NUR 643E FINAL PHYSICAL EXAM ASSESSMENT | ADVANCED
HEALTH ASSESSMENT STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
1. What is the primary goal of obtaining a patient's medical history during a
physical examination?
To gather comprehensive information about the patient's medical
background, symptoms, and health concerns.
To evaluate the patient's vital signs and measurements.
To perform a physical assessment of the patient's body systems.
To diagnose the patient's medical conditions.
2. Which cranial nerve's function is assessed by observing the movement of the
soft palate during a physical exam?
Spinal nerve function
Autonomic nerve function
Cranial nerve function
Peripheral nerve function
3. When inspecting the oral cavity, what should one inspect?
tongue
lips
teeth
all of the above
4. Which vital sign measures the force of blood against the walls of the
arteries?
, Heart rate
Blood pressure
Body temperature
Respiratory rate
5. What is the expected shape of the normal chest wall during inspection?
Symmetrical and elliptical
Irregular
Rectangular
Rounded
6. What shape should the thorax appear during inspection to indicate normal
symmetry?
Elliptical shape
Triangular shape
Circular shape
Square shape
7. The nurse is assessing a patient who has an acute infection and enlarged
lymph nodes. Which assessment finding would the nurse expect?
The lymph nodes are enlarged, firm, nontender, and mobile.
The lymph nodes are warm, tender, and firm, but freely movable.
The lymph nodes are painless, rubbery, and discrete.
The lymph nodes are hard, longer than 3 cm, nontender, and fixed.
,8. What does the acronym PERRLA stand for in the context of assessing Cranial
Nerve II?
Pupils Equal, Round, Reflective to Light and Accommodation
Pupils Enlarged, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation
Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation
Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light and Lateral Movement
9. What specific information should a nurse gather about a patient's past
infectious diseases?
A known history of infectious diseases and how they were treated.
The patient's vaccination status.
The patient's current medications and allergies.
The patient's family history of chronic illnesses.
10. If a patient presents with signs of dehydration during a physical exam, which
dietary factor would be most relevant to assess?
Caloric intake.
Specific dietary habits.
Hydration.
Nutritional balance.
11. Describe how the use of an otoscope contributes to the overall assessment
of a patient's ear health.
The otoscope is used to measure the patient's temperature and assess
overall health.
, The otoscope allows healthcare providers to visualize the ear canal
and tympanic membrane, which helps in identifying potential ear
health issues.
The otoscope is primarily used for examining the throat and vocal
cords.
The otoscope provides a method for assessing blood flow in the ear.
12. What should be assessed when palpating lymph nodes in the neck?
Size, shape, mobility, and consistency
Mobility, consistency, depth, and shape
Shape, texture, firmness, and location
Color, temperature, tenderness, and size
13. Describe the significance of assessing the soft palate movement in relation
to cranial nerve function during a physical exam.
The movement of the soft palate is unrelated to cranial nerve
function.
It is primarily used to assess spinal cord integrity.
Assessing the soft palate movement helps evaluate cranial nerve
function and check for the presence of a gag reflex.
Soft palate movement indicates respiratory health only.
14. What is one key question to ask male patients about their testicular health
during a physical examination?
If they have ever had a hernia.
If they have a family history of prostate cancer.
If they perform monthly testicular exams.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
1. What is the primary goal of obtaining a patient's medical history during a
physical examination?
To gather comprehensive information about the patient's medical
background, symptoms, and health concerns.
To evaluate the patient's vital signs and measurements.
To perform a physical assessment of the patient's body systems.
To diagnose the patient's medical conditions.
2. Which cranial nerve's function is assessed by observing the movement of the
soft palate during a physical exam?
Spinal nerve function
Autonomic nerve function
Cranial nerve function
Peripheral nerve function
3. When inspecting the oral cavity, what should one inspect?
tongue
lips
teeth
all of the above
4. Which vital sign measures the force of blood against the walls of the
arteries?
, Heart rate
Blood pressure
Body temperature
Respiratory rate
5. What is the expected shape of the normal chest wall during inspection?
Symmetrical and elliptical
Irregular
Rectangular
Rounded
6. What shape should the thorax appear during inspection to indicate normal
symmetry?
Elliptical shape
Triangular shape
Circular shape
Square shape
7. The nurse is assessing a patient who has an acute infection and enlarged
lymph nodes. Which assessment finding would the nurse expect?
The lymph nodes are enlarged, firm, nontender, and mobile.
The lymph nodes are warm, tender, and firm, but freely movable.
The lymph nodes are painless, rubbery, and discrete.
The lymph nodes are hard, longer than 3 cm, nontender, and fixed.
,8. What does the acronym PERRLA stand for in the context of assessing Cranial
Nerve II?
Pupils Equal, Round, Reflective to Light and Accommodation
Pupils Enlarged, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation
Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation
Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light and Lateral Movement
9. What specific information should a nurse gather about a patient's past
infectious diseases?
A known history of infectious diseases and how they were treated.
The patient's vaccination status.
The patient's current medications and allergies.
The patient's family history of chronic illnesses.
10. If a patient presents with signs of dehydration during a physical exam, which
dietary factor would be most relevant to assess?
Caloric intake.
Specific dietary habits.
Hydration.
Nutritional balance.
11. Describe how the use of an otoscope contributes to the overall assessment
of a patient's ear health.
The otoscope is used to measure the patient's temperature and assess
overall health.
, The otoscope allows healthcare providers to visualize the ear canal
and tympanic membrane, which helps in identifying potential ear
health issues.
The otoscope is primarily used for examining the throat and vocal
cords.
The otoscope provides a method for assessing blood flow in the ear.
12. What should be assessed when palpating lymph nodes in the neck?
Size, shape, mobility, and consistency
Mobility, consistency, depth, and shape
Shape, texture, firmness, and location
Color, temperature, tenderness, and size
13. Describe the significance of assessing the soft palate movement in relation
to cranial nerve function during a physical exam.
The movement of the soft palate is unrelated to cranial nerve
function.
It is primarily used to assess spinal cord integrity.
Assessing the soft palate movement helps evaluate cranial nerve
function and check for the presence of a gag reflex.
Soft palate movement indicates respiratory health only.
14. What is one key question to ask male patients about their testicular health
during a physical examination?
If they have ever had a hernia.
If they have a family history of prostate cancer.
If they perform monthly testicular exams.
