NURS 317 FINAL EXAM 2026/2027 –
QUESTIONS, STUDY GUIDE &
PRACTICE REVIEW
1 of 70
Term
A 45-year-old man is in the clinic for a routine physical examination.
During the recording of his health history, the patient states that he has
been having difficulty sleeping. "I'll be sleeping great, and then I wake
up and feel like I can't get my breath." The nurse's best response to this
would be:
A. "When was your last electrocardiogram?"
B. "It's probably because it's been so hot at night."
C. "Do you have any history of problems with your heart?"
D. "Have you had a recent sinus infection or upper respiratory
infection?"
Give this one a try later!
, A. Shortness of breath, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and ankle
edema
A person with heart failure often exhibits increased respiratory rate, shortness of
breath on exertion, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, nocturia, ankle
edema, and pallor in lightskinned individuals. A patient with rasping cough, thick
mucoid sputum, and wheezing may have bronchitis. Productive cough, dyspnea,
weight loss, and dyspnea indicate tuberculosis; fever, dry nonproductive cough, and
Di.mKino
d isw
hetdhabtrfelo
atahtesrosuanrd
esum
suaaylliynd
inisciagtneifPicnaenutm
aond
cyasrteis cjiaro
uvsed
ci b(Py. co
arnid
niei)npse
ndeuvm
itroenoiau.s
fibers.
Floaters are a common sensation with myopia or after middle age and are
attributable to condensed vitreous fibers. Floaters or spots are not usually
significant, but the acute onset of floaters may occur with retinal detachment.
C. "Do you have any history of problems with your heart?"
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (shortness of breath generally occurring at
night) occurs with heart failure. Lying down increases the volume of
intrathoracic blood, and the weakened heart cannot accommodate the
increased load. Classically, the person awakens after 2 hours of sleep, arises,
and flings open a window with the perception of needing fresh air.
C. Normal changes attributable to aging.
Some aging adults show a slower response to requests, especially for those calling
for coordination of movements. The findings listed are normal in the absence of
other significant abnormal findings. The other responses are incorrect.
Don't know?
2 of 70
Term
,The nurse is preparing to use the Lawton IADL instrument as part of an
assessment. Which statement about the Lawton IADL instrument is
true?
A. The nurse uses direct observation to implement this tool.
B. The Lawton IADL instrument is designed as a self-report measure of
performance rather than ability.
C. This instrument is not useful in the acute hospital setting.
D. This tool is best used for those residing in an institutional setting.
Give this one a try later!
B. The Lawton IADL instrument is designed as a self-report measure of
performance rather than ability.
The Lawton IADL instrument is designed as a self-report measure of
performance rather than ability. Direct testing is often not feasible, such as
demonstrating the ability to prepare food while a hospital inpatient. Attention
to the final score is less important than identifying a person's strengths and
areas where assistance is needed. The instrument is useful in acute hospital
settings for discharge planning and continuously in outpatient settings. It
would not be useful for those residing in institutional settings because many of
these tasks are already being managed for the resident.
B. Listening by inching the stethoscope in a rough Z pattern, from the base of the
heart across and down, then over to the apex
Auscultation of breath sounds should not be limited to only four locations. Sounds
produced by the valves may be heard all over the precordium. The stethoscope
should be inched in a rough Z pattern from the base of the heart across and down,
then over to the apex; or, starting at the apex, it should be slowly worked up (see
Figure 19-22). Listening selectively to one sound at a time is best.
, A. Observe the patient's ability to perform the tasks.
Two approaches are used to perform a functional assessment: (1) asking individuals
about their ability to perform the tasks (self-reports), or (2) actually observing their
ability to perform the tasks. For persons with memory problems, the use of
surrogate reporters (proxy reports), such as family members or caregivers, may be
necessary, keeping in mind that they may either overestimate or underestimate the
person's actual abilities.
C. Plantar reflex present
With the same instrument, the nurse should draw a light stroke up the lateral side of
the sole of the foot and across the ball of the foot, similar to an upside-down J. The
normal response is plantar flexion of the toes and sometimes of the entire foot. A
positive Babinski sign is abnormal and occurs with the response of dorsiflexion of
the big toe and fanning of all toes. The plantar reflex is not graded on a 0 to 4+
scale.
Don't know?
3 of 70
Term
When examining a patient's CN function, the nurse remembers that the
muscles in the neck that are innervated by CN XI are the:
A. Sternomastoid and trapezius.
B. Spinal accessory and omohyoid.
C. Trapezius and sternomandibular.
D. Sternomandibular and spinal accessory.
Give this one a try later!
