electronic
C) Ultrasonic
D) Magnetic

Question 30

During auscultation, you can limit your perceptual field best by:

A) asking patients to describe their symptoms.
B) closing your eyes.
C) performing auscultation before percussion.
D) using an aneroid manometer.

Question 31

Which type of speculum should be used to examine a patient's tympanic membrane?

A) The smallest speculum that will illuminate the ear
B) The largest speculum that will fit comfortably in the ear
C) The shortest speculum available
D) Any speculum that will fit the otoscope head

Question 32

A variant of the percussion hammer is the neurologic hammer, which is equipped with which of the following?

A) Brush and needle
B) Tuning fork and cotton swab
C) Penlight and goniometer
D) Ruler and bell

Question 33

A rubber or plastic ring should be around the bell endpiece of a stethoscope to:

A) prevent the transmission of static electricity.
B) prevent cold metal from touching the patient.
C) prevent the sharp edge of the stethoscope from damaging the patient's skin.
D) ensure secure contact with the body surface.

Question 34

Mr. Walters, a 32-year-old patient, tells you that his ears are "stopped up." An objective assessment of this complaint is achieved by using the:

A) tuning fork.
B) reflex hammer.
C) otoscope with pneumatic attachment.
D) tympanometer.

Question 35

To perform a deep tendon reflex measurement, you should:

A) briskly tap the tendon with the rubber end of the hammer.
B) place the hammer firmly on the tendon for 3 to 5 seconds.
C) tap the silver end of the hammer on the tendon.
D) use the needle implement to determine sensory perception.

Question 36

Auscultation should be carried out last, except when examining the:

A) neck area.
B) heart.
C) lungs.
D) abdomen.

Question 37

The infant should be placed in which position to have his or her height or length measured?

A) Vertically, with the examiner's hands under the infant's axillae
B) Supine on a measuring board
C) Prone on a measuring board
D) In the lateral position, with the toes against a measuring board

Question 38

A patient in the emergency department has a concussion. You suspect the patient may also have a retinal hemorrhage. You are using the ophthalmoscope to examine the retina of this patient. Which aperture of the ophthalmoscope is most appropriate for this patient?

A) Grid
B) Red-free filter
C) Slit lamp
D) Small aperture

Question 39

You are using an ophthalmoscope to examine a patient's inner eye. You rotate the lens selector clockwise and then counterclockwise to compensate for:

A) amblyopia.
B) astigmatism.
C) myopia.
D) strabismus.

Question 40

When monitoring serial measures, such as head circumference or abdominal girth, which procedure is best to ensure that the tape measure is placed in the same position each time?

A) Record the anatomic location for tape placement in the patient's chart.
B) Mark the borders of the tape at several intervals on the skin with a pen.
C) Demonstrate proper tape placement to all members of the health care team.
D) Ask the same person to perform the measurement each time.

Question 41

The Pederson speculum has blades that:

A) are smaller than a plastic one.
B) have an auto lock feature
C) are narrower and flatter.
D) only the bottom blade moves.

Question 42

The Snellen E vision acuity chart would most likely be used for __________.

Question 43

For a woman with a small vaginal opening, the examiner should use a __________ speculum.

Question 44

When transillumination of a body cavity is performed, the use of which of the following could be harmful to the patient?

A) Penlight
B) Flashlight
C) Halogen bulb
D) Otoscope light

Question 45

Which of the following are causes of hyperreflexia?

A) Cold stirrups
B) Standard scale
C) Insertion of a speculum
D) Fever
E) Pressure during bimanual exam

Question 46

The stethoscope's diaphragm is most useful for the assessment of __________ sounds.