Question 1

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?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of The stethoscope's diaphragm is most useful for...

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of The Snellen E vision acuity chart would...

Question 6

Transillumination functions on the principle that:

Accepted Answer

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 7

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 9

Standard Precautions apply:

Accepted Answer

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 10

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?

Accepted Answer

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 11

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

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

Accepted Answer

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 13

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 15

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?

Accepted Answer

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 16

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

Accepted Answer

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 17

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

Accepted Answer

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

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?

Accepted Answer

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

Which of the following are causes of hyperreflexia?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

Expected normal percussion tones include:

Accepted Answer

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

Exam 3: Examination Techniques and Equipment