NR509 Week 4 Midterm Mastery: 200
Advanced Physical Assessment Q&A with
Rationales for Exam Success
Week 4 Midterm Practice Questions and
Answers
General Approach & Health History
1. A 72-year-old male presents for a routine
physical. He reports feeling "a bit tired lately."
Which of the following techniques represents
the cardinal principle of advanced physical
assessment when initiating the patient
encounter?
A. Immediately focus on the cardiovascular
system due to his age.
B. Ask a series of closed-ended questions to
save time.
C. Establish a therapeutic relationship by
asking open-ended questions about his fatigue
,and overall health.
D. Perform a comprehensive physical exam
before taking the history to gather unbiased
data.
Rationale: The cardinal principle of advanced
physical assessment is establishing a
therapeutic relationship by using open-ended
questions to explore the patient's concerns
fully. This builds trust and yields more
comprehensive data than closed-ended
questions.
2. The mnemonic "OPQRST" is used to analyze
a symptom. What does the "P" specifically
assess?
A. The primary location of the pain.
B. The pathophysiology of the condition.
C. Palliating and provocative factors.
D. The patient's perception of the severity.
,Rationale: In the OPQRST mnemonic: O=Onset,
P=Palliating/Provocative factors, Q=Quality,
R=Region/Radiation, S=Severity, T=Timing. The
"P" specifically asks what makes the symptom
better (palliating) or worse (provocative).
3. A 60-year-old man reports a history of
hypertension. To accurately assess his
adherence to his antihypertensive medication,
which questioning technique is most effective?
A. "You haven't missed any doses, have you?"
B. "Do you take your medication as
prescribed?"
C. "Many patients find it hard to take pills
every day. How often do you take yours?"
D. "Why aren't you taking your medication?"
Rationale: Using a normalizing statement
("Many patients find it hard...") followed by an
open-ended question reduces shame and
, encourages honest disclosure about medication
adherence. Asking "why" questions can sound
accusatory and lead to defensive responses.
4. When assessing a patient's functional
status, which question best addresses
instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)?
A. "Do you need help bathing?"
B. "Are you able to feed yourself?"
C. "Who manages your finances and
medications?"
D. "Can you transfer from the bed to a chair?"
Rationale: Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
(IADLs) include more complex tasks needed for
independent living: managing finances,
handling medications, shopping, transportation,
housekeeping, and meal preparation.
Neurological & Musculoskeletal Assessment
Advanced Physical Assessment Q&A with
Rationales for Exam Success
Week 4 Midterm Practice Questions and
Answers
General Approach & Health History
1. A 72-year-old male presents for a routine
physical. He reports feeling "a bit tired lately."
Which of the following techniques represents
the cardinal principle of advanced physical
assessment when initiating the patient
encounter?
A. Immediately focus on the cardiovascular
system due to his age.
B. Ask a series of closed-ended questions to
save time.
C. Establish a therapeutic relationship by
asking open-ended questions about his fatigue
,and overall health.
D. Perform a comprehensive physical exam
before taking the history to gather unbiased
data.
Rationale: The cardinal principle of advanced
physical assessment is establishing a
therapeutic relationship by using open-ended
questions to explore the patient's concerns
fully. This builds trust and yields more
comprehensive data than closed-ended
questions.
2. The mnemonic "OPQRST" is used to analyze
a symptom. What does the "P" specifically
assess?
A. The primary location of the pain.
B. The pathophysiology of the condition.
C. Palliating and provocative factors.
D. The patient's perception of the severity.
,Rationale: In the OPQRST mnemonic: O=Onset,
P=Palliating/Provocative factors, Q=Quality,
R=Region/Radiation, S=Severity, T=Timing. The
"P" specifically asks what makes the symptom
better (palliating) or worse (provocative).
3. A 60-year-old man reports a history of
hypertension. To accurately assess his
adherence to his antihypertensive medication,
which questioning technique is most effective?
A. "You haven't missed any doses, have you?"
B. "Do you take your medication as
prescribed?"
C. "Many patients find it hard to take pills
every day. How often do you take yours?"
D. "Why aren't you taking your medication?"
Rationale: Using a normalizing statement
("Many patients find it hard...") followed by an
open-ended question reduces shame and
, encourages honest disclosure about medication
adherence. Asking "why" questions can sound
accusatory and lead to defensive responses.
4. When assessing a patient's functional
status, which question best addresses
instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)?
A. "Do you need help bathing?"
B. "Are you able to feed yourself?"
C. "Who manages your finances and
medications?"
D. "Can you transfer from the bed to a chair?"
Rationale: Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
(IADLs) include more complex tasks needed for
independent living: managing finances,
handling medications, shopping, transportation,
housekeeping, and meal preparation.
Neurological & Musculoskeletal Assessment
