PHYSICAL EXAMINATION & HEALTH
TEST BANK
Aligned with the subject coverage of
Physical Examination & Health Assessment, 10th Edition
Jarvis
1,000 A-D
Questions Answers + Rationales
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION & HEALTH ASSESSMENT, 10E • ORIGINAL QUESTIONS
,QUESTION DISTRIBUTION
Chapter-Aligned Topic Distribution
No. Topic area Questions
1 Health History 50
2 Cultural Assessment 50
3 Mental Status 50
4 Pain Assessment 50
5 General Survey 50
6 Vital Signs 50
7 Skin, Hair and Nails 50
8 Head, Face and Neck 50
9 Eyes 50
10 Ears 50
11 Nose, Mouth and Throat 50
12 Thorax and Lungs 50
13 Heart and Neck Vessels 50
14 Peripheral Vascular System 50
15 Abdomen 50
16 Musculoskeletal System 50
17 Neurologic System 50
18 Breasts and Axillae 50
19 Male/Female Genitourinary 50
20 Integrated Head-to-Toe 50
Assessment
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION & HEALTH ASSESSMENT, 10E • ORIGINAL QUESTIONS
,Chapter 1: Health History
1. An older adult reports new shortness of breath at rest. Which assessment approach
provides the most useful initial respiratory data?
A. Auscultate only the anterior chest
B. Skip inspection when breath sounds are normal
C. Inspect breathing pattern, auscultate systematically, and correlate with oxygenation
D. Rely only on pulse oximetry
Correct Answer: C. Inspect breathing pattern, auscultate systematically, and correlate with
oxygenation
Rationale: A complete respiratory assessment integrates work of breathing, symmetry, breath
sounds, oxygenation, and symptoms. No single measure is sufficient. The other choices either
delay priority care, rely on an unsafe assumption, or do not address the key mechanism.
2. A patient presents with bilateral lower-extremity edema. Which cardiovascular
assessment should the nurse perform?
A. Palpate both carotids simultaneously
B. Ignore peripheral perfusion
C. Assess rate, rhythm, heart sounds, perfusion, pulses, and edema
D. Use apical rate alone
Correct Answer: C. Assess rate, rhythm, heart sounds, perfusion, pulses, and edema
Rationale: Cardiovascular assessment links central and peripheral findings. Carotids are palpated
one at a time to avoid compromising cerebral blood flow. Applied consistently, this principle
improves both safety and the quality of clinical decision-making.
3. A patient develops new confusion and slurred speech. Which focused neurologic
assessment is most appropriate?
A. Ignore subtle unilateral weakness
B. Use orientation alone
C. Trend level of consciousness, pupils, motor function, sensation, and speech
D. Perform painful stimuli first in an alert patient
Correct Answer: C. Trend level of consciousness, pupils, motor function, sensation, and
speech
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION & HEALTH ASSESSMENT, 10E • ORIGINAL QUESTIONS
, Rationale: Neurologic change can be subtle and time-sensitive. Serial, focused comparisons help
detect deterioration. In practice, the nurse would reassess the patient after the intervention and
escalate care if the expected response does not occur.
4. A patient reports acute abdominal pain. Which sequence should the nurse use when
performing the abdominal examination?
A. Palpate deeply before auscultation
B. Auscultate after percussion
C. Skip all quadrants if pain is localized
D. Inspect, auscultate, then percuss and palpate
Correct Answer: D. Inspect, auscultate, then percuss and palpate
Rationale: Auscultation precedes percussion and palpation because manipulation can alter bowel
sounds. Assessment proceeds systematically while accounting for pain. The deciding point is the
relationship between the patient cue and the underlying physiologic or safety concern.
5. A patient presents with a new widespread rash. Which findings should the nurse
document during the skin assessment?
A. Ignore mucous membranes in dark skin tones
B. Describe color, temperature, moisture, integrity, lesions, and pressure areas
C. Use only skin color
D. Massage nonblanchable erythema
Correct Answer: B. Describe color, temperature, moisture, integrity, lesions, and pressure
areas
Rationale: Skin assessment should be objective and include areas at risk. In darker skin tones,
temperature, edema, texture, and mucous membranes can aid perfusion assessment. This
approach addresses the most important risk without adding an unnecessary intervention.
6. A patient reports intermittent chest pain. Which pain-assessment approach will provide
the most clinically useful information?
