NR 509
MIDTERM EXAM
Expected Questions with Answers
(Advanced Physical Assessment)
Chamberlain
What You Will Get:
Instant PDF download
100 multiple-choice questions
Verified answers included
Detailed rationales for review
Advanced Physical Assessment focused
Great for Midterm exam review and self-study
Please note: This is an independent study resource and is not affiliated
with or endorsed by Chamberlain University.
,1. An 80-year-old woman is visiting the clinic for a check-up. She states "I can't walk
as much as I used to." The FNP is observing for motor dysfunction in her hip and
should have her:
A. internally rotate her hip while she is sitting
B. abduct her hip while she is lying on her back
C. adduct her hip while she is lying on her back
D. externally rotate her hip while she is sitting
Correct Answer: B. abduct her hip while she is lying on her back
Rationale: Hip abduction while supine tests the gluteus medius and minimus
muscles, which are essential for ambulation and pelvic stability during walking.
Weakness in these muscles commonly causes gait disturbances in older adults.
2. A patient has been diagnosed with osteoporosis and asked the FNP "what is
osteoporosis?" The FNP explains to the patient that osteoporosis is defined as:
A. increased bone matrix
B. loss of bone density
C. new, weaker bone growth
D. increased phagocytic activity
Correct Answer: B. loss of bone density
Rationale: Osteoporosis is characterized by decreased bone mass and density
resulting from loss of bone matrix and mineralization, leading to fragile bones and
increased fracture risk. It is not defined by increased bone matrix or phagocytic
activity.
3. Patient states, "I can hear a crunching or grating sound when I kneel." She also
states "that it is very difficult to get out of bed in the morning because of stiffness
and pain in my joints." The FNP should assess for signs of what problem?
A. Crepitation
B. A bone spur
,C. A loose tendon
D. Fluid in the knee joint
Correct Answer: A. Crepitation
Rationale: Crepitation (crepitus) refers to the grinding, crunching, or grating
sound/sensation produced when bone surfaces rub against each other, often due to
damaged cartilage. Morning stiffness combined with crepitus is characteristic of
degenerative joint disease.
4. When taking the history on a patient with a seizure disorder the FNP assesses
whether the patient has an aura. Which of these would be the best question for
obtaining this information?
A. "Does your muscle tone seem to tense or limp?"
B. "After the seizure, do you spend a lot of time sleeping?"
C. "Do you have any warning sign before your seizure starts?"
D. "Do you experience any color change or incontinence during the seizure?"
Correct Answer: C. "Do you have any warning sign before your seizure starts?"
Rationale: An aura is a subjective sensation or warning sign that precedes a seizure.
It may manifest as visual disturbances, unusual smells, or emotional changes. Asking
about warning signs before the seizure is the most direct way to assess for aura
presence.
5. The FNP is teaching a class on osteoporosis prevention to a group of
postmenopausal women. A participant shows that she needs more instruction
when she states I will:
A. start swimming to increase my weight-bearing exercise
B. try to stop smoking as soon as possible
C. check with my doctor about taking calcium supplements
D. get a bone-density test
Correct Answer: A. start swimming to increase my weight-bearing exercise
, Rationale: Swimming is a non-weight-bearing exercise because water buoyancy
supports body weight. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking, low-impact
aerobics, dancing, or stationary cycling are necessary to stimulate bone formation
and prevent osteoporosis. Smoking cessation, calcium supplementation, and bone
density testing are all appropriate preventive measures.
6. The FNP is performing a neurological assessment on a 41-year-old woman with a
history of diabetes. When testing her ability to feel the vibrations of a tuning fork
the FNP notices that the patient is unable to feel vibrations on the great toe or
ankle bilaterally, but she is able to feel vibrations on both patellae. Given this
information what would the FNP suspect?
A. Hyperalgesia
B. Hyperesthesia
C. Peripheral neuropathy
D. Lesion of sensory cortex
Correct Answer: C. Peripheral neuropathy
Rationale: Loss of vibratory sense in the distal lower extremities (great toes and
ankles) with preservation at proximal sites is a classic early sign of peripheral
neuropathy, commonly seen in diabetic patients due to length-dependent axonal
degeneration of sensory nerves.
