PCHA Final Exam 2025/2026 Questions
and Answers
A patient tells the nurse that he is very nervous, nauseated and that he
"feels hot". This type of data would be considered: - ANSWER
subjective
Because the physical environment in which an interview takes place is
an important consideration for the success of an interview, the
interviewer should: - ANSWER reduce noise by turning off televisions
and cell phones
A nurse is taking complete health histories of all the patients attending a
wellness workshop. While interviewing with a patient, the nurse asks,
"Can you tell me a little about yourself?" This question is an example of:
- ANSWER an open-ended question
During an interview, a parent of a hospitalized child is sitting in an open
position. As the interviewer begins to discuss the child's treatment,
however, the parent suddenly crosses the arms against the chest and
crosses the legs. Based on the understanding that nonverbal modes of
communication provide clues to understanding feelings, the sudden
change in body position would suggest that the parent is: - ANSWER
uncomfortable talking about his child's treatment
A 59-year-old patient is returning to the outpatient clinic for a follow up
visit. The patient has a history of ulcerative colitis. The patient states he
has been having "black stools" for the last 24 hours. Which of the
following would be the most complete way for the nurse to document the
patient's reason for seeking care? - ANSWER J.M. is a 59-year-old
patient here for having "black stools" for the past 24 hours.
Which of the following statements best describes the purpose of a health
history? - ANSWER to provide a database of subjective information
about the patient's past and current health.
The inspection phase of the physical assessment: - ANSWER begins
the moment you first meet the person and develop a "general survey".
,A patient is at the clinic for a physical examination. He states that he is
"very anxious" about the physical exam. What steps can the examiner
take to make the patient more comfortable? - ANSWER Appear
unhurried and confident when examining the patient.
When performing a physical examination, safety must be considered to
protect the examiner and the patient against the spread of infection.
Which of the following statements describes the most appropriate
actions the examiner should take when performing a physical
examination? - ANSWER Wash hands at the beginning of the
examination and any time that one leaves and re-enters the room.
A 50-year-old patient who is taking anti-hypertensive medications
returns to the clinic to have their blood pressure (BP) checked. The last
BP was 146/88. The BP reported to the nurse is 168/96. Both blood
pressures were taken at the brachial site. Which of the following is true
regarding blood pressure assessment in this patient? Choose all that
apply:
1. The patient should be allowed to adequately rest prior to assessing
the blood pressure.
2. The width of the cuff should cover 40% of the circumference of the
upper arm.
3. The position of the arm used for blood pressure assessment should
be above the level of the heart.
4. Goal blood pressure for this patient should be systolic less than 120
mm Hg and diastolic less than 80 mmHg.
5. The last audible sound auscultated during blood pressure assessment
should be recorded for the systolic reading.
6. An unsupported arm may be used for an accurate blood pressure
measure - ANSWER 1, 2, 4
While caring for a patient with heart disease, the nurse notices an
irregularity in the rhythm of the patient's radial pulse. The previous
assessment did not reveal an irregular pulse. What would be the BEST
action to take? - ANSWER count the patient's apical pulse for one
minute
, Which of the following statements is true regarding use of the tympanic
thermometer? - ANSWER The practitioner needs to wait at least 10
minutes to obtain the temperature if the patient has been outdoors.
Which of the following is true regarding an oral temperature? -
ANSWER The thermometer should be placed in the posterior sublingual
pocket of the mouth.
The nurse is taking a blood pressure on a patient; the patient's baseline
blood pressure is unknown. The nurse does not have any previous
information about the patient's blood pressure measurements, nor is the
patient able to give any information about previous blood pressure
readings. Which of the following techniques would be the MOST
accurate way to measure this patient's blood pressure? - ANSWER
Inflate the blood pressure cuff 30 mm Hg above the point at which the
palpated pulse disappeared.
A patient is being seen in the clinic for "fainting episodes". The patient
has a blood pressure of 150/90 in a lying position, 120/80 in a sitting
position, and 90/60 in a standing position. How should the nurse
interpret these findings? - ANSWER The change in blood pressure
readings is called orthostatic hypotension.
In the article by Rakotz, 'Medical students and measuring blood
pressure: Results from the American Medical Association Blood
Pressure Check Challenge', what are the consequences of poor
technique when measuring blood pressure? - ANSWER all of the
above
- A 5- to 10-mm Hg error can result in an incorrect diagnosis of
hypertension.
- Poor technique can cause patients with hypertension that is controlled
to appear uncontrolled.