A. Use a numeric score alone
B. Assess location, quality, intensity, timing, aggravating factors, and function
C. Assume absence of grimacing means no pain
D. Delay reassessment after treatment
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION & HEALTH ASSESSMENT, 10E • ORIGINAL QUESTIONS
TEST BANK
Aligned with the subject coverage of
Physical Examination & Health Assessment, 10th Edition
Jarvis
1,000 A-D
Questions Answers + Rationales
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION & HEALTH ASSESSMENT, 10E • ORIGINAL QUESTIONS
,QUESTION DISTRIBUTION
Chapter-Aligned Topic Distribution
No. Topic area Questions
1 Health History 50
2 Cultural Assessment 50
3 Mental Status 50
4 Pain Assessment 50
5 General Survey 50
6 Vital Signs 50
7 Skin, Hair and Nails 50
8 Head, Face and Neck 50
9 Eyes 50
10 Ears 50
11 Nose, Mouth and Throat 50
12 Thorax and Lungs 50
13 Heart and Neck Vessels 50
14 Peripheral Vascular System 50
15 Abdomen 50
16 Musculoskeletal System 50
17 Neurologic System 50
18 Breasts and Axillae 50
19 Male/Female Genitourinary 50
20 Integrated Head-to-Toe 50
Assessment
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION & HEALTH ASSESSMENT, 10E • ORIGINAL QUESTIONS
,Chapter 1: Health History
1. An older adult reports new shortness of breath at rest. Which assessment approach
provides the most useful initial respiratory data?
A. Auscultate only the anterior chest
B. Skip inspection when breath sounds are normal
C. Inspect breathing pattern, auscultate systematically, and correlate with oxygenation
D. Rely only on pulse oximetry
Correct Answer: C. Inspect breathing pattern, auscultate systematically, and correlate with
oxygenation
Rationale: A complete respiratory assessment integrates work of breathing, symmetry, breath
sounds, oxygenation, and symptoms. No single measure is sufficient. The other choices either
delay priority care, rely on an unsafe assumption, or do not address the key mechanism.
2. A patient presents with bilateral lower-extremity edema. Which cardiovascular
assessment should the nurse perform?
A. Palpate both carotids simultaneously
B. Ignore peripheral perfusion
C. Assess rate, rhythm, heart sounds, perfusion, pulses, and edema
D. Use apical rate alone
Correct Answer: C. Assess rate, rhythm, heart sounds, perfusion, pulses, and edema
Rationale: Cardiovascular assessment links central and peripheral findings. Carotids are palpated
one at a time to avoid compromising cerebral blood flow. Applied consistently, this principle
improves both safety and the quality of clinical decision-making.
3. A patient develops new confusion and slurred speech. Which focused neurologic
assessment is most appropriate?
A. Ignore subtle unilateral weakness
B. Use orientation alone
C. Trend level of consciousness, pupils, motor function, sensation, and speech
D. Perform painful stimuli first in an alert patient
Correct Answer: C. Trend level of consciousness, pupils, motor function, sensation, and
speech
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION & HEALTH ASSESSMENT, 10E • ORIGINAL QUESTIONS
, Rationale: Neurologic change can be subtle and time-sensitive. Serial, focused comparisons help
detect deterioration. In practice, the nurse would reassess the patient after the intervention and
escalate care if the expected response does not occur.
4. A patient reports acute abdominal pain. Which sequence should the nurse use when
performing the abdominal examination?
A. Palpate deeply before auscultation
B. Auscultate after percussion
C. Skip all quadrants if pain is localized
D. Inspect, auscultate, then percuss and palpate
Correct Answer: D. Inspect, auscultate, then percuss and palpate
Rationale: Auscultation precedes percussion and palpation because manipulation can alter bowel
sounds. Assessment proceeds systematically while accounting for pain. The deciding point is the
relationship between the patient cue and the underlying physiologic or safety concern.
5. A patient presents with a new widespread rash. Which findings should the nurse
document during the skin assessment?
A. Ignore mucous membranes in dark skin tones
B. Describe color, temperature, moisture, integrity, lesions, and pressure areas
C. Use only skin color
D. Massage nonblanchable erythema
Correct Answer: B. Describe color, temperature, moisture, integrity, lesions, and pressure
areas
Rationale: Skin assessment should be objective and include areas at risk. In darker skin tones,
temperature, edema, texture, and mucous membranes can aid perfusion assessment. This
approach addresses the most important risk without adding an unnecessary intervention.
6. A patient reports intermittent chest pain. Which pain-assessment approach will provide
the most clinically useful information?
A. Use a numeric score alone
B. Assess location, quality, intensity, timing, aggravating factors, and function
C. Assume absence of grimacing means no pain
D. Delay reassessment after treatment
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION & HEALTH ASSESSMENT, 10E • ORIGINAL QUESTIONS
