NR509 Advanced Physical Assessment Midterm (2026
Weeks 1–4, including Cardiovascular, Respiratory,
HEENT, and Interviewing techniques. | questions with
verified answers
Part 1: Interviewing, Ethics & Foundations (Questions 1-20)
1. Which mnemonic is used to explore a patient's perspective of their illness?
A) OLDCARTS
B) NURSE
C) FIFE
D) SOAP
C) FIFE
Explanation: FIFE stands for Feelings, Ideas, Function, and Expectations.
2. A patient mentions they are "worried about the cost of medicine." The NP responds, "It
sounds like you are feeling anxious about your finances." This is an example of which
NURSE mnemonic element?
A) Naming
B) Understanding
C) Respecting
D) Support
A) Naming
Explanation: By stating the patient is feeling "anxious," the clinician is naming the
emotion.
3. Where does the "Chief Complaint" belong in a standard SOAP note?
A) Subjective
B) Objective
C) Assessment
D) Plan
A) Subjective
Explanation: The CC is the patient's own words regarding their visit and belongs in the
Subjective section.
,4. Which type of history is most appropriate for a new patient establishing care?
A) Focused
B) Comprehensive
C) Follow-up
D) Emergency
B) Comprehensive
Explanation: A comprehensive history provides a baseline for future visits and covers
all body systems.
5. What is the goal of "Cultural Humility"?
A) To master all cultural facts
B) Self-reflection and lifelong commitment to critiquing one's own biases
C) To ignore culture and treat everyone the same
D) To use a checklist for each ethnicity
B) Self-reflection and lifelong commitment to critiquing one's own biases
Explanation: Humility involves acknowledging that one can never be a total expert in
another's culture.
6. During an interview, "The Silent Patient" may be using silence to:
A) Disrespect the clinician
B) Collect their thoughts or remember details
C) Indicate they are finished with the visit
D) Hide a criminal record
B) Collect their thoughts or remember details
Explanation: Silence can be a therapeutic tool or a sign that the patient needs more
time to process.
7. Which of the following is an example of an "open-ended" question?
A) "Do you have a headache?"
B) "Tell me more about your chest pain."
C) "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
D) "When did the fever start?"
B) "Tell me more about your chest pain."
Explanation: Open-ended questions allow the patient to tell their story without being
led.
8. "Guided Questioning" includes which technique?
A) Asking a string of questions at once
B) Using "echoing" (repeating the patient’s last words)
C) Telling the patient what you think they feel
, D) Interrupting to save time
B) Using "echoing"
Explanation: Echoing encourages the patient to elaborate on a specific point.
9. When interviewing a patient through an interpreter, you should:
A) Look at the interpreter while speaking
B) Speak directly to the patient
C) Speak in long, complex sentences
D) Use family members whenever possible
B) Speak directly to the patient
Explanation: Addressing the patient maintains the provider-patient relationship.
10. The "Review of Systems" (ROS) is:
A) An objective physical exam
B) A subjective series of questions organized by body system
C) Part of the Plan section
D) Performed by the medical assistant only
B) A subjective series of questions organized by body system
Explanation: Even though it follows the history, it is still part of what the patient "says,"
making it subjective.
11. What is the standard screening tool for alcohol misuse?
A) PHQ-9
B) CAGE
C) GAD-7
D) HEEADSSS
B) CAGE
Explanation: Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener.
12. The "Spirituality" assessment often uses which mnemonic?
A) HOPE
B) FAITH
C) Both A and B
D) None of the above
C) Both A and B
Explanation: Both FICA (Faith, Importance, Community, Address) and HOPE are
widely used.
13. Which of the following is part of the "Social History"?
A) Last menstrual period
B) Tobacco and alcohol use
Weeks 1–4, including Cardiovascular, Respiratory,
HEENT, and Interviewing techniques. | questions with
verified answers
Part 1: Interviewing, Ethics & Foundations (Questions 1-20)
1. Which mnemonic is used to explore a patient's perspective of their illness?
A) OLDCARTS
B) NURSE
C) FIFE
D) SOAP
C) FIFE
Explanation: FIFE stands for Feelings, Ideas, Function, and Expectations.
2. A patient mentions they are "worried about the cost of medicine." The NP responds, "It
sounds like you are feeling anxious about your finances." This is an example of which
NURSE mnemonic element?
A) Naming
B) Understanding
C) Respecting
D) Support
A) Naming
Explanation: By stating the patient is feeling "anxious," the clinician is naming the
emotion.
3. Where does the "Chief Complaint" belong in a standard SOAP note?
A) Subjective
B) Objective
C) Assessment
D) Plan
A) Subjective
Explanation: The CC is the patient's own words regarding their visit and belongs in the
Subjective section.
,4. Which type of history is most appropriate for a new patient establishing care?
A) Focused
B) Comprehensive
C) Follow-up
D) Emergency
B) Comprehensive
Explanation: A comprehensive history provides a baseline for future visits and covers
all body systems.
5. What is the goal of "Cultural Humility"?
A) To master all cultural facts
B) Self-reflection and lifelong commitment to critiquing one's own biases
C) To ignore culture and treat everyone the same
D) To use a checklist for each ethnicity
B) Self-reflection and lifelong commitment to critiquing one's own biases
Explanation: Humility involves acknowledging that one can never be a total expert in
another's culture.
6. During an interview, "The Silent Patient" may be using silence to:
A) Disrespect the clinician
B) Collect their thoughts or remember details
C) Indicate they are finished with the visit
D) Hide a criminal record
B) Collect their thoughts or remember details
Explanation: Silence can be a therapeutic tool or a sign that the patient needs more
time to process.
7. Which of the following is an example of an "open-ended" question?
A) "Do you have a headache?"
B) "Tell me more about your chest pain."
C) "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
D) "When did the fever start?"
B) "Tell me more about your chest pain."
Explanation: Open-ended questions allow the patient to tell their story without being
led.
8. "Guided Questioning" includes which technique?
A) Asking a string of questions at once
B) Using "echoing" (repeating the patient’s last words)
C) Telling the patient what you think they feel
, D) Interrupting to save time
B) Using "echoing"
Explanation: Echoing encourages the patient to elaborate on a specific point.
9. When interviewing a patient through an interpreter, you should:
A) Look at the interpreter while speaking
B) Speak directly to the patient
C) Speak in long, complex sentences
D) Use family members whenever possible
B) Speak directly to the patient
Explanation: Addressing the patient maintains the provider-patient relationship.
10. The "Review of Systems" (ROS) is:
A) An objective physical exam
B) A subjective series of questions organized by body system
C) Part of the Plan section
D) Performed by the medical assistant only
B) A subjective series of questions organized by body system
Explanation: Even though it follows the history, it is still part of what the patient "says,"
making it subjective.
11. What is the standard screening tool for alcohol misuse?
A) PHQ-9
B) CAGE
C) GAD-7
D) HEEADSSS
B) CAGE
Explanation: Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener.
12. The "Spirituality" assessment often uses which mnemonic?
A) HOPE
B) FAITH
C) Both A and B
D) None of the above
C) Both A and B
Explanation: Both FICA (Faith, Importance, Community, Address) and HOPE are
widely used.
13. Which of the following is part of the "Social History"?
A) Last menstrual period
B) Tobacco and alcohol use
