N224 EXAM 1 Questions with Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: When reading a medical record, you see the following notation: Patient states, "I have had
a cold for about a week, and now I am having difficulty breathing." This is an example of
A. a past health history
B. A review of systems
C. A functional assessment
D. A reason for seeking care
Answer: d. a reason for seeking care
Question 2: You have reason to question the reliability of the information being provided by a patient.
One way to verify the reliability within the context of the interview is to:
a. rephrase the same questions later in the interview
b. review the patient's past medical records
c. call the person identified as the emergency contact to verify the data provided
d. provide the patient with a printed history to complete and then compare the data provided
Answer: a. rephrase the same questions later in the interview
Question 3: The statement "reason for seeking care" has replaced "chief complaint." This change is
significant because:
a. the "chief complaint" is really a diagnostic statement
b. the newer term allows another individual to supply the necessary information
c. the newer term incorporates wellness needs
d. the "reason for seeking care" can incorporate the history of the present illness
Answer: c. the newer term incorporates wellness needs
Question 4: During an initial interview, the examiner says "Mrs. J., tell me what you do when your
headaches occur?" This is an example of which type of information?
a. the patient's perception of the problem
b. aggravating or relieving factors
c. the frequency of the problem
d. the severity of the problem
Answer: b. aggravating or relieving factors
Page 1
,Question 5: Which is an appropriate recording of a patient's reason for seeking health care?
a. angina pectoris, duration 2 hours
b. substernal pain radiating to left axilla, 1 hour duration
c. "grabbing" chest pain for 2 hours
d. pleurisy, 2 days' duration
Answer: c. "grabbing chest pain for 2 hours gathering health history is recording patient's subjective data
Question 6: A genogram is used for which reasons?
a. past history
b. past health history, specifically hospitalizations
c. family history
d. the 8 characteristics of presenting symptoms
Answer: c. family history
Question 7: What is the best description of "review of systems" as part of the health history?
a. the evaluation of the past and present health state of each body system
b. a documentation of the problem as described by the patient
c. the recording of the objective findings of the practitioner
d. a statement that describes the overall health state of the patient
Answer: a. the evaluation of the past and present health state of each body system
Question 8: Which finding is considered to be subjective?
a. temperature of 101.2 degrees F
b. pulse rate of 96 beats/min
c. measured weight loss of 20 pounds since previous measurement
d. pain lasting 2 hours
Answer: d. pain lasting 2 hours
Question 9: which statement best describes the purpose of a health history?
a. to provide an opportunity for interaction between the patient and examiner
b. to provide a form for obtaining the patient's biographic information
c. to document the normal and abnormal findings of a physical assessment
d. to provide a database of subjective information about the patient's past and present health
Answer: d. to provide a database of the subjective information about the patient's past and present health
Page 2
,Question 10: While assessing a man for allergies, he states he is allergic to penicillin. Which response is
best?
a. "are you allergic to any other drugs"
b. "how often have you received penicillin?"
c. "I'll write you allergy on you chart so you won't receive any"
d. "Please describe what happens to you when you take penicillin"
Answer: d. "please describe what happens to you when you take penicillin"
Question 11: (intensity) how loud or soft a sound is
Answer: Amplitude
Question 12: the length of time a note lingers
Answer: Duration
Question 13: instrument that illuminates the internal eye structures, enabling the examiner to look
through the pupil at the fundus (background) of the eye
Answer: ophtalmascope
Question 14: instrument that illuminates the ear canal, enabling the examiner to look at the ear canal
and tympanic membrane
Answer: otoscope
Question 15: (frequency) the number of vibrations (or cycles) per second of a note
Answer: pitch
Question 16: (timbre) subjective difference in a sound as a result of the sound's distinctive overtones
Answer: quality
Question 17: during assessment, which part of the hand is best for detecting vibrations?
a. finger tips
b. index finger and thumb in opposition
c. dorsum of the hand
d. ulnar surface of the hand
Answer: d. ulnar surface of the hand
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, Question 18: when performing indirect percussion, the stationary finger is struck:
a. at the ulnar surface
b. at the middle joint
c. at the distal interphalangeal joint
d. wherever it is in contact with the skin
Answer: c. at the distal interphalangeal joint
Question 19: collect subjective data--what person says about him/herself
Answer: purpose of a complete health history
Question 20:
1. location
2. character/quality (descriptive terms)
3. quantity/severity
4. timing (onset, duration, frequency)
5. setting (where/what was person doing when symptoms started)
6. aggravating/ relieving facotrs
7. associated factors (is primary symptom associated w/ others)
8. pt.'s perception (meaning of symptom, how it affects daily activities)
Answer: 8 critical characteristics of a symptom
Question 21: P: provocative or palliative Q: quality or quantity R: region or radiation S: severity scale
T: timing U: understand pt.'s perception
Answer: PQRSTU mnemonic to remember points of 8 critical characteristics of a symptom
Question 22:
1. biographic data
2. reason for seeking care
3. present health or history of present illness
4. past history
5. medication reconciliation
6. family history
7. review of systems
8. functional assessment or activities of daily living (ADLs)
Answer: health history sequence
Question 23: include name, address, and phone number, age and birth date, birthplace, gender, marital
partner status, race, ethnic origin, occupation.
