NR 509 Midterm Exam Questions with Verified
Answers (2025/ 2026).
Cause of saddle numbness and urinary retention - ANSWER-Cauda equina syndrome
Presentation of retinal detachment - ANSWER-If sudden visual loss is unilateral and
painless,
Obtunded - ANSWER-patient opens the eyes and looks at you but responds slowly and
is somewhat confused. Alertness and interest in the environment are decreased.
Cranial nerve for lateral gaze - ANSWER-CN6: Abducens
Adult Illnesses - ANSWER-Medical: Illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, hepatitis,
asthma, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); hospitalizations; number and gender
of sexual partners; and risk-taking sexual practices
■ Surgical: Dates, indications, and types of operations
■ Obstetric/Gynecologic: Obstetric history, menstrual history, methods of contraception,
and sexual function
■ Psychiatric: Illness and time frame, diagnoses, hospitalizations, and treatments
Present Illness - ANSWER-chronologic description of the problems prompting the
patient's visit, including the onset of the problem, the setting in which it developed, its
manifestations, and any treatments to date.Each problem/symptom needs: (1) location;
(2) quality; (3) quantity or severity; (4) timing, including onset, duration, and frequency;
(5) the setting in which it occurs; (6) factors that have aggravated
-meds, allergies, tobacco use, ETOH and drug use
Absence of red reflex - ANSWER-an opacity of the lens (cataract) or, possibly, the
vitreous (or even an artificial eye). Less commonly, a detached retina or, in children, a
retinoblastoma may obscure this reflex.
S/S of seasonal allergies - ANSWER-Itching, watery eyes, sneezing, ear congestion,
postnasal drainage
Presentation of optic neuritis - ANSWER-Enlarged blind spot, vision loss in 1 eye, loss
of color vision, hole in center of vision, trouble seeing to the side, eye pain
pityriasis rosea - ANSWER-Multiple round to oval scaling violaceous plaques on
abdomen and back
Acromion - ANSWER-tip of shoulder
What to do for + finding on physical exam, but - workup - ANSWER-continue using test,
but less lab and diagnostics
, Cause of falsely high BP - ANSWER--too small of a BP cuff
- if the brachial artery is below heart level
- loose cuff
- bladder that balloons outside the cuff
Check for nystagmus - ANSWER--involuntary jerking movement of the eyes with quick
and slow components.
- It is named for the direction of the quick component
- seen in cerebellar disease and vestibular disorders and in internuclear
ophthalmoplegia
Jaundice - ANSWER-yellow sclera
how do get a patient to open up when upset - ANSWER-effective reassurance is simply
identifying and acknowledging the patient's feelings.
-Partnering
-Summarizing
-Transitions
- Empowering the pt
s/s of degenerative pain - ANSWER--Slowly progressive, with temporary exacerbations
after periods of overuse
-usually insidious
- flexion and deviation deformities
How otosclerosis presents with Weber and Rinne test - ANSWER-- Weber: Sound
lateralizes to impaired ear. Room noise not well heard, so detection of vibrations
improves
- Rinne: BC longer than or equal to AC. While air conduction through the external or
middle ear is impaired, vibrations through bone bypass the problem to reach the
cochlea.
Cherry angiomas - ANSWER-Benign
Interpreting visual acuity test - ANSWER-Vision of 20/200 means that at 20 feet the
patient can read print that a person with normal vision could read at 200 feet. The larger
the second number, the worse the vision. "20/40 corrected" means the patient could
read the 20/40 line with glasses (a correction).
Sequence of the interview - ANSWER-Preparation. Then, Greeting the patient and
establishing rapport. Establishing the agenda for the interview. Inviting the patient's
story. Exploring the patient's perspective. Identifying and responding to emotional cues.
Expand-ing and clarifying the patient's story. Generating and testing diagnostic
hypotheses. Sharing the treatment plan. Closing the interview and the visit. Taking time
for self-reflection.
