Chamberlain NR509_Midterm_Exam_Study_Guide_FINAL
Advanced Physical Assessment Comprehensive Chapters
1–4 & Beyond | 67 Pages 2026/2027 Updated
NR509 Midterm Exam Practice Questions (180 Questions)
Section 1: Clinical Reasoning & Interviewing (Questions 1-
45)
Question 1
A 45-year-old forklift driver presents to the clinic at 4
o'clock in the afternoon complaining of intense substernal
chest pain and nausea. He appears pale and sweaty. At
work that day, he filled in for an absent co-worker and was
asked to perform heavy lifting not normally a part of his job.
The physician assistant (PA) questions the patient in detail
about his nausea, eating habits, and digestive history.
Which of the following steps of clinical reasoning has the PA
failed to follow?
A. Elicit information about the patient's gastrointestinal (GI)
system
B. Localize findings anatomically
C. Match findings against conditions that could cause them
D. Give special consideration to potential life-threatening
problems
E. Elicit information about the patient's family history of
digestive disorders
,Answer: D. Give special consideration to potential life-
threatening problems
Question 2
A 23-year-old physician assistant (PA) student found that
she felt nervous when called upon to examine men in her
age group. On one occasion, she encountered a young male
patient who appeared embarrassed to see her walk into the
room. What should the PA do to minimize their mutual
discomfort?
A. Adjust lighting so it is tangential to the patient's body
B. Explain how the examination will proceed
C. Ask the patient where he comes from
D. Explain that she is a PA student
E. Provide ongoing interpretation of findings
Answer: B. Explain how the examination will proceed
Question 3
A 34-year-old male with a history of complex social and
medical needs (including current substance abuse)
presents to a primary care teaching clinic. The patient has
experienced a number of adversarial relationships with
prior clinicians, including voluntarily leaving two practices
within the previous year and being asked to leave care at a
third clinic due to misbehavior. The attending physician
desires to utilize the approaches to this patient that are
most likely lead to comprehensive care and patient
,compliance. Which of the following is the most appropriate
interview style for the attending physician to use?
A. Focusing on the need for immediate diagnostic certainty
over personal connection
B. Taking charge of the interaction to meet the clinician's
desire to acquire diagnostic information
C. Following the patient's lead to understand their thoughts,
ideas, concerns, and requests
D. Deferring respect, empathy
Answer: C. Following the patient's lead to understand their
thoughts, ideas, concerns, and requests
Question 4
A 19-year-old student of art history presents to clinic after a
syncopal (fainting) episode at school. He is notably thin; on
a thorough review of his medical history, he admits that he
eats only minimally to maintain a very low body weight that
he feels is ideal. He is embarrassed that his issues were
discussed by peers after this episode, especially because
he believes that this is a problem that is only faced by girls
and women. Concerning the two most common eating
disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa), which of
the following statements is true?
A. Men and women are both afflicted, but with a female:male
prevalence ratio estimated at ~2:1
B. Both of these eating disorders are associated with a body
mass index (BMI) of <17.5
C. Both of these eating disorders are associated with a real
or imagined fear of appearing fat
, D. Persons with eating disorders are generally easily
identified by their appearance
Answer: C. Both of these eating disorders are associated
with a real or imagined fear of appearing fat
Question 5
A 42-year-old female mathematician presents for follow-up
care regarding a new diagnosis of systemic lupus
erythematosus 6 months ago after a lengthy diagnostic
process during which she was debilitated with fatigue and
joint pain. Since her diagnosis, she has been minimally
compliant with medications and has switched her
rheumatology provider twice. She continues to feel ill, and,
in explanation for her lack of adherence to the prescribed
treatment, she simply says, "I don't like it." At this initial visit
with her third rheumatology provider, the clinician elects to
explore the issues behind her noncompliance before
engaging in diagnostics and treatment using the FIFE
model. Which of the following best defines the elements of
the FIFE model?
