NR 509 Advanced Physical Assessment Practice
Exam 2026 | 150 MCQs with Answers &
Detailed Rationales | Midterm & Final Exam
Study Guide.
Question 1
A patient presents for a comprehensive health assessment. Which component of
the history should the examiner obtain first?
A. Family history
B. Chief complaint
C. Review of systems
D. Past surgical history
Answer: B. Chief complaint
Rationale: The chief complaint identifies the primary reason the patient is seeking
care and establishes the focus of the assessment.
Question 2
Which technique is generally performed first during the physical examination?
A. Palpation
B. Percussion
C. Inspection
D. Auscultation
Answer: C. Inspection
Rationale: Inspection allows the examiner to gather visual information before
potentially altering findings through palpation or other techniques.
,Question 3
Which finding is considered a normal characteristic of healthy adult skin?
A. Cyanosis
B. Uniform pigmentation appropriate for the patient
C. Generalized ulceration
D. Severe diaphoresis at rest
Answer: B. Uniform pigmentation appropriate for the patient
Rationale: Normal skin pigmentation varies among individuals but is generally
relatively uniform without unexplained lesions or color changes.
Question 4
Which cranial nerve is primarily responsible for the sense of smell?
A. CN I
B. CN II
C. CN V
D. CN VIII
Answer: A. CN I
Rationale: Cranial nerve I, the olfactory nerve, carries sensory information
responsible for smell.
Question 5
A clinician asks a patient to read progressively smaller print. Which cranial nerve
is primarily being assessed?
A. CN I
B. CN II
,C. CN III
D. CN VII
Answer: B. CN II
Rationale: The optic nerve (CN II) transmits visual information from the retina to
the brain.
Question 6
Which pupil finding is expected in a healthy adult?
A. Fixed and dilated pupils
B. Unequal pupils with no other findings
C. Pupils equal in size and reactive to light
D. Bilateral pupils unresponsive to light
Answer: C. Pupils equal in size and reactive to light
Rationale: Normally, pupils are approximately equal in size and constrict
appropriately when exposed to light.
Question 7
Which cranial nerve controls most extraocular movements?
A. CN II
B. CN III
C. CN V
D. CN VIII
Answer: B. CN III
Rationale: The oculomotor nerve controls most extraocular muscles and
contributes to pupillary constriction.
, Question 8
Which cranial nerve is responsible for facial sensation and muscles of mastication?
A. CN V
B. CN VII
C. CN IX
D. CN XII
Answer: A. CN V
Rationale: The trigeminal nerve provides major sensory innervation to the face
and motor innervation to the muscles of mastication.
Question 9
A patient is asked to smile, frown, and puff out the cheeks. Which cranial nerve is
primarily assessed?
A. CN V
B. CN VII
C. CN IX
D. CN XII
Answer: B. CN VII
Rationale: The facial nerve controls the muscles responsible for facial expression.
Question 10
Which cranial nerve is primarily evaluated when the clinician asks a patient to
shrug the shoulders against resistance?
A. CN V
B. CN VII
C. CN XI
D. CN XII
Exam 2026 | 150 MCQs with Answers &
Detailed Rationales | Midterm & Final Exam
Study Guide.
Question 1
A patient presents for a comprehensive health assessment. Which component of
the history should the examiner obtain first?
A. Family history
B. Chief complaint
C. Review of systems
D. Past surgical history
Answer: B. Chief complaint
Rationale: The chief complaint identifies the primary reason the patient is seeking
care and establishes the focus of the assessment.
Question 2
Which technique is generally performed first during the physical examination?
A. Palpation
B. Percussion
C. Inspection
D. Auscultation
Answer: C. Inspection
Rationale: Inspection allows the examiner to gather visual information before
potentially altering findings through palpation or other techniques.
,Question 3
Which finding is considered a normal characteristic of healthy adult skin?
A. Cyanosis
B. Uniform pigmentation appropriate for the patient
C. Generalized ulceration
D. Severe diaphoresis at rest
Answer: B. Uniform pigmentation appropriate for the patient
Rationale: Normal skin pigmentation varies among individuals but is generally
relatively uniform without unexplained lesions or color changes.
Question 4
Which cranial nerve is primarily responsible for the sense of smell?
A. CN I
B. CN II
C. CN V
D. CN VIII
Answer: A. CN I
Rationale: Cranial nerve I, the olfactory nerve, carries sensory information
responsible for smell.
Question 5
A clinician asks a patient to read progressively smaller print. Which cranial nerve
is primarily being assessed?
A. CN I
B. CN II
,C. CN III
D. CN VII
Answer: B. CN II
Rationale: The optic nerve (CN II) transmits visual information from the retina to
the brain.
Question 6
Which pupil finding is expected in a healthy adult?
A. Fixed and dilated pupils
B. Unequal pupils with no other findings
C. Pupils equal in size and reactive to light
D. Bilateral pupils unresponsive to light
Answer: C. Pupils equal in size and reactive to light
Rationale: Normally, pupils are approximately equal in size and constrict
appropriately when exposed to light.
Question 7
Which cranial nerve controls most extraocular movements?
A. CN II
B. CN III
C. CN V
D. CN VIII
Answer: B. CN III
Rationale: The oculomotor nerve controls most extraocular muscles and
contributes to pupillary constriction.
, Question 8
Which cranial nerve is responsible for facial sensation and muscles of mastication?
A. CN V
B. CN VII
C. CN IX
D. CN XII
Answer: A. CN V
Rationale: The trigeminal nerve provides major sensory innervation to the face
and motor innervation to the muscles of mastication.
Question 9
A patient is asked to smile, frown, and puff out the cheeks. Which cranial nerve is
primarily assessed?
A. CN V
B. CN VII
C. CN IX
D. CN XII
Answer: B. CN VII
Rationale: The facial nerve controls the muscles responsible for facial expression.
Question 10
Which cranial nerve is primarily evaluated when the clinician asks a patient to
shrug the shoulders against resistance?
A. CN V
B. CN VII
C. CN XI
D. CN XII