Answers (2025/ 2026).
Cause of saddle numbness and urinary retention - ANSWER-Cauda equina syndrome
Presentation of retinal detachment - ANSWER-If sudden visual loss is unilateral and
painless,
Obtunded - ANSWER-patient opens the eyes and looks at you but responds slowly and
is somewhat confused. Alertness and interest in the environment are decreased.
Cranial nerve for lateral gaze - ANSWER-CN6: Abducens
Adult Illnesses - ANSWER-Medical: Illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, hepatitis,
asthma, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); hospitalizations; number and gender
of sexual partners; and risk-taking sexual practices
■ Surgical: Dates, indications, and types of operations
■ Obstetric/Gynecologic: Obstetric history, menstrual history, methods of contraception,
and sexual function
■ Psychiatric: Illness and time frame, diagnoses, hospitalizations, and treatments
Present Illness - ANSWER-chronologic description of the problems prompting the
patient's visit, including the onset of the problem, the setting in which it developed, its
manifestations, and any treatments to date.Each problem/symptom needs: (1) location;
(2) quality; (3) quantity or severity; (4) timing, including onset, duration, and frequency;
(5) the setting in which it occurs; (6) factors that have aggravated
-meds, allergies, tobacco use, ETOH and drug use
Absence of red reflex - ANSWER-an opacity of the lens (cataract) or, possibly, the
vitreous (or even an artificial eye). Less commonly, a detached retina or, in children, a
retinoblastoma may obscure this reflex.
S/S of seasonal allergies - ANSWER-Itching, watery eyes, sneezing, ear congestion,
postnasal drainage
Presentation of optic neuritis - ANSWER-Enlarged blind spot, vision loss in 1 eye, loss
of color vision, hole in center of vision, trouble seeing to the side, eye pain
pityriasis rosea - ANSWER-Multiple round to oval scaling violaceous plaques on
abdomen and back
Acromion - ANSWER-tip of shoulder
What to do for + finding on physical exam, but - workup - ANSWER-continue using test,
but less lab and diagnostics
, Cause of falsely high BP - ANSWER--too small of a BP cuff
- if the brachial artery is below heart level
- loose cuff
- bladder that balloons outside the cuff
Check for nystagmus - ANSWER--involuntary jerking movement of the eyes with quick
and slow components.
- It is named for the direction of the quick component
- seen in cerebellar disease and vestibular disorders and in internuclear
ophthalmoplegia
Jaundice - ANSWER-yellow sclera
how do get a patient to open up when upset - ANSWER-effective reassurance is simply
identifying and acknowledging the patient's feelings.
-Partnering
-Summarizing
-Transitions
- Empowering the pt
s/s of degenerative pain - ANSWER--Slowly progressive, with temporary exacerbations
after periods of overuse
-usually insidious
- flexion and deviation deformities
How otosclerosis presents with Weber and Rinne test - ANSWER-- Weber: Sound
lateralizes to impaired ear. Room noise not well heard, so detection of vibrations
improves
- Rinne: BC longer than or equal to AC. While air conduction through the external or
middle ear is impaired, vibrations through bone bypass the problem to reach the
cochlea.
Cherry angiomas - ANSWER-Benign
Interpreting visual acuity test - ANSWER-Vision of 20/200 means that at 20 feet the
patient can read print that a person with normal vision could read at 200 feet. The larger
the second number, the worse the vision. "20/40 corrected" means the patient could
read the 20/40 line with glasses (a correction).
Sequence of the interview - ANSWER-Preparation. Then, Greeting the patient and
establishing rapport. Establishing the agenda for the interview. Inviting the patient's
story. Exploring the patient's perspective. Identifying and responding to emotional cues.
Expand-ing and clarifying the patient's story. Generating and testing diagnostic
hypotheses. Sharing the treatment plan. Closing the interview and the visit. Taking time
for self-reflection.
