NURS5220 Exam #2 2025 Questions
and Correct Answers Graded A+
A patient tells the examiner that she has liquid stools containing small flecks of blood stained mucous.
Stools of this type result from:
A. amebiasis.
B. excessive fiber intake.
C. excessive dietary beef.
D. insufficient fluid intake. - CORRECT ANSWER-A: CorrectSmall flecks of blood-stained mucus in liquid
feces are indicative of amebiasis.
,Which examination finding in the child is a clue to the diagnosis of Hirschsprung disease?
A. Passing of frequent, loose stools in the absence of other symptoms
B. A consistently empty rectum with a history of constipation
C. Itching and irritation around the anus
D. Rectal prolapse - CORRECT ANSWER-B: CorrectA consistently empty rectum in the presence of
constipation is a clue to the diagnosis of Hirschsprung disease.
D. A mother tells the examiner that her 3-year-old child was sent home from daycare after two episodes
of diarrhea. - CORRECT ANSWER-C: CorrectRectal examination is not always performed on infants and
children unless there is a particular problem. An examination is required whenever there is any
symptom that suggests an intraabdominal or pelvic problem, a mass or tenderness, bladder distention,
bleeding, or rectal or bowel abnormalities.
Prostate enlargement is determined by the:
A. diameter of the rectum near the bladder.
B. circumference of the prostate.
C. estimation of the depth of the sulcus.
D. protrusion of the prostate into the rectum. - CORRECT ANSWER-D: CorrectProstate enlargement is
classified by the amount of protrusion into the rectum
In which situation would the examiner perform a rectal examination on an infant or child?
A. A newborn infant passes a greenish-black viscous stool 12 hours after birth.
B. The mother of a 3-month-old baby describes the baby's stools as "loose and golden yellow."
C. A stool of a 6-year-old child is guaiac positive.
,Mr. Tucker is a 56-year-old patient who presents to your office with a complaint of rectal pain. On
examination you are palpating the lateral and posterior rectal walls. What should you expect to feel?
A. A smooth, even, and uninterrupted surface
B. Small nodules from internal hemorrhoids
C. Tissue folds from the valves of Houston
D. Bulging from the bladder wall - CORRECT ANSWER-A: CorrectThe walls should feel smooth, even, and
uninterrupted.
Mr. Yates is a 62-year-old patient who presents with a chief complaint of rectal pain. The examiner will
focus the history and examination on which known fact?
A. Rectal pain is almost always accompanied by an infection.
B. Rectal pain is almost always an indication of local disease.
C. A complaint of rectal pain is usually associated with a serious systemic process.
D. One of the most common causes of rectal pain is prostatic enlargement. - CORRECT ANSWER-B:
CorrectRectal pain is almost always indicative of a local disease.
Mr. Bower is a 78-year-old patient who is unable to assume a standing position for a routine rectal
examination. Which is the best alternative position?
A. Lithotomy position
B. Left lateral position with the knees flexed
C. Knee-chest position
D. Prone position - CORRECT ANSWER-B: CorrectThe rectal examination can be performed with the
patient in any of these positions: knee-chest; left lateral with hips and knees flexed; lithotomy, or
standing with the hips flexed and the upper body supported by the examining table.
, A pregnant woman presents to the emergency department with the complaint of dark stools. She tells
the examiner, "I read in a magazine that this is a sign of bleeding." Which question by the examiner is
most applicable for this situation?
A. "Where did you read that information?"
B. "Have you been giving yourself enemas?"
C. "How much fruit and vegetable intake have you had in the last few days?"
D. "Are you taking prenatal vitamins?" - CORRECT ANSWER-D: CorrectDuring pregnancy, the stool color
may be dark green or black if the woman is taking iron supplements.
Mr. Allen is a 56-year-old patient who presents for a routine physical examination. Before palpating his
prostate, you should tell him, "You may feel an urge to _______."
A. urinate
B. defecate
C. vomit
D. faint - CORRECT ANSWER-A: CorrectIn men, you can palpate the posterior surface of the prostate
gland on the anterior wall. Tell the patient that he may feel the urge to urinate but that he will not.
How is the anal ring assessed?
A. Inspection of the anus
B. External palpation of the anus
C. Use of a sigmoidoscope
D. Rotation of a finger within the anal sphincter - CORRECT ANSWER-D: CorrectRotate your finger to
examine the muscular anal ring.
Which example best describes how firm you expect a healthy prostate gland to feel?
