NURS 5220 Exam 1 V1 | NURS 5220
Advanced Health Assessment and
Diagnostic Reasoning Review | Actual
Q&A with Rationale (NURS5220 Exam 1) |
The University of Texas at Arlington
1. Which of the following components of the clinical encounter is considered subjective data?
A. The patient’s heart rate and rhythm recorded during the exam.
B. The presence of pretibial edema noted on palpation.
C. A chest X-ray report showing a pleural effusion.
D. The patient’s description of ‘tearing’ chest pain.
Answer: D
Rationale: Subjective data consists of the information provided by the patient during the
history-taking process, such as symptoms and feelings. Objective data refers to signs
observed by the clinician during the physical examination or diagnostic testing. In this
scenario, the quality of pain is a subjective report that cannot be directly measured by the
examiner.
2. When assessing a patient’s risk for skin cancer using the ABCDE mnemonic, what does the
‘E’ stand for?
A. Elevation of the lesion above the skin surface.
,B. Erythema surrounding the border of the lesion.
C. Evolution or change in size, shape, or color.
D. Exudate coming from the center of the mole.
Answer: C
Rationale: The ABCDE mnemonic is a critical tool for identifying potential melanomas
during a dermatological assessment. The letter ‘E’ specifically refers to the evolution of a
lesion, meaning any noticeable changes over time. Clinicians should educate patients to
monitor for any shifting characteristics in moles as this is often a red flag for malignancy.
3. During a physical exam, the clinician notes increased tactile fremitus over the right lower
lobe. This finding is most consistent with which condition?
A. Pneumothorax
B. Lobar pneumonia
C. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
D. Pleural effusion
Answer: B
Rationale: Tactile fremitus is the vibration felt on the chest wall when the patient speaks.
It is increased in conditions where the lung tissue is consolidated, such as in lobar
pneumonia, because sound travels better through solid or liquid than air. In contrast,
, conditions like pneumothorax or COPD decrease fremitus because of the increased air
space between the lung and the chest wall.
4. Which heart sound is associated with the closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves?
A. S1
B. S2
C. S3
D. S4
Answer: A
Rationale: The first heart sound, S1, signals the beginning of systole and results from the
closure of the atrioventricular valves. It is usually heard best at the apex of the heart using
the diaphragm of the stethoscope. Understanding the cardiac cycle is essential for
differentiating between systolic and diastolic murmurs during a comprehensive
cardiovascular assessment.
5. A patient presents with a ‘strawberry tongue’ and a bright red rash. These findings are
most characteristic of which condition?
A. Measles (Rubeola)
B. Scarlet Fever
C. Hand, foot, and mouth disease
D. Infectious mononucleosis
Advanced Health Assessment and
Diagnostic Reasoning Review | Actual
Q&A with Rationale (NURS5220 Exam 1) |
The University of Texas at Arlington
1. Which of the following components of the clinical encounter is considered subjective data?
A. The patient’s heart rate and rhythm recorded during the exam.
B. The presence of pretibial edema noted on palpation.
C. A chest X-ray report showing a pleural effusion.
D. The patient’s description of ‘tearing’ chest pain.
Answer: D
Rationale: Subjective data consists of the information provided by the patient during the
history-taking process, such as symptoms and feelings. Objective data refers to signs
observed by the clinician during the physical examination or diagnostic testing. In this
scenario, the quality of pain is a subjective report that cannot be directly measured by the
examiner.
2. When assessing a patient’s risk for skin cancer using the ABCDE mnemonic, what does the
‘E’ stand for?
A. Elevation of the lesion above the skin surface.
,B. Erythema surrounding the border of the lesion.
C. Evolution or change in size, shape, or color.
D. Exudate coming from the center of the mole.
Answer: C
Rationale: The ABCDE mnemonic is a critical tool for identifying potential melanomas
during a dermatological assessment. The letter ‘E’ specifically refers to the evolution of a
lesion, meaning any noticeable changes over time. Clinicians should educate patients to
monitor for any shifting characteristics in moles as this is often a red flag for malignancy.
3. During a physical exam, the clinician notes increased tactile fremitus over the right lower
lobe. This finding is most consistent with which condition?
A. Pneumothorax
B. Lobar pneumonia
C. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
D. Pleural effusion
Answer: B
Rationale: Tactile fremitus is the vibration felt on the chest wall when the patient speaks.
It is increased in conditions where the lung tissue is consolidated, such as in lobar
pneumonia, because sound travels better through solid or liquid than air. In contrast,
, conditions like pneumothorax or COPD decrease fremitus because of the increased air
space between the lung and the chest wall.
4. Which heart sound is associated with the closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves?
A. S1
B. S2
C. S3
D. S4
Answer: A
Rationale: The first heart sound, S1, signals the beginning of systole and results from the
closure of the atrioventricular valves. It is usually heard best at the apex of the heart using
the diaphragm of the stethoscope. Understanding the cardiac cycle is essential for
differentiating between systolic and diastolic murmurs during a comprehensive
cardiovascular assessment.
5. A patient presents with a ‘strawberry tongue’ and a bright red rash. These findings are
most characteristic of which condition?
A. Measles (Rubeola)
B. Scarlet Fever
C. Hand, foot, and mouth disease
D. Infectious mononucleosis
