Deck 30: Physical Examination

Question 1

Which of the following questions or statements would encourage the patient to continue to communicate?

A) "Does your arm hurt?"
B) "Did you hurt yourself?"
C) "Tell me about how your arm feels right now."
D) "Do you have a family history of arthritis?"

Answer 1

"Tell me about how your arm feels right now."

Question 2

Which of the following involves stating an observation or recognition of a patient's feeling?

A) Restatement
B) Clarification
C) Reflection

Answer 2

Reflection

Question 3

Which of the following involves asking a question or summarizing a patient's thoughts?

A) Restatement
B) Clarification
C) Reflection

Answer 3

Clarification

Question 4

Which of the following includes demographic information?

A) Family history
B) Past history
C) Social history
D) Database
E) ROS

Question 5

Which of the following is an open-ended question or statement?

A) "How old are you?"
B) "Do you smoke?"
C) "What brings you to the office today?"

Question 6

The section of the medical history that helps uncover existing or potential health problems is called the

A) database.
B) past history.
C) social history.
D) systems review.

Question 7

What is the best way to obtain specific information about a patient when taking the medical history?

A) Summarize the facts revealed by the patient when answering questions.
B) Ask direct questions that can be answered briefly.
C) Restate what the patient has said to check the accuracy of what was heard.
D) Encourage the patient to explain the answers fully.

Question 8

Information that you gather from a patient interview is considered

A) subjective.
B) objective.
C) assessment.
D) evaluation.

Question 9

The medical assistant is responsible for documenting all of the following information except the

A) review of systems.
B) family history.
C) social history.
D) allergies.

Question 10

Which statement best describes what it means to have good rapport with patients?

A) You use language they understand.
B) They respect you as a professional.
C) You have smooth, pleasant relationships with them.
D) You are polite and punctual.

Question 11

Which of the following is a closed question or statement?

A) "Tell me about your headaches."
B) "Does your head hurt?"
C) "How are you feeling?"

Question 12

During the physical examination, the patient reports a continual ache in the right elbow. This information is called a(n)

A) functional problem.
B) objective finding.
C) sign.
D) symptom.

Question 13

Which of the following includes the patient's dietary habits, smoking history, and alcohol consumption?

A) Family history
B) Past history
C) Social history
D) Database
E) ROS

Question 14

Which of the following factors is likely to have the most influence on the accuracy and completeness of the information obtained from the patient during the medical history?

A) The comfort of the chairs in the meeting area
B) The medical assistant's ability to take complete and detailed notes
C) The privacy of the area in which the interview takes place
D) The efficiency of the medical assistant in conducting the interview

Question 15

A medical assistant who is a good listener consistently

A) provides repeated assurances.
B) provides feedback to clarify the patient's message.
C) interrupts the patient to gather more details.
D) limits the amount of time spent on each interview.

Question 16

Which of the following includes insurance information?

A) Family history
B) Past history
C) Social history
D) Database
E) ROS

Question 17

Objective data include which of the following?

A) Complaints of pain
B) Social history
C) Blood pressure recordings
D) Past medical history

Question 18

While you are taking the medical history of a new patient, the patient mentions having occasional headaches that are quite painful. What is the best way for you to proceed with the interview?

A) Express concern and note this information in writing.
B) Ask the patient a direct question about the pain.
C) Reassure the patient that it is probably nothing serious.
D) Ask the patient open-ended questions about the headaches.

Question 19

Which of the following involves repeating or paraphrasing the patient's comments?

A) Restatement
B) Clarification
C) Reflection

Question 20

Which of the following includes childhood diseases?

A) Family history
B) Past history
C) Social history
D) Database
E) ROS

Question 21

Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart was recently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 2. She refuses to meet with a dietician because, she states, "The tests must be wrong. No one in my family has diabetes." Which defense mechanism is she displaying?

A) Sublimation
B) Denial
C) Repression
D) Suppression

Question 22

Which of the following is considered a safeguard mandated by HIPAA?

A) Passwords access to all electronic health records
B) Computer monitor shields
C) Turning monitors away from patient traffic areas
D) All of the above

Question 23

Which of the following is a good example of an open-ended question?

A) What brings you to the doctor today?
B) Do you have a headache?
C) What is your date of birth?
D) Have you ever broken a bone?

Question 24

Therapeutic interactions with children include all of the following except

A) allowing the child to decide whether a breathing treatment is needed.
B) permitting the child to play with your stethoscope.
C) praising the child for cooperative behavior.
D) playing a game to distract the child.

Question 25

During a physical examination, the provider discovers a bruit. What method would she be using to make this discovery?

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

Question 26

Which of the following is most important when conducting a patient interview?