- Without accurate blood pressure readings, improving blood pressure
control in unlikely because physicians will not reliably know which
patients need to be more aggressively treated and which do not.
and Answers
A patient tells the nurse that he is very nervous, nauseated and that he
"feels hot". This type of data would be considered: - ANSWER
subjective
Because the physical environment in which an interview takes place is
an important consideration for the success of an interview, the
interviewer should: - ANSWER reduce noise by turning off televisions
and cell phones
A nurse is taking complete health histories of all the patients attending a
wellness workshop. While interviewing with a patient, the nurse asks,
"Can you tell me a little about yourself?" This question is an example of:
- ANSWER an open-ended question
During an interview, a parent of a hospitalized child is sitting in an open
position. As the interviewer begins to discuss the child's treatment,
however, the parent suddenly crosses the arms against the chest and
crosses the legs. Based on the understanding that nonverbal modes of
communication provide clues to understanding feelings, the sudden
change in body position would suggest that the parent is: - ANSWER
uncomfortable talking about his child's treatment
A 59-year-old patient is returning to the outpatient clinic for a follow up
visit. The patient has a history of ulcerative colitis. The patient states he
has been having "black stools" for the last 24 hours. Which of the
following would be the most complete way for the nurse to document the
patient's reason for seeking care? - ANSWER J.M. is a 59-year-old
patient here for having "black stools" for the past 24 hours.
Which of the following statements best describes the purpose of a health
history? - ANSWER to provide a database of subjective information
about the patient's past and current health.
The inspection phase of the physical assessment: - ANSWER begins
the moment you first meet the person and develop a "general survey".
,A patient is at the clinic for a physical examination. He states that he is
"very anxious" about the physical exam. What steps can the examiner
take to make the patient more comfortable? - ANSWER Appear
unhurried and confident when examining the patient.
When performing a physical examination, safety must be considered to
protect the examiner and the patient against the spread of infection.
Which of the following statements describes the most appropriate
actions the examiner should take when performing a physical
examination? - ANSWER Wash hands at the beginning of the
examination and any time that one leaves and re-enters the room.
A 50-year-old patient who is taking anti-hypertensive medications
returns to the clinic to have their blood pressure (BP) checked. The last
BP was 146/88. The BP reported to the nurse is 168/96. Both blood
pressures were taken at the brachial site. Which of the following is true
regarding blood pressure assessment in this patient? Choose all that
apply:
1. The patient should be allowed to adequately rest prior to assessing
the blood pressure.
2. The width of the cuff should cover 40% of the circumference of the
upper arm.
3. The position of the arm used for blood pressure assessment should
be above the level of the heart.
4. Goal blood pressure for this patient should be systolic less than 120
mm Hg and diastolic less than 80 mmHg.
5. The last audible sound auscultated during blood pressure assessment
should be recorded for the systolic reading.
6. An unsupported arm may be used for an accurate blood pressure
measure - ANSWER 1, 2, 4
While caring for a patient with heart disease, the nurse notices an
irregularity in the rhythm of the patient's radial pulse. The previous
assessment did not reveal an irregular pulse. What would be the BEST
action to take? - ANSWER count the patient's apical pulse for one
minute
, Which of the following statements is true regarding use of the tympanic
thermometer? - ANSWER The practitioner needs to wait at least 10
minutes to obtain the temperature if the patient has been outdoors.
Which of the following is true regarding an oral temperature? -
ANSWER The thermometer should be placed in the posterior sublingual
pocket of the mouth.
The nurse is taking a blood pressure on a patient; the patient's baseline
blood pressure is unknown. The nurse does not have any previous
information about the patient's blood pressure measurements, nor is the
patient able to give any information about previous blood pressure
readings. Which of the following techniques would be the MOST
accurate way to measure this patient's blood pressure? - ANSWER
Inflate the blood pressure cuff 30 mm Hg above the point at which the
palpated pulse disappeared.
A patient is being seen in the clinic for "fainting episodes". The patient
has a blood pressure of 150/90 in a lying position, 120/80 in a sitting
position, and 90/60 in a standing position. How should the nurse
interpret these findings? - ANSWER The change in blood pressure
readings is called orthostatic hypotension.
In the article by Rakotz, 'Medical students and measuring blood
pressure: Results from the American Medical Association Blood
Pressure Check Challenge', what are the consequences of poor
technique when measuring blood pressure? - ANSWER all of the
above
- A 5- to 10-mm Hg error can result in an incorrect diagnosis of
hypertension.
- Poor technique can cause patients with hypertension that is controlled
to appear uncontrolled.
- Without accurate blood pressure readings, improving blood pressure
control in unlikely because physicians will not reliably know which
patients need to be more aggressively treated and which do not.