A. Focus, intensity, function, and evaluation
B. Facts, intensity, focus, and evidence
C. Feelings, ideas, function, and expectations
D. Feelings, impression, fantasy, and emotion
Answer: C. Feelings, ideas, function, and expectations
Advanced Physical Assessment Comprehensive Chapters
1–4 & Beyond | 67 Pages 2026/2027 Updated
NR509 Midterm Exam Practice Questions (180 Questions)
Section 1: Clinical Reasoning & Interviewing (Questions 1-
45)
Question 1
A 45-year-old forklift driver presents to the clinic at 4
o'clock in the afternoon complaining of intense substernal
chest pain and nausea. He appears pale and sweaty. At
work that day, he filled in for an absent co-worker and was
asked to perform heavy lifting not normally a part of his job.
The physician assistant (PA) questions the patient in detail
about his nausea, eating habits, and digestive history.
Which of the following steps of clinical reasoning has the PA
failed to follow?
A. Elicit information about the patient's gastrointestinal (GI)
system
B. Localize findings anatomically
C. Match findings against conditions that could cause them
D. Give special consideration to potential life-threatening
problems
E. Elicit information about the patient's family history of
digestive disorders
,Answer: D. Give special consideration to potential life-
threatening problems
Question 2
A 23-year-old physician assistant (PA) student found that
she felt nervous when called upon to examine men in her
age group. On one occasion, she encountered a young male
patient who appeared embarrassed to see her walk into the
room. What should the PA do to minimize their mutual
discomfort?
A. Adjust lighting so it is tangential to the patient's body
B. Explain how the examination will proceed
C. Ask the patient where he comes from
D. Explain that she is a PA student
E. Provide ongoing interpretation of findings
Answer: B. Explain how the examination will proceed
Question 3
A 34-year-old male with a history of complex social and
medical needs (including current substance abuse)
presents to a primary care teaching clinic. The patient has
experienced a number of adversarial relationships with
prior clinicians, including voluntarily leaving two practices
within the previous year and being asked to leave care at a
third clinic due to misbehavior. The attending physician
desires to utilize the approaches to this patient that are
most likely lead to comprehensive care and patient
,compliance. Which of the following is the most appropriate
interview style for the attending physician to use?
A. Focusing on the need for immediate diagnostic certainty
over personal connection
B. Taking charge of the interaction to meet the clinician's
desire to acquire diagnostic information
C. Following the patient's lead to understand their thoughts,
ideas, concerns, and requests
D. Deferring respect, empathy
Answer: C. Following the patient's lead to understand their
thoughts, ideas, concerns, and requests
Question 4
A 19-year-old student of art history presents to clinic after a
syncopal (fainting) episode at school. He is notably thin; on
a thorough review of his medical history, he admits that he
eats only minimally to maintain a very low body weight that
he feels is ideal. He is embarrassed that his issues were
discussed by peers after this episode, especially because
he believes that this is a problem that is only faced by girls
and women. Concerning the two most common eating
disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa), which of
the following statements is true?
A. Men and women are both afflicted, but with a female:male
prevalence ratio estimated at ~2:1
B. Both of these eating disorders are associated with a body
mass index (BMI) of <17.5
C. Both of these eating disorders are associated with a real
or imagined fear of appearing fat
, D. Persons with eating disorders are generally easily
identified by their appearance
Answer: C. Both of these eating disorders are associated
with a real or imagined fear of appearing fat
Question 5
A 42-year-old female mathematician presents for follow-up
care regarding a new diagnosis of systemic lupus
erythematosus 6 months ago after a lengthy diagnostic
process during which she was debilitated with fatigue and
joint pain. Since her diagnosis, she has been minimally
compliant with medications and has switched her
rheumatology provider twice. She continues to feel ill, and,
in explanation for her lack of adherence to the prescribed
treatment, she simply says, "I don't like it." At this initial visit
with her third rheumatology provider, the clinician elects to
explore the issues behind her noncompliance before
engaging in diagnostics and treatment using the FIFE
model. Which of the following best defines the elements of
the FIFE model?
A. Focus, intensity, function, and evaluation
B. Facts, intensity, focus, and evidence
C. Feelings, ideas, function, and expectations
D. Feelings, impression, fantasy, and emotion
Answer: C. Feelings, ideas, function, and expectations
