NR509 / NR 509
Midterm Exam
2023: Advanced
Physical
Assessment -
Chamberlain
When performing a physical assessment, the first technique the nurse will always use
B. Inspection
The nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment. Which statement is true about the
,physical assessment? The inspection phase:
B. Takes time and reveals a surprising amount of information
The nurse is assessing a patient's skin during an office visit. What part of the hand and
technique should be used to best assess the patient's skin temperature?
B. Dorsal surface of the hand; the skin is thinner on this surface than on the palms
Which of these techniques uses the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature, moisture,
and swelling when the nurse is assessing a patient?
A. Palpation
The nurse is preparing to assess a patient's abdomen by palpation. How should the nurse
proceed?
D. The assessment begins with light palpation to detect surface characteristics and to accustom
the patient to being touched.
The nurse would use bimanual palpation technique in which situation?
B. Palpating the kidneys and the uterus
The nurse is preparing to percuss the abdomen of a patient. The purpose of the percussion is to
assess the
of the underlying tissue.
C. Density
The nurse is reviewing percussion techniques with a newly graduated nurse. Which technique,
if used by the new nurse, indicates that more review is needed?
A. Percussing once over each area
When percussing over the liver of a patient, the nurse notices a dull sound. The nurse should:
A. Consider this a normal finding
The nurse is unable to identify any changes in sound when percussing over the abdomen of
an obese patient. What should the nurse do next?
C. Increase the amount of strength used when attempting to percuss over the abdomen
The nurse hears bilateral loud, long and low tones when percussing over the lungs of a 4 year
old child. The nurse should
D. Consider this finding as normal for a child this age and proceed with the examination
A patient has suddenly developed shortness of breath and appears to be insignificant
respiratory distress. After calling the position and placing the patient on oxygen, which of
these actions is the best for the nurse to take went further assisting this patient?
,B. Bilaterally percuss the thorax, noting any differences in percussion tones
The nurse is teaching a class on basic assessment skills. Which of these statements is true
regarding the stethoscope and its use?
B. Although the stethoscope does not magnify sound, it does block out extraneous room noise
, The nurse is preparing to use a stethoscope for auscultation. Which statement is true regarding
the diaphragm of the stethoscope? The diaphragm:
A. Is used to listen for high-pitched sounds
Before auscultating the abdomen for the presence of bowel sounds on a patient, the nurse
should:
D. Check the temperature of the room and offer blankets to the patient if she or he feels cold.
The nurse will use which technique of assessment to determine the presence of crepitus,
swelling and pulsations?
A. Palpation
The nurse is preparing to use an otoscope for an examination. Which statement is true
regarding the otoscope? The otoscope:
D. Directs light into the ear canal and onto the tympanic membrane
An examiner is using an ophthalmoscope to examine a patient's eyes. The patient has
astigmatism and is nearsighted. The use of which of these techniques would indicate that the
examination is being correctly performed?
D. Rotating the lens selector dial to bring the object into focus
The nurse is unable to palpate the right radial pulse on a patient. The best action would be to:
C. Use a Doppler device to check for pulsations over the area
The nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment. The correct action by the nurse is
reflected by which statement? The nurse:
D. Organizes the assessment to ensure that the patient does not change positions too often
A man is at the clinic for a physical examination. He states that he is very anxious about the
physical examination. What steps can the nurse take to make him more comfortable?
A. Appear unhurried and confident when examining him
When performing a physical examination, safety must be considered to protect the
examiner in the patient against the spread of the infection. Which of these statements
describes the most appropriate action the nurse should take when performing a physical
examination ?
B. Hands are washed before and after every physical patient encounter
The nurses examining a patient lower leg and notices a training ulceration. Which of these
actions is most appropriate in this situation?
C. Washing hands, putting on gloves, and continuing with the examination of the ulceration
Midterm Exam
2023: Advanced
Physical
Assessment -
Chamberlain
When performing a physical assessment, the first technique the nurse will always use
B. Inspection
The nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment. Which statement is true about the
,physical assessment? The inspection phase:
B. Takes time and reveals a surprising amount of information
The nurse is assessing a patient's skin during an office visit. What part of the hand and
technique should be used to best assess the patient's skin temperature?
B. Dorsal surface of the hand; the skin is thinner on this surface than on the palms
Which of these techniques uses the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature, moisture,
and swelling when the nurse is assessing a patient?
A. Palpation
The nurse is preparing to assess a patient's abdomen by palpation. How should the nurse
proceed?
D. The assessment begins with light palpation to detect surface characteristics and to accustom
the patient to being touched.
The nurse would use bimanual palpation technique in which situation?
B. Palpating the kidneys and the uterus
The nurse is preparing to percuss the abdomen of a patient. The purpose of the percussion is to
assess the
of the underlying tissue.
C. Density
The nurse is reviewing percussion techniques with a newly graduated nurse. Which technique,
if used by the new nurse, indicates that more review is needed?
A. Percussing once over each area
When percussing over the liver of a patient, the nurse notices a dull sound. The nurse should:
A. Consider this a normal finding
The nurse is unable to identify any changes in sound when percussing over the abdomen of
an obese patient. What should the nurse do next?
C. Increase the amount of strength used when attempting to percuss over the abdomen
The nurse hears bilateral loud, long and low tones when percussing over the lungs of a 4 year
old child. The nurse should
D. Consider this finding as normal for a child this age and proceed with the examination
A patient has suddenly developed shortness of breath and appears to be insignificant
respiratory distress. After calling the position and placing the patient on oxygen, which of
these actions is the best for the nurse to take went further assisting this patient?
,B. Bilaterally percuss the thorax, noting any differences in percussion tones
The nurse is teaching a class on basic assessment skills. Which of these statements is true
regarding the stethoscope and its use?
B. Although the stethoscope does not magnify sound, it does block out extraneous room noise
, The nurse is preparing to use a stethoscope for auscultation. Which statement is true regarding
the diaphragm of the stethoscope? The diaphragm:
A. Is used to listen for high-pitched sounds
Before auscultating the abdomen for the presence of bowel sounds on a patient, the nurse
should:
D. Check the temperature of the room and offer blankets to the patient if she or he feels cold.
The nurse will use which technique of assessment to determine the presence of crepitus,
swelling and pulsations?
A. Palpation
The nurse is preparing to use an otoscope for an examination. Which statement is true
regarding the otoscope? The otoscope:
D. Directs light into the ear canal and onto the tympanic membrane
An examiner is using an ophthalmoscope to examine a patient's eyes. The patient has
astigmatism and is nearsighted. The use of which of these techniques would indicate that the
examination is being correctly performed?
D. Rotating the lens selector dial to bring the object into focus
The nurse is unable to palpate the right radial pulse on a patient. The best action would be to:
C. Use a Doppler device to check for pulsations over the area
The nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment. The correct action by the nurse is
reflected by which statement? The nurse:
D. Organizes the assessment to ensure that the patient does not change positions too often
A man is at the clinic for a physical examination. He states that he is very anxious about the
physical examination. What steps can the nurse take to make him more comfortable?
A. Appear unhurried and confident when examining him
When performing a physical examination, safety must be considered to protect the
examiner in the patient against the spread of the infection. Which of these statements
describes the most appropriate action the nurse should take when performing a physical
examination ?
B. Hands are washed before and after every physical patient encounter
The nurses examining a patient lower leg and notices a training ulceration. Which of these
actions is most appropriate in this situation?
C. Washing hands, putting on gloves, and continuing with the examination of the ulceration