QUESTIONS, STUDY GUIDE &
PRACTICE REVIEW
1 of 70
Term
A 45-year-old man is in the clinic for a routine physical examination.
During the recording of his health history, the patient states that he has
been having difficulty sleeping. "I'll be sleeping great, and then I wake
up and feel like I can't get my breath." The nurse's best response to this
would be:
A. "When was your last electrocardiogram?"
B. "It's probably because it's been so hot at night."
C. "Do you have any history of problems with your heart?"
D. "Have you had a recent sinus infection or upper respiratory
infection?"
Give this one a try later!
, A. Shortness of breath, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and ankle
edema
A person with heart failure often exhibits increased respiratory rate, shortness of
breath on exertion, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, nocturia, ankle
edema, and pallor in lightskinned individuals. A patient with rasping cough, thick
mucoid sputum, and wheezing may have bronchitis. Productive cough, dyspnea,
weight loss, and dyspnea indicate tuberculosis; fever, dry nonproductive cough, and
Di.mKino
d isw
hetdhabtrfelo
atahtesrosuanrd
esum
suaaylliynd
inisciagtneifPicnaenutm
aond
cyasrteis cjiaro
uvsed
ci b(Py. co
arnid
niei)npse
ndeuvm
itroenoiau.s
fibers.
Floaters are a common sensation with myopia or after middle age and are
attributable to condensed vitreous fibers. Floaters or spots are not usually
significant, but the acute onset of floaters may occur with retinal detachment.
C. "Do you have any history of problems with your heart?"
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (shortness of breath generally occurring at
night) occurs with heart failure. Lying down increases the volume of
intrathoracic blood, and the weakened heart cannot accommodate the
increased load. Classically, the person awakens after 2 hours of sleep, arises,
and flings open a window with the perception of needing fresh air.
C. Normal changes attributable to aging.
Some aging adults show a slower response to requests, especially for those calling
for coordination of movements. The findings listed are normal in the absence of
other significant abnormal findings. The other responses are incorrect.
Don't know?
2 of 70
Term
,The nurse is preparing to use the Lawton IADL instrument as part of an
assessment. Which statement about the Lawton IADL instrument is
true?
A. The nurse uses direct observation to implement this tool.
B. The Lawton IADL instrument is designed as a self-report measure of
performance rather than ability.
C. This instrument is not useful in the acute hospital setting.
D. This tool is best used for those residing in an institutional setting.
Give this one a try later!
B. The Lawton IADL instrument is designed as a self-report measure of
performance rather than ability.
The Lawton IADL instrument is designed as a self-report measure of
performance rather than ability. Direct testing is often not feasible, such as
demonstrating the ability to prepare food while a hospital inpatient. Attention
to the final score is less important than identifying a person's strengths and
areas where assistance is needed. The instrument is useful in acute hospital
settings for discharge planning and continuously in outpatient settings. It
would not be useful for those residing in institutional settings because many of
these tasks are already being managed for the resident.
B. Listening by inching the stethoscope in a rough Z pattern, from the base of the
heart across and down, then over to the apex
Auscultation of breath sounds should not be limited to only four locations. Sounds
produced by the valves may be heard all over the precordium. The stethoscope
should be inched in a rough Z pattern from the base of the heart across and down,
then over to the apex; or, starting at the apex, it should be slowly worked up (see
Figure 19-22). Listening selectively to one sound at a time is best.
, A. Observe the patient's ability to perform the tasks.
Two approaches are used to perform a functional assessment: (1) asking individuals
about their ability to perform the tasks (self-reports), or (2) actually observing their
ability to perform the tasks. For persons with memory problems, the use of
surrogate reporters (proxy reports), such as family members or caregivers, may be
necessary, keeping in mind that they may either overestimate or underestimate the
person's actual abilities.
C. Plantar reflex present
With the same instrument, the nurse should draw a light stroke up the lateral side of
the sole of the foot and across the ball of the foot, similar to an upside-down J. The
normal response is plantar flexion of the toes and sometimes of the entire foot. A
positive Babinski sign is abnormal and occurs with the response of dorsiflexion of
the big toe and fanning of all toes. The plantar reflex is not graded on a 0 to 4+
scale.
Don't know?
3 of 70
Term
When examining a patient's CN function, the nurse remembers that the
muscles in the neck that are innervated by CN XI are the:
A. Sternomastoid and trapezius.
B. Spinal accessory and omohyoid.
C. Trapezius and sternomandibular.
D. Sternomandibular and spinal accessory.
Give this one a try later!
