FA DAVIS REVIEW BOOK: PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Question:
1. A nurse is assessing a patient's bilateral pulses for symmetry. Which pulse site should not be assessed on
both sides of the body at the same time?
a) Radial
b) Carotid
c) Femoral
d) Brachial
Answer:
Carotid
Question:
2. A nurse is caring for a patient who is experiencing an increase in signs and symptoms associated with
multiple sclerosis. Which term describes a recurrence of signs and symptoms associated with a chronic
disease?
a) Variance
b) Remission
c) Adaptation
d) Exacerbation
Answer:
Exacerbation
Question:
3. When evaluating the vital signs of a group of patients the nurse takes into consideration the circadian
rhythm of body temperature. At which time of day is body temperature usually at its lowest?
a) 4 pm to 6 pm
b) 4 am to 6 am
c) 8 pm to 10 pm
d) 8 am to 10 am
Answer:
4 am to 6 am
Question:
4. Which method of examination is being used when the nurse`s hands are used to assess the temperature
of a patient's skin?
a) Palpation
b) Inspection
c) Percussion
d) Observation
Answer:
Palpation
, Question:
5. A nurse must assess for the presence of bowel sounds in a postoperative patient. Which technique
should the nurse employ to obtain accurate results when auscultating the patient's abdomen?
a) Listen for several minutes in each quadrant of the abdomen
b) Place a warmed stethoscope on the surface of the abdomen
c) Perform auscultation before palpation of the abdomen
d) Start at the left lower quadrant of the abdomen
Answer:
Perform auscultation before palpation of the abdomen
Question:
6. Which assessment requires the nurse to assess the patient further?
a) 18 year old woman with a pulse rate of 140 after riding 2 miles on an exercise bike
b) 50 year old man with a BP of 112/60 mm Hg on awakening in the morning
c) 65 year old man with a respiratory rate of 10
d) 40 year old woman with a pulse of 88
Answer:
65 year old man with a respiratory rate of 10
Question:
7. A nurse is monitoring the status of postoperative patients. Which vital sign will change first when a
postoperative patient has internal bleeding?
a) Body temperature
b) Blood pressure
c) Pulse pressure
d) Heart rate
Answer:
Heart rate
Question:
8. A patient has had a 101 degree fever for the past 24 hours. How often should the nurse monitor this
patient's temperature?
a) Every 2 hours
b) Every 4 hours
c) Every 6 hours
d) Every 8 hours
Answer:
Every 4 hours
Question:
9. A nurse is unable to palpate a patient's brachial pulse. Which pulse should the nurse assess to determine
adequate brachial blood flow in this patient?
a) Radial
b) Carotid
c) Femoral
d) Popliteal
UPDATED ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
Question:
1. A nurse is assessing a patient's bilateral pulses for symmetry. Which pulse site should not be assessed on
both sides of the body at the same time?
a) Radial
b) Carotid
c) Femoral
d) Brachial
Answer:
Carotid
Question:
2. A nurse is caring for a patient who is experiencing an increase in signs and symptoms associated with
multiple sclerosis. Which term describes a recurrence of signs and symptoms associated with a chronic
disease?
a) Variance
b) Remission
c) Adaptation
d) Exacerbation
Answer:
Exacerbation
Question:
3. When evaluating the vital signs of a group of patients the nurse takes into consideration the circadian
rhythm of body temperature. At which time of day is body temperature usually at its lowest?
a) 4 pm to 6 pm
b) 4 am to 6 am
c) 8 pm to 10 pm
d) 8 am to 10 am
Answer:
4 am to 6 am
Question:
4. Which method of examination is being used when the nurse`s hands are used to assess the temperature
of a patient's skin?
a) Palpation
b) Inspection
c) Percussion
d) Observation
Answer:
Palpation
, Question:
5. A nurse must assess for the presence of bowel sounds in a postoperative patient. Which technique
should the nurse employ to obtain accurate results when auscultating the patient's abdomen?
a) Listen for several minutes in each quadrant of the abdomen
b) Place a warmed stethoscope on the surface of the abdomen
c) Perform auscultation before palpation of the abdomen
d) Start at the left lower quadrant of the abdomen
Answer:
Perform auscultation before palpation of the abdomen
Question:
6. Which assessment requires the nurse to assess the patient further?
a) 18 year old woman with a pulse rate of 140 after riding 2 miles on an exercise bike
b) 50 year old man with a BP of 112/60 mm Hg on awakening in the morning
c) 65 year old man with a respiratory rate of 10
d) 40 year old woman with a pulse of 88
Answer:
65 year old man with a respiratory rate of 10
Question:
7. A nurse is monitoring the status of postoperative patients. Which vital sign will change first when a
postoperative patient has internal bleeding?
a) Body temperature
b) Blood pressure
c) Pulse pressure
d) Heart rate
Answer:
Heart rate
Question:
8. A patient has had a 101 degree fever for the past 24 hours. How often should the nurse monitor this
patient's temperature?
a) Every 2 hours
b) Every 4 hours
c) Every 6 hours
d) Every 8 hours
Answer:
Every 4 hours
Question:
9. A nurse is unable to palpate a patient's brachial pulse. Which pulse should the nurse assess to determine
adequate brachial blood flow in this patient?
a) Radial
b) Carotid
c) Femoral
d) Popliteal
