Physical Assessment Q&A | Health Assessment
**1. Which of the following best defines functional assessment?**
A) An assessment of the patient's vital signs and laboratory values
B) An assessment of the patient's ability to perform basic daily tasks and live
independently
C) A review of the patient's family history and genetic predispositions
D) An examination of the patient's skin and musculoskeletal system only
Correct Answer: B) An assessment of the patient's ability to perform basic
daily tasks and live independently
Rationale: Functional assessment evaluates a person's ability to accomplish
basic skills and tasks of daily living. It helps determine the optimal living
situation for a patient, such as whether they can live independently or need
a skilled nursing facility. It is not limited to vital signs, family history, or
skin/musculoskeletal assessment alone.
**2. What is the primary purpose of a functional assessment?**
A) To diagnose specific medical conditions
B) To determine the patient's optimal living situation based on their ability to
perform daily tasks
C) To evaluate the patient's nutritional status
D) To assess the patient's psychological well-being
Correct Answer: B) To determine the patient's optimal living situation based
on their ability to perform daily tasks
Rationale: Functional assessments are used to assess a person's ability to
accomplish skills and determine their optimal living situation. For example, if
,a patient cannot perform ADLs, they may need a skilled nursing facility
(SNF). The assessment provides information about functional abilities, not
medical diagnoses or nutritional status alone.
**3. The basic daily tasks of fundamental living, such as toileting or
grooming, are known as:**
A) Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)
B) Functional activities of daily living (FADLs)
C) Activities of daily living (ADLs)
D) Complex activities of daily living (CADLs)
Correct Answer: C) Activities of daily living (ADLs)
Rationale: ADLs are defined as the basic daily tasks of fundamental living,
including toileting, grooming, bathing, dressing, eating, and ambulation.
IADLs are more complex tasks that allow someone to live independently. The
term FADLs or CADLs are not standard classifications in this context.
**4. Which of the following is an example of an Instrumental Activity of Daily
Living (IADL)?**
A) Toileting
B) Grooming
C) Grocery shopping
D) Ambulation
Correct Answer: C) Grocery shopping
Rationale: IADLs are more complex tasks that allow someone to live
independently. Examples include grocery shopping, cleaning, paying bills,
,and managing finances. Toileting, grooming, and ambulation are considered
basic ADLs.
**5. Which of the following is an example of an Activity of Daily Living (ADL)?
**
A) Paying bills
B) Managing finances
C) Grocery shopping
D) Grooming
Correct Answer: D) Grooming
Rationale: ADLs are basic daily tasks of fundamental living. Examples include
toileting, grooming, bathing, dressing, eating, and ambulation. Paying bills,
managing finances, and grocery shopping are considered IADLs.
**6. When assessing functional ability, which of the following is NOT typically
included in a functional assessment tool?**
A) Sleep patterns
B) Spiritual resources
C) Nutritional status
D) Blood pressure reading
Correct Answer: D) Blood pressure reading
Rationale: Functional assessment tools ask questions about self-esteem,
activity (ADLs), sleep, spiritual resources, nutrition, interpersonal
relationships, coping, environment, and personal habits. A blood pressure
reading is part of a physical examination, not a functional assessment.
, **7. Which of the following questions would be asked on a functional
assessment tool?**
A) "What is your current blood pressure?"
B) "Do you have any pain?"
C) "How well do you sleep at night?"
D) "Have you ever had surgery?"
Correct Answer: C) "How well do you sleep at night?"
Rationale: Functional assessment tools ask about sleep patterns. Blood
pressure, pain, and surgical history are part of other components of the
health history, such as the physical exam, review of systems, and past health
history.
**8. According to the functional assessment framework, what does the "C" in
the mnemonic stand for?**
A) Coping (stressors)
B) Communication
C) Cardiac status
D) Cognition
Correct Answer: A) Coping (stressors)
Rationale: The functional assessment mnemonic includes: S (self-esteem), A
(activity/ADLs), S (Sleep), S (Spiritual resources), N (Nutrition), I
(Interpersonal relationships), C (Coping-stressors), E (Environment/hazards),
and P (Personal habits). The "C" stands for Coping and stressors.