7. A teenage girl has arrived complaining of pain in her left wrist. She was playing
basketball when she fell and landed on her left hand. The FNP examined her hand
and will expect a fracture if the girl complains:
A. of a dull ache
B. that the pain in her wrist is deep
C. of sharp pain that increases with movement
D. of dull throbbing pain that increases with rest
Correct Answer: C. of sharp pain that increases with movement
MIDTERM EXAM
Expected Questions with Answers
(Advanced Physical Assessment)
Chamberlain
What You Will Get:
Instant PDF download
100 multiple-choice questions
Verified answers included
Detailed rationales for review
Advanced Physical Assessment focused
Great for Midterm exam review and self-study
Please note: This is an independent study resource and is not affiliated
with or endorsed by Chamberlain University.
,1. An 80-year-old woman is visiting the clinic for a check-up. She states "I can't walk
as much as I used to." The FNP is observing for motor dysfunction in her hip and
should have her:
A. internally rotate her hip while she is sitting
B. abduct her hip while she is lying on her back
C. adduct her hip while she is lying on her back
D. externally rotate her hip while she is sitting
Correct Answer: B. abduct her hip while she is lying on her back
Rationale: Hip abduction while supine tests the gluteus medius and minimus
muscles, which are essential for ambulation and pelvic stability during walking.
Weakness in these muscles commonly causes gait disturbances in older adults.
2. A patient has been diagnosed with osteoporosis and asked the FNP "what is
osteoporosis?" The FNP explains to the patient that osteoporosis is defined as:
A. increased bone matrix
B. loss of bone density
C. new, weaker bone growth
D. increased phagocytic activity
Correct Answer: B. loss of bone density
Rationale: Osteoporosis is characterized by decreased bone mass and density
resulting from loss of bone matrix and mineralization, leading to fragile bones and
increased fracture risk. It is not defined by increased bone matrix or phagocytic
activity.
3. Patient states, "I can hear a crunching or grating sound when I kneel." She also
states "that it is very difficult to get out of bed in the morning because of stiffness
and pain in my joints." The FNP should assess for signs of what problem?
A. Crepitation
B. A bone spur
,C. A loose tendon
D. Fluid in the knee joint
Correct Answer: A. Crepitation
Rationale: Crepitation (crepitus) refers to the grinding, crunching, or grating
sound/sensation produced when bone surfaces rub against each other, often due to
damaged cartilage. Morning stiffness combined with crepitus is characteristic of
degenerative joint disease.
4. When taking the history on a patient with a seizure disorder the FNP assesses
whether the patient has an aura. Which of these would be the best question for
obtaining this information?
A. "Does your muscle tone seem to tense or limp?"
B. "After the seizure, do you spend a lot of time sleeping?"
C. "Do you have any warning sign before your seizure starts?"
D. "Do you experience any color change or incontinence during the seizure?"
Correct Answer: C. "Do you have any warning sign before your seizure starts?"
Rationale: An aura is a subjective sensation or warning sign that precedes a seizure.
It may manifest as visual disturbances, unusual smells, or emotional changes. Asking
about warning signs before the seizure is the most direct way to assess for aura
presence.
5. The FNP is teaching a class on osteoporosis prevention to a group of
postmenopausal women. A participant shows that she needs more instruction
when she states I will:
A. start swimming to increase my weight-bearing exercise
B. try to stop smoking as soon as possible
C. check with my doctor about taking calcium supplements
D. get a bone-density test
Correct Answer: A. start swimming to increase my weight-bearing exercise
, Rationale: Swimming is a non-weight-bearing exercise because water buoyancy
supports body weight. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking, low-impact
aerobics, dancing, or stationary cycling are necessary to stimulate bone formation
and prevent osteoporosis. Smoking cessation, calcium supplementation, and bone
density testing are all appropriate preventive measures.
6. The FNP is performing a neurological assessment on a 41-year-old woman with a
history of diabetes. When testing her ability to feel the vibrations of a tuning fork
the FNP notices that the patient is unable to feel vibrations on the great toe or
ankle bilaterally, but she is able to feel vibrations on both patellae. Given this
information what would the FNP suspect?
A. Hyperalgesia
B. Hyperesthesia
C. Peripheral neuropathy
D. Lesion of sensory cortex
Correct Answer: C. Peripheral neuropathy
Rationale: Loss of vibratory sense in the distal lower extremities (great toes and
ankles) with preservation at proximal sites is a classic early sign of peripheral
neuropathy, commonly seen in diabetic patients due to length-dependent axonal
degeneration of sensory nerves.
7. A teenage girl has arrived complaining of pain in her left wrist. She was playing
basketball when she fell and landed on her left hand. The FNP examined her hand
and will expect a fracture if the girl complains:
A. of a dull ache
B. that the pain in her wrist is deep
C. of sharp pain that increases with movement
D. of dull throbbing pain that increases with rest
Correct Answer: C. of sharp pain that increases with movement
