PCHA Final Exam Questions with Verified
Correct Answers
A patient tells the nurse that he is very nervous, nauseated and that he "feels hot". This
type of data would be considered:
subjective
Because the physical environment in which an interview takes place is an important
consideration for the success of an interview, the interviewer should:
reduce noise by turning off televisions and cell phones
A nurse is taking complete health histories on all the patients attending a wellness
workshop. While conducting an interview with a patient, the nurse asks, "Can you tell
me a little about yourself?" This question is an example of:
an open-ended question
During an interview, a parent of a hospitalized child is sitting in an open position. As
the interviewer begins to discuss the child's treatment, however, the parent suddenly
crosses the arms against the chest and crosses the legs. Based on the understanding that
nonverbal modes of communication provide clues to understanding feelings, the sudden
change in body position would suggest that the parent is:
uncomfortable talking about his child's treatment
A 59-year-old patient is returning to the outpatient clinic for a follow up visit. The
patient has a history of ulcerative colitis. The patient states he has been having "black
stools" for the last 24 hours. Which of the following would be the most complete way for
the nurse to document the patient's reason for seeking care?
,J.M. is a 59-year-old patient here for having "black stools" for the past 24 hours.
Which of the following statements best describes the purpose of a health history?
to provide a database of subjective information about the patient's past and current health.
The inspection phase of the physical assessment:
begins the moment you first meet the person and develop a "general survey".
A patient is at the clinic for a physical examination. He states that he is "very anxious"
about the physical exam. What steps can the examiner take to make the patient more
comfortable?
Appear unhurried and confident when examining the patient.
When performing a physical examination, safety must be considered to protect the
examiner and the patient against the spread of infection. Which of the following
statements describes the most appropriate actions the examiner should take when
performing a physical examination?
Wash hands at the beginning of the examination and any time that one leaves and re-enters
the room.
A 50-year-old patient who is taking anti-hypertensive medications returns to the clinic
to have their blood pressure (BP) checked. The last BP was 146/88. The BP reported to
the nurse is 168/96. Both blood pressures were taken at the brachial site. Which of the
following is true regarding blood pressure assessment in this patient? Choose all that
apply:
1. The patient should be allowed to adequately rest prior to assessing the blood
pressure.
2. The width of the cuff should cover 40% of the circumference of the upper arm.
, 3. The position of the arm used for blood pressure assessment should be above the level
of the heart.
4. Goal blood pressure for this patient should be systolic less than 120 mm Hg and
diastolic less than 80 mmHg.
5. The last audible sound auscultated during blood pressure assessment should be
recorded for the systolic reading.
6. An unsupported arm may be used for an accurate blood pressure measure
1, 2, 4
While caring for a patient with heart disease, the nurse notices an irregularity in the
rhythm of the patient's radial pulse. The previous assessment did not reveal an
irregular pulse. What would be the BEST action to take?
count the patient's apical pulse for one minute
Which of the following statements is true regarding use of the tympanic thermometer?
The practitioner needs to wait at least 10 minutes to obtain the temperature if the patient has
been outdoors.
Which of the following is true regarding an oral temperature?
The thermometer should be placed in the posterior sublingual pocket of the mouth.
The nurse is taking a blood pressure on a patient; the patient's baseline blood pressure
is unknown. The nurse does not have any previous information about the patient's
blood pressure measurements, nor is the patient able to give any information about
previous blood pressure readings. Which of the following techniques would be the
MOST accurate way to measure this patient's blood pressure?
Correct Answers
A patient tells the nurse that he is very nervous, nauseated and that he "feels hot". This
type of data would be considered:
subjective
Because the physical environment in which an interview takes place is an important
consideration for the success of an interview, the interviewer should:
reduce noise by turning off televisions and cell phones
A nurse is taking complete health histories on all the patients attending a wellness
workshop. While conducting an interview with a patient, the nurse asks, "Can you tell
me a little about yourself?" This question is an example of:
an open-ended question
During an interview, a parent of a hospitalized child is sitting in an open position. As
the interviewer begins to discuss the child's treatment, however, the parent suddenly
crosses the arms against the chest and crosses the legs. Based on the understanding that
nonverbal modes of communication provide clues to understanding feelings, the sudden
change in body position would suggest that the parent is:
uncomfortable talking about his child's treatment
A 59-year-old patient is returning to the outpatient clinic for a follow up visit. The
patient has a history of ulcerative colitis. The patient states he has been having "black
stools" for the last 24 hours. Which of the following would be the most complete way for
the nurse to document the patient's reason for seeking care?
,J.M. is a 59-year-old patient here for having "black stools" for the past 24 hours.
Which of the following statements best describes the purpose of a health history?
to provide a database of subjective information about the patient's past and current health.
The inspection phase of the physical assessment:
begins the moment you first meet the person and develop a "general survey".
A patient is at the clinic for a physical examination. He states that he is "very anxious"
about the physical exam. What steps can the examiner take to make the patient more
comfortable?
Appear unhurried and confident when examining the patient.
When performing a physical examination, safety must be considered to protect the
examiner and the patient against the spread of infection. Which of the following
statements describes the most appropriate actions the examiner should take when
performing a physical examination?
Wash hands at the beginning of the examination and any time that one leaves and re-enters
the room.
A 50-year-old patient who is taking anti-hypertensive medications returns to the clinic
to have their blood pressure (BP) checked. The last BP was 146/88. The BP reported to
the nurse is 168/96. Both blood pressures were taken at the brachial site. Which of the
following is true regarding blood pressure assessment in this patient? Choose all that
apply:
1. The patient should be allowed to adequately rest prior to assessing the blood
pressure.
2. The width of the cuff should cover 40% of the circumference of the upper arm.
, 3. The position of the arm used for blood pressure assessment should be above the level
of the heart.
4. Goal blood pressure for this patient should be systolic less than 120 mm Hg and
diastolic less than 80 mmHg.
5. The last audible sound auscultated during blood pressure assessment should be
recorded for the systolic reading.
6. An unsupported arm may be used for an accurate blood pressure measure
1, 2, 4
While caring for a patient with heart disease, the nurse notices an irregularity in the
rhythm of the patient's radial pulse. The previous assessment did not reveal an
irregular pulse. What would be the BEST action to take?
count the patient's apical pulse for one minute
Which of the following statements is true regarding use of the tympanic thermometer?
The practitioner needs to wait at least 10 minutes to obtain the temperature if the patient has
been outdoors.
Which of the following is true regarding an oral temperature?
The thermometer should be placed in the posterior sublingual pocket of the mouth.
The nurse is taking a blood pressure on a patient; the patient's baseline blood pressure
is unknown. The nurse does not have any previous information about the patient's
blood pressure measurements, nor is the patient able to give any information about
previous blood pressure readings. Which of the following techniques would be the
MOST accurate way to measure this patient's blood pressure?
