EXAM 3, AND FINAL EXAM) COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) WITH RATIONALES
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NURS 321 EXAM 1: HEALTH ASSESSMENT, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY & FOUNDATIONS
SECTION 1: HEALTH ASSESSMENT & HISTORY TAKING (Questions 1-20)
Q1. The nurse is performing a health history on a new patient. Which
component of the health history includes the patient's reason for seeking care?
A) Past medical history
B) Chief complaint
C) Family history
D) Social history
Answer: B) Chief complaint
Rationale: The chief complaint is the patient's reason for seeking care,
documented in the patient's own words. It is the primary reason for the
encounter.
Q2. A nurse is assessing a patient's pain using the PQRST method. What does
the "P" stand for?
A) Pain scale
B) Provocation/Palliation
C) Position
D) Pulse
Answer: B) Provocation/Palliation
Rationale: In the PQRST pain assessment, "P" stands for Provocation/Palliation
- what triggers the pain and what makes it better.
Q3. The nurse is assessing a patient's level of consciousness. Which of the
following is the most sensitive indicator of neurological deterioration?
A) Pupillary response
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,B) Motor function
C) Level of consciousness
D) Vital signs
Answer: C) Level of consciousness
Rationale: Level of consciousness is the most sensitive indicator of
neurological deterioration. Changes in LOC often occur before other signs.
Q4. A nurse is performing a skin assessment. Which finding is characteristic
of a stage 1 pressure injury?
A) Partial-thickness skin loss
B) Intact skin with non-blanching erythema
C) Full-thickness skin loss with visible bone
D) Open ulcer with slough
Answer: B) Intact skin with non-blanching erythema
Rationale: Stage 1 pressure injury is characterized by intact skin with
non-blanching erythema over a bony prominence.
Q5. The nurse is assessing a patient's peripheral pulses. Which pulse
strength scale is correct?
A) 0 = absent, 1+ = weak, 2+ = normal, 3+ = full, 4+ = bounding
B) 0 = absent, 1+ = normal, 2+ = weak, 3+ = bounding, 4+ = full
C) 0 = absent, 1+ = weak, 2+ = bounding, 3+ = full, 4+ = normal
D) 0 = absent, 1+ = full, 2+ = weak, 3+ = normal, 4+ = bounding
Answer: A) 0 = absent, 1+ = weak, 2+ = normal, 3+ = full, 4+ = bounding
Rationale: The pulse strength scale is: 0 = absent, 1+ = weak (diminished),
2+ = normal, 3+ = full (increased), 4+ = bounding.
Q6. The nurse is preparing to auscultate a patient's breath sounds. Which
adventitious sound is characterized by high-pitched, continuous sounds heard
during expiration?
A) Crackles
B) Rhonchi
C) Wheezes
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,D) Stridor
Answer: C) Wheezes
Rationale: Wheezes are high-pitched, continuous sounds caused by narrowed
airways, classic for asthma and COPD exacerbations.
Q7. A nurse is assessing a patient's heart sounds. The S1 heart sound is
caused by:
A) Closure of the aortic and pulmonic valves
B) Closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves
C) Opening of the mitral valve
D) Ventricular filling
Answer: B) Closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves
Rationale: S1 is the "lub" sound, caused by closure of the atrioventricular
valves (mitral and tricuspid) at the beginning of systole.
Q8. The nurse is assessing a patient's abdomen. Which is the correct order
for abdominal assessment?
A) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
B) Auscultation, percussion, inspection, palpation
C) Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
D) Inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion
Answer: A) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: Abdominal assessment should be performed in the order of
inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation. Auscultation is performed
before percussion and palpation because those techniques can alter bowel
sounds.
Q9. A nurse is assessing a patient's capillary refill time. Which finding
is considered normal?
A) Less than 2 seconds
B) Less than 3 seconds
C) Less than 5 seconds
D) Less than 10 seconds
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, Answer: B) Less than 3 seconds
Rationale: Normal capillary refill time is less than 3 seconds. Prolonged
refill indicates poor perfusion.
Q10. The nurse is assessing a patient's pupils. Which finding is normal?
A) Equal, round, reactive to light
B) Unequal, irregular, non-reactive
C) Equal, round, non-reactive
D) Unequal, round, reactive
Answer: A) Equal, round, reactive to light
Rationale: Normal pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light. They should
constrict in response to light and dilate in response to darkness.
Q11. The nurse is performing a focused gastrointestinal assessment. Which
finding would be a concern?
A) Hyperactive bowel sounds
B) Absent bowel sounds
C) Normal bowel sounds
D) Borborygmi
Answer: B) Absent bowel sounds
Rationale: Absent bowel sounds indicate a non-functioning bowel, such as in
peritonitis or paralytic ileus, and require immediate intervention.
Q12. A nurse is assessing a patient's integumentary system. Which finding
is characteristic of a fungal infection?
A) Red, scaly, itchy rash with satellite lesions
B) Pink, well-healed skin
C) Dry, cracked skin
D) Bruised skin
Answer: A) Red, scaly, itchy rash with satellite lesions
Rationale: Fungal infections (e.g., candidiasis) cause red, scaly, itchy
rashes with satellite lesions (smaller lesions around the main rash).
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