Answer: Elements of Biographic Data
Page 4
Question 1: When reading a medical record, you see the following notation: Patient states, "I have had
a cold for about a week, and now I am having difficulty breathing." This is an example of
A. a past health history
B. A review of systems
C. A functional assessment
D. A reason for seeking care
Answer: d. a reason for seeking care
Question 2: You have reason to question the reliability of the information being provided by a patient.
One way to verify the reliability within the context of the interview is to:
a. rephrase the same questions later in the interview
b. review the patient's past medical records
c. call the person identified as the emergency contact to verify the data provided
d. provide the patient with a printed history to complete and then compare the data provided
Answer: a. rephrase the same questions later in the interview
Question 3: The statement "reason for seeking care" has replaced "chief complaint." This change is
significant because:
a. the "chief complaint" is really a diagnostic statement
b. the newer term allows another individual to supply the necessary information
c. the newer term incorporates wellness needs
d. the "reason for seeking care" can incorporate the history of the present illness
Answer: c. the newer term incorporates wellness needs
Question 4: During an initial interview, the examiner says "Mrs. J., tell me what you do when your
headaches occur?" This is an example of which type of information?
a. the patient's perception of the problem
b. aggravating or relieving factors
c. the frequency of the problem
d. the severity of the problem
Answer: b. aggravating or relieving factors
Page 1
,Question 5: Which is an appropriate recording of a patient's reason for seeking health care?
a. angina pectoris, duration 2 hours
b. substernal pain radiating to left axilla, 1 hour duration
c. "grabbing" chest pain for 2 hours
d. pleurisy, 2 days' duration
Answer: c. "grabbing chest pain for 2 hours gathering health history is recording patient's subjective data
Question 6: A genogram is used for which reasons?
a. past history
b. past health history, specifically hospitalizations
c. family history
d. the 8 characteristics of presenting symptoms
Answer: c. family history
Question 7: What is the best description of "review of systems" as part of the health history?
a. the evaluation of the past and present health state of each body system
b. a documentation of the problem as described by the patient
c. the recording of the objective findings of the practitioner
d. a statement that describes the overall health state of the patient
Answer: a. the evaluation of the past and present health state of each body system
Question 8: Which finding is considered to be subjective?
a. temperature of 101.2 degrees F
b. pulse rate of 96 beats/min
c. measured weight loss of 20 pounds since previous measurement
d. pain lasting 2 hours
Answer: d. pain lasting 2 hours
Question 9: which statement best describes the purpose of a health history?
a. to provide an opportunity for interaction between the patient and examiner
b. to provide a form for obtaining the patient's biographic information
c. to document the normal and abnormal findings of a physical assessment
d. to provide a database of subjective information about the patient's past and present health
Answer: d. to provide a database of the subjective information about the patient's past and present health
Page 2
,Question 10: While assessing a man for allergies, he states he is allergic to penicillin. Which response is
best?
a. "are you allergic to any other drugs"
b. "how often have you received penicillin?"
c. "I'll write you allergy on you chart so you won't receive any"
d. "Please describe what happens to you when you take penicillin"
Answer: d. "please describe what happens to you when you take penicillin"
Question 11: (intensity) how loud or soft a sound is
Answer: Amplitude
Question 12: the length of time a note lingers
Answer: Duration
Question 13: instrument that illuminates the internal eye structures, enabling the examiner to look
through the pupil at the fundus (background) of the eye
Answer: ophtalmascope
Question 14: instrument that illuminates the ear canal, enabling the examiner to look at the ear canal
and tympanic membrane
Answer: otoscope
Question 15: (frequency) the number of vibrations (or cycles) per second of a note
Answer: pitch
Question 16: (timbre) subjective difference in a sound as a result of the sound's distinctive overtones
Answer: quality
Question 17: during assessment, which part of the hand is best for detecting vibrations?
a. finger tips
b. index finger and thumb in opposition
c. dorsum of the hand
d. ulnar surface of the hand
Answer: d. ulnar surface of the hand
Page 3
, Question 18: when performing indirect percussion, the stationary finger is struck:
a. at the ulnar surface
b. at the middle joint
c. at the distal interphalangeal joint
d. wherever it is in contact with the skin
Answer: c. at the distal interphalangeal joint
Question 19: collect subjective data--what person says about him/herself
Answer: purpose of a complete health history
Question 20:
1. location
2. character/quality (descriptive terms)
3. quantity/severity
4. timing (onset, duration, frequency)
5. setting (where/what was person doing when symptoms started)
6. aggravating/ relieving facotrs
7. associated factors (is primary symptom associated w/ others)
8. pt.'s perception (meaning of symptom, how it affects daily activities)
Answer: 8 critical characteristics of a symptom
Question 21: P: provocative or palliative Q: quality or quantity R: region or radiation S: severity scale
T: timing U: understand pt.'s perception
Answer: PQRSTU mnemonic to remember points of 8 critical characteristics of a symptom
Question 22:
1. biographic data
2. reason for seeking care
3. present health or history of present illness
4. past history
5. medication reconciliation
6. family history
7. review of systems
8. functional assessment or activities of daily living (ADLs)
Answer: health history sequence
Question 23: include name, address, and phone number, age and birth date, birthplace, gender, marital
partner status, race, ethnic origin, occupation.
Answer: Elements of Biographic Data
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