NUR 2180 | Module Quiz 3 | Independent Practice Q&A Page 1
, NUR 2180 MODULE QUIZ 3 | PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
Rasmussen College | 2026/2027 Edition
100 Original Multiple-Choice Practice Q&A with Rationales
1. A patient reports right knee pain after climbing stairs. Which is the best opening assessmentquestion?
A. “Why did you ignore the pain?”
B. “Your knee is swollen, correct?”
C. “You don't have arthritis, do you?”
D. “Tell me when the pain began and what makes it better or worse.”
Correct Answer: D. “Tell me when the pain began and what makes it better or worse.”
Rationale: An open question elicits onset, triggers, quality, severity, and function without leading the patient.
2. During a musculoskeletal history, a client reports morning stiffness lasting over an hour. Whatshould the nurse explore?
A. Only the patient's favorite exercise
B. The client's blood type only
C. A remote childhood eye examination
D. Joint distribution, swelling, duration, and functional effect
Correct Answer: D. Joint distribution, swelling, duration, and functional effect
Rationale: Prolonged morning stiffness can suggest inflammatory joint disease and requires characterization rather than diagnosis from one
symptom.
3. A patient has difficulty rising from a chair. Which assessment most directly examinesfunction?
A. Measure only pupil diameter
B. Listen only to bowel sounds
C. Assess tongue color alone
D. Observe a safe sit-to-stand transfer with assistance if needed
Correct Answer: D. Observe a safe sit-to-stand transfer with assistance if needed
Rationale: Sit-to-stand movement helps evaluate proximal strength, balance, pain, and functional independence while safety is maintained.
4. The nurse begins inspecting both knees. What is most important to compare?
A. Symmetry, alignment, swelling, and muscle bulk
B. Hair color alone
C. The patient's shoe brand
D. Only the reported pain score
Correct Answer: A. Symmetry, alignment, swelling, and muscle bulk
Rationale: Bilateral comparison identifies asymmetry, deformity, swelling, and atrophy that can guide focused examination.
5. Which examination technique should precede palpation of a painful shoulder?
A. Inspection of posture, skin, contour, and symmetry
B. Forced end-range movement
C. Deep compression immediately
D. Percussion over every bone
NUR 2180 | Module Quiz 3 | Independent Practice Q&A Page 2
, Correct Answer: A. Inspection of posture, skin, contour, and symmetry
Rationale: Inspection first documents visible findings and helps avoid unnecessary pain during later maneuvers.
6. Before testing joint range of motion, what should the nurse ask?
A. Whether meals were delivered
B. Whether the patient likes the examiner
C. Whether the movement causes pain or has known restrictions
D. Whether the room is quiet enough for hearing tests
Correct Answer: C. Whether the movement causes pain or has known restrictions Rationale: History of pain,
injury, surgery, or restrictions shapes safe movement testing.
7. Which finding describes active range of motion?
A. The examiner taps a tendon
B. A goniometer is placed without movement
C. The examiner moves a fully relaxed limb
D. The patient moves the joint using their own muscles
Correct Answer: D. The patient moves the joint using their own muscles
Rationale: Active movement reveals functional muscle and joint performance; passive movement is examiner assisted.
8. Which statement describes passive range of motion?
A. The patient resists a fixed force
B. The examiner gently moves the relaxed joint within safe limits
C. The patient walks independently
D. The patient lifts the limb against gravity
Correct Answer: B. The examiner gently moves the relaxed joint within safe limits
Rationale: Passive movement helps evaluate joint restriction when the patient is relaxed and contraindications are excluded.
9. A patient experiences sharp pain during shoulder movement. What should the examiner do?
A. Push forcefully through the pain
B. Ignore facial grimacing
C. Repeat with increasing force
D. Stop the painful maneuver and reassess rather than forcing motion
Correct Answer: D. Stop the painful maneuver and reassess rather than forcing motion
Rationale: Range-of-motion examination must be limited by patient comfort and safety; force can worsen injury.
10. What is the primary purpose of a goniometer?
A. Measure joint angles and range of motion
B. Auscultate the lungs
C. Inspect the tympanic membrane
D. Measure oxygen saturation
Correct Answer: A. Measure joint angles and range of motion
Rationale: A goniometer quantifies joint motion for comparison with norms and longitudinal function.