A) Calling the patient by his or her first name
B) Sharing stories about the neighborhood
C) Providing uninterrupted privacy
D) Documenting every word the patient uses to describe the health problem

Question 27

Which examination position is used for gynecologic examinations?

A) Dorsal recumbent
B) Knee-chest
C) Lithotomy
D) Trendelenburg

Question 28

During patient assessment, which of the following is an example of a subjective finding?

A) Difficulty breathing
B) Temperature
C) Blood pressure and pulse
D) Palpable mass

Question 29

Sally Tipoke, age 17, is scheduled for her first Pap test today. She appears anxious and scared. Choose the medical assistant's most appropriate statement.

A) "There's no need to worry about the test. Dr. Smith never hurts anyone."
B) "You look worried about the exam. Can I answer any questions?"
C) "If you just think about something positive, it will be over before you know it."
D) "Dr. Smith expects you to stay still during the exam."

Question 30

The usual sequence of the general physical examination moves from the

A) head toward the feet.
B) center of the body.
C) area where there is a complaint.
D) trunk outward to the limbs.

Question 31

Which of the following explains a sign of disease?

A) Patient c/o pain
B) Reports of dizziness for 3 days
C) Abdominal cramping for 2 weeks
D) Elevated blood pressure

Question 32

Which examination position requires the medical assistant to raise the head of the bed to a 30- to 45-degree angle?

A) Dorsal recumbent
B) Fowler's
C) Lithotomy
D) Semi-Fowler's

Question 33

When writing in a paper record and an error is made, which of the following document guidelines is acceptable?

A) Scribble out error.
B) Use whiteout to cover up the error.
C) Erase the error.
D) Draw a line through the error.

Question 34

The physician performs manipulation during the physical examination to gain information about the

A) condition of internal organs.
B) irregularities that can be felt just beneath the skin.
C) range of motion of a joint.
D) strength of the muscles.

Question 35

Which examination position is used for rectal or sigmoid examinations?

A) Dorsal recumbent
B) Knee-chest
C) Lithotomy
D) Trendelenburg

Question 36

Which examination position is used in emergencies for patients with severe hypotension or who are in shock?

A) Dorsal recumbent
B) Knee-chest
C) Lithotomy
D) Trendelenburg

Question 37

Which of the following processes involved in active listening seeks to summarize or simplify the sender's thoughts and feelings or to resolve any confusion in the message?

A) Restatement
B) Reflection
C) Clarification
D) Feedback

Question 38

Sam Hernandez, a 17-year-old patient with burning upon urination, has just been told he has an STD. He had suspected that he had gonorrhea, but he states, "The test must be wrong. I just have a bladder infection." He is displaying which defense mechanism?

A) Suppression
B) Denial
C) Regression
D) Sublimation

Question 39

Which of the following components of the medical history provide a guide to the patient's general health?

A) Chief complaint
B) Family history
C) Social history
D) Systems review

Question 40

Which of the following is not true of holistic patient care?

A) The focus of care is the patient's disease process.
B) The physician considers the patient's ability to pay for treatment.
C) The patient's emotional state is investigated.
D) The medical assistant investigates lifestyle factors that may contribute to disease.

Question 41

The examination technique by which the practitioner listens to internal body signs is

A) percussion.
B) manipulation.
C) palpation.
D) auscultation.

Question 42

A few months ago, Mr. Thomas Johnson suffered a stroke that left him with weakness on the right side. You need to assist him from his wheelchair onto the examination table. Which technique should you use?

A) Support Mr. Johnson on his right side.
B) Bend at the waist and support Mr. Johnson as he stands.
C) Support Mr. Johnson close to your body on his left side.
D) You do not have to worry about locking the chair wheels, because you are providing support.

Question 43

The examination method used to assess the patient's manner of walking is

A) palpation.
B) inspection.
C) manipulation.
D) ROM.

Question 44

Which of the following positions is achieved by lying prone with the head down, the knees bent, and the buttocks elevated?

A) Dorsal recumbent
B) Lithotomy
C) Knee-chest
D) Sims'
E) Trendelenburg

Question 45

As a result of his CVA, Mr. Johnson suffers from motor aphasia. What does this mean?

A) He pronounces words easily but identifies items inaccurately.
B) He knows what he wants to say but cannot pronounce the words clearly.
C) He is unable to talk or write because of the damage to his brain.
D) He is able to talk clearly if given enough time.

Question 46

Which of the following examination positions can be used for a rectal examination?

A) Trendelenburg
B) Sims'
C) Supine
D) Prone

Question 47

The physician asks the medical assistant to position a patient on the examination table so that the patient can breathe more easily. The most appropriate position is

A) dorsal recumbent.
B) jackknife.
C) lithotomy.
D) semi-Fowler's.
E) Trendelenburg

Question 48

What is the quickest and easiest method for checking skin turgor?