A. It feels like a soft olive or grape.
B. It feels like the topside of a plastic LEGO piece.
and Correct Answers Graded A+
A patient tells the examiner that she has liquid stools containing small flecks of blood stained mucous.
Stools of this type result from:
A. amebiasis.
B. excessive fiber intake.
C. excessive dietary beef.
D. insufficient fluid intake. - CORRECT ANSWER-A: CorrectSmall flecks of blood-stained mucus in liquid
feces are indicative of amebiasis.
,Which examination finding in the child is a clue to the diagnosis of Hirschsprung disease?
A. Passing of frequent, loose stools in the absence of other symptoms
B. A consistently empty rectum with a history of constipation
C. Itching and irritation around the anus
D. Rectal prolapse - CORRECT ANSWER-B: CorrectA consistently empty rectum in the presence of
constipation is a clue to the diagnosis of Hirschsprung disease.
D. A mother tells the examiner that her 3-year-old child was sent home from daycare after two episodes
of diarrhea. - CORRECT ANSWER-C: CorrectRectal examination is not always performed on infants and
children unless there is a particular problem. An examination is required whenever there is any
symptom that suggests an intraabdominal or pelvic problem, a mass or tenderness, bladder distention,
bleeding, or rectal or bowel abnormalities.
Prostate enlargement is determined by the:
A. diameter of the rectum near the bladder.
B. circumference of the prostate.
C. estimation of the depth of the sulcus.
D. protrusion of the prostate into the rectum. - CORRECT ANSWER-D: CorrectProstate enlargement is
classified by the amount of protrusion into the rectum
In which situation would the examiner perform a rectal examination on an infant or child?
A. A newborn infant passes a greenish-black viscous stool 12 hours after birth.
B. The mother of a 3-month-old baby describes the baby's stools as "loose and golden yellow."
C. A stool of a 6-year-old child is guaiac positive.
,Mr. Tucker is a 56-year-old patient who presents to your office with a complaint of rectal pain. On
examination you are palpating the lateral and posterior rectal walls. What should you expect to feel?
A. A smooth, even, and uninterrupted surface
B. Small nodules from internal hemorrhoids
C. Tissue folds from the valves of Houston
D. Bulging from the bladder wall - CORRECT ANSWER-A: CorrectThe walls should feel smooth, even, and
uninterrupted.
Mr. Yates is a 62-year-old patient who presents with a chief complaint of rectal pain. The examiner will
focus the history and examination on which known fact?
A. Rectal pain is almost always accompanied by an infection.
B. Rectal pain is almost always an indication of local disease.
C. A complaint of rectal pain is usually associated with a serious systemic process.
D. One of the most common causes of rectal pain is prostatic enlargement. - CORRECT ANSWER-B:
CorrectRectal pain is almost always indicative of a local disease.
Mr. Bower is a 78-year-old patient who is unable to assume a standing position for a routine rectal
examination. Which is the best alternative position?
A. Lithotomy position
B. Left lateral position with the knees flexed
C. Knee-chest position
D. Prone position - CORRECT ANSWER-B: CorrectThe rectal examination can be performed with the
patient in any of these positions: knee-chest; left lateral with hips and knees flexed; lithotomy, or
standing with the hips flexed and the upper body supported by the examining table.
, A pregnant woman presents to the emergency department with the complaint of dark stools. She tells
the examiner, "I read in a magazine that this is a sign of bleeding." Which question by the examiner is
most applicable for this situation?
A. "Where did you read that information?"
B. "Have you been giving yourself enemas?"
C. "How much fruit and vegetable intake have you had in the last few days?"
D. "Are you taking prenatal vitamins?" - CORRECT ANSWER-D: CorrectDuring pregnancy, the stool color
may be dark green or black if the woman is taking iron supplements.
Mr. Allen is a 56-year-old patient who presents for a routine physical examination. Before palpating his
prostate, you should tell him, "You may feel an urge to _______."
A. urinate
B. defecate
C. vomit
D. faint - CORRECT ANSWER-A: CorrectIn men, you can palpate the posterior surface of the prostate
gland on the anterior wall. Tell the patient that he may feel the urge to urinate but that he will not.
How is the anal ring assessed?
A. Inspection of the anus
B. External palpation of the anus
C. Use of a sigmoidoscope
D. Rotation of a finger within the anal sphincter - CORRECT ANSWER-D: CorrectRotate your finger to
examine the muscular anal ring.
Which example best describes how firm you expect a healthy prostate gland to feel?
A. It feels like a soft olive or grape.
B. It feels like the topside of a plastic LEGO piece.