11. When grading muscle strength, what does 5/5 mean?
NUR 2180 | Module Quiz 3 | Independent Practice Q&A Page 3
, NUR 2180 MODULE QUIZ 3 | PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
Rasmussen College | 2026/2027 Edition
100 Original Multiple-Choice Practice Q&A with Rationales
1. A patient reports right knee pain after climbing stairs. Which is the best opening assessmentquestion?
A. “Why did you ignore the pain?”
B. “Your knee is swollen, correct?”
C. “You don't have arthritis, do you?”
D. “Tell me when the pain began and what makes it better or worse.”
Correct Answer: D. “Tell me when the pain began and what makes it better or worse.”
Rationale: An open question elicits onset, triggers, quality, severity, and function without leading the patient.
2. During a musculoskeletal history, a client reports morning stiffness lasting over an hour. Whatshould the nurse explore?
A. Only the patient's favorite exercise
B. The client's blood type only
C. A remote childhood eye examination
D. Joint distribution, swelling, duration, and functional effect
Correct Answer: D. Joint distribution, swelling, duration, and functional effect
Rationale: Prolonged morning stiffness can suggest inflammatory joint disease and requires characterization rather than diagnosis from one
symptom.
3. A patient has difficulty rising from a chair. Which assessment most directly examinesfunction?
A. Measure only pupil diameter
B. Listen only to bowel sounds
C. Assess tongue color alone
D. Observe a safe sit-to-stand transfer with assistance if needed
Correct Answer: D. Observe a safe sit-to-stand transfer with assistance if needed
Rationale: Sit-to-stand movement helps evaluate proximal strength, balance, pain, and functional independence while safety is maintained.
4. The nurse begins inspecting both knees. What is most important to compare?
A. Symmetry, alignment, swelling, and muscle bulk
B. Hair color alone
C. The patient's shoe brand
D. Only the reported pain score
Correct Answer: A. Symmetry, alignment, swelling, and muscle bulk
Rationale: Bilateral comparison identifies asymmetry, deformity, swelling, and atrophy that can guide focused examination.
5. Which examination technique should precede palpation of a painful shoulder?
A. Inspection of posture, skin, contour, and symmetry
B. Forced end-range movement
C. Deep compression immediately
D. Percussion over every bone
NUR 2180 | Module Quiz 3 | Independent Practice Q&A Page 2
, Correct Answer: A. Inspection of posture, skin, contour, and symmetry
Rationale: Inspection first documents visible findings and helps avoid unnecessary pain during later maneuvers.
6. Before testing joint range of motion, what should the nurse ask?
A. Whether meals were delivered
B. Whether the patient likes the examiner
C. Whether the movement causes pain or has known restrictions
D. Whether the room is quiet enough for hearing tests
Correct Answer: C. Whether the movement causes pain or has known restrictions Rationale: History of pain,
injury, surgery, or restrictions shapes safe movement testing.
7. Which finding describes active range of motion?
A. The examiner taps a tendon
B. A goniometer is placed without movement
C. The examiner moves a fully relaxed limb
D. The patient moves the joint using their own muscles
Correct Answer: D. The patient moves the joint using their own muscles
Rationale: Active movement reveals functional muscle and joint performance; passive movement is examiner assisted.
8. Which statement describes passive range of motion?
A. The patient resists a fixed force
B. The examiner gently moves the relaxed joint within safe limits
C. The patient walks independently
D. The patient lifts the limb against gravity
Correct Answer: B. The examiner gently moves the relaxed joint within safe limits
Rationale: Passive movement helps evaluate joint restriction when the patient is relaxed and contraindications are excluded.
9. A patient experiences sharp pain during shoulder movement. What should the examiner do?
A. Push forcefully through the pain
B. Ignore facial grimacing
C. Repeat with increasing force
D. Stop the painful maneuver and reassess rather than forcing motion
Correct Answer: D. Stop the painful maneuver and reassess rather than forcing motion
Rationale: Range-of-motion examination must be limited by patient comfort and safety; force can worsen injury.
10. What is the primary purpose of a goniometer?
A. Measure joint angles and range of motion
B. Auscultate the lungs
C. Inspect the tympanic membrane
D. Measure oxygen saturation
Correct Answer: A. Measure joint angles and range of motion
Rationale: A goniometer quantifies joint motion for comparison with norms and longitudinal function.
11. When grading muscle strength, what does 5/5 mean?
NUR 2180 | Module Quiz 3 | Independent Practice Q&A Page 3