A) Draw blood for analysis.
B) Examine the patient's eyes.
C) Examine the condition of the nails.
D) Pinch the skin on the posterior surface of the hand.

Question 49

Which of the following is the medical assistant's responsibility when preparing the patient for a physical examination?

A) Make sure all informed consent forms have been signed.
B) Write prescriptions for patients in need of refills.
C) Check the patient's eye with an ophthalmoscope.
D) Perform a fecal occult blood test.

Question 50

An instrument used to test hearing acuity is the

A) ophthalmoscope.
B) otoscope.
C) tuning fork.
D) Snellen chart.

Question 51

When lifting a heavy object, the medical assistant should

A) bend at the waist, keeping the back straight.
B) pull the object in the direction needed.
C) keep the weight as close as possible to the body.
D) twist and reach for the object.

Question 52

Which of the following positions may be used when an anterior examination is to be done, but the patient has back pain?

A) Lithotomy
B) Semi-Fowler's
C) Dorsal recumbent
D) Horizontal recumbent

Question 53

A percussion hammer is used for which part of the physical examination?

A) Neurologic
B) Gastrointestinal
C) Urinary
D) Respiratory

Question 54

Which position requires the patient to lie flat on his or her back?

A) Supine
B) Prone
C) Sims'
D) Fowler's

Question 55

When preparing a patient for a physical examination, the medical assistant is responsible for all of the following except

A) providing the patient with a gown and instructions on how to wear it.
B) making sure the patient has emptied the bladder.
C) providing refill prescriptions as needed.
D) measuring and recording vital signs.

Question 56

Which of the following positions is most appropriate for a patient having a breast examination?

A) Dorsal recumbent
B) Jackknife
C) Lithotomy
D) Semi-Fowler's
E) Horizontal recumbent

Question 57

The physician might use a __________ to assess a patient's ability to detect sound vibrations.

A) Snellen chart
B) tongue blade
C) tuning fork
D) reflex hammer

Question 58

One of the medical assistant's responsibilities when preparing a room for a patient's physical examination is to gather the instruments and supplies needed. Which of the following is not needed for a routine physical examination?

A) Specimen bottles
B) Fecal occult blood test supplies
C) Sterile gloves
D) Lubricating gel

Question 59

Which is the best method of moving a heavy object?

A) Pull it in the direction it needs to be moved.
B) Twist toward the object and slide it toward you.
C) Roll or push the item in the desired direction.
D) Bend at the waist and use arm muscles to push the object.

Question 60

The physician uses a(n) ______ to examine the eyes.

A) ophthalmoscope
B) otoscope
C) flashlight
D) Ophthalmoscope

Question 61

Which of the following fingernail conditions may indicate local infection or systemic disease?

A) Spooning of the main
B) Beau's lines
C) Clubbing fingertips
D) Brittle, grooved, or lined nails

Question 62

What is used to examine the interior of the eye, including the retina and intraocular vessels?

A) Ophthalmoscope
B) Otoscope
C) Palpation
D) Stethoscope

Question 63

Which term is associated with the process of measuring?

A) Auscultation
B) Mensuration
C) Manipulation
D) Palpation

Question 64

Which of the following speech defects is the inability to speak because of loss of the voice, commonly seen with laryngitis or overuse of the voice?

A) Aphonia
B) Sensory aphasia
C) Dysphasia
D) Motor aphasia

Question 65

Clubbing of the fingertips is associated with which of the following health problems?

A) Skin conditions
B) Heart or lung disease
C) Congenital deformity
D) Inherited defect

Question 66

The sclera of the eye is described as the

A) tissue that lines the interior part of the eye.
B) part of the eye that is responsible for eye color.
C) white part of the eye that may show inflammation.
D) area of the eye where tears form.

Question 67

Plantar reflexes are tested with which of the following?

A) The patient in an upright or a supine position
B) With either the fingers or the reflex hammer
C) Using tapotement
D) None of the above

Question 68

How does the physician typically begin the examination of body parts and systems?

A) By assessing the body part causing the patient's complaint
B) By starting with the head and working methodically toward the feet
C) By auscultating breath and heart sounds
D) By performing a breast examination on female patients

Question 69

Which of the following positions is sometimes referred to as the "left lateral position" and used for rectal examinations?

A) Sims' position
B) Lithotomy position
C) Prone position
D) Trendelenburg position

Question 70

Which of the following positions is used for examination of the front of the body, including the heart, breasts, and abdominal organs?

A) Fowler's position
B) Dorsal recumbent position
C) Supine (horizontal recumbent) position
D) Lithotomy position

Question 71

What is the normal color of the tympanic membrane?

A) Pink
B) Slightly yellow
C) Off-white
D) Pearly gray