PCHA Final
1. A patient tells the nurse that he is very nervous, nauseated and that he "feels hot". This type of data would be
considered:: subjective
2. Because the physical environment in which an interview takes place is an important consideration for the
success of an interview, the interviewer should:: reduce noise by turning off televisions and cell phones
3. A nurse is taking complete health histories on all the patients attending a wellness workshop. While conducting
an interview with a patient, the nurse asks, "Can you tell me a little about yourself?" This question is an example
of:: an open-ended question
4. During an interview, a parent of a hospitalized child is sitting in an open position. As the interviewer begins to
discuss the child's treatment, however, the parent suddenly crosses the arms against the chest and crosses the legs.
Based on the understanding that nonverbal modes of communication provide clues to understanding feelings, the
sudden change in body position would suggest that the parent is:: uncomfortable talking about his child's treatment
5. A 59-year-old patient is returning to the outpatient clinic for a follow up visit. The patient has a history of
ulcerative colitis. The patient states he has been having "black stools" for the last 24 hours. Which of the following
would be the most complete way for the nurse to document the patient's reason for seeking care?: J.M. is a 59-year-
old patient here for having "black stools" for the past 24 hours.
6. Which of the following statements best describes the purpose of a health history?: to provide a database of
subjective information about the patient's past and current health.
7. The inspection phase of the physical assessment:: begins the moment you first meet the person and develop a
"general survey".
8. A patient is at the clinic for a physical examination. He states that he is "very anxious" about the physical exam.
What steps can the examiner take to make the patient more comfortable?: Appear unhurried and confident when
examining the patient.
9. When performing a physical examination, safety must be considered to protect the examiner and the patient
against the spread of infection. Which of the following statements describes the most appropriate actions the
examiner should take when performing a physical examination?: Wash hands at the beginning of the examination and
any time that one leaves and re-enters the room.
10. A 50-year-old patient who is taking anti-hypertensive medications returns to the clinic to have their blood
pressure (BP) checked. The last BP was 146/88.
The BP reported to the nurse is 168/96. Both blood pressures were taken at the brachial site. Which of the
following is true regarding blood pressure
, assessment in this patient? Choose all that apply:
1. The patient should be allowed to adequately rest prior to assessing the blood pressure.
2. The width of the cuff should cover 40% of the circumference of the upper arm.
3. The position of the arm used for blood pressure assessment should be above the level of the heart.
4. Goal blood pressure for this patient should be systolic less than 120 mm Hg and diastolic less than 80 mmHg.
5. The last audible sound auscultated during blood pressure assessment should be recorded for the systolic
reading.
6. An unsupported arm may be used for an accurate blood pressure measure-
: 1, 2, 4
11. While caring for a patient with heart disease, the nurse notices an irregu- larity in the rhythm of the patient's
radial pulse. The previous assessment did not reveal an irregular pulse. What would be the BEST action to take?:
count the patient's apical pulse for one minute
12. Which of the following statements is true regarding use of the tympanic thermometer?: The practitioner
needs to wait at least 10 minutes to obtain the temperature if the patient has been outdoors.
13. Which of the following is true regarding an oral temperature?: The ther- mometer should be placed in the
posterior sublingual pocket of the mouth.
14. The nurse is taking a blood pressure on a patient; the patient's baseline blood pressure is unknown. The nurse
does not have any previous information about the patient's blood pressure measurements, nor is the patient able
to give any information about previous blood pressure readings. Which of the following techniques would be the
MOST accurate way to measure this patient's blood pressure?: Inflate the blood pressure cuff 30 mm Hg above the
point at which the palpated pulse disappeared.
15. A patient is being seen in the clinic for "fainting episodes". The patient has a blood pressure of 150/90 in a lying
position, 120/80 in a sitting position, and 90/60 in a standing position. How should the nurse interpret these
findings?-
: The change in blood pressure readings is called orthostatic hypotension.
16. In the article by Rakotz, 'Medical students and measuring blood pressure: Results from the American Medical
Association Blood Pressure Check Chal- lenge', what are the consequences of poor technique when measuring blood
pressure?: all of the above
- A 5- to 10-mm Hg error can result in an incorrect diagnosis of hypertension.
- Poor technique can cause patients with hypertension that is controlled to appear
1. A patient tells the nurse that he is very nervous, nauseated and that he "feels hot". This type of data would be
considered:: subjective
2. Because the physical environment in which an interview takes place is an important consideration for the
success of an interview, the interviewer should:: reduce noise by turning off televisions and cell phones
3. A nurse is taking complete health histories on all the patients attending a wellness workshop. While conducting
an interview with a patient, the nurse asks, "Can you tell me a little about yourself?" This question is an example
of:: an open-ended question
4. During an interview, a parent of a hospitalized child is sitting in an open position. As the interviewer begins to
discuss the child's treatment, however, the parent suddenly crosses the arms against the chest and crosses the legs.
Based on the understanding that nonverbal modes of communication provide clues to understanding feelings, the
sudden change in body position would suggest that the parent is:: uncomfortable talking about his child's treatment
5. A 59-year-old patient is returning to the outpatient clinic for a follow up visit. The patient has a history of
ulcerative colitis. The patient states he has been having "black stools" for the last 24 hours. Which of the following
would be the most complete way for the nurse to document the patient's reason for seeking care?: J.M. is a 59-year-
old patient here for having "black stools" for the past 24 hours.
6. Which of the following statements best describes the purpose of a health history?: to provide a database of
subjective information about the patient's past and current health.
7. The inspection phase of the physical assessment:: begins the moment you first meet the person and develop a
"general survey".
8. A patient is at the clinic for a physical examination. He states that he is "very anxious" about the physical exam.
What steps can the examiner take to make the patient more comfortable?: Appear unhurried and confident when
examining the patient.
9. When performing a physical examination, safety must be considered to protect the examiner and the patient
against the spread of infection. Which of the following statements describes the most appropriate actions the
examiner should take when performing a physical examination?: Wash hands at the beginning of the examination and
any time that one leaves and re-enters the room.
10. A 50-year-old patient who is taking anti-hypertensive medications returns to the clinic to have their blood
pressure (BP) checked. The last BP was 146/88.
The BP reported to the nurse is 168/96. Both blood pressures were taken at the brachial site. Which of the
following is true regarding blood pressure
, assessment in this patient? Choose all that apply:
1. The patient should be allowed to adequately rest prior to assessing the blood pressure.
2. The width of the cuff should cover 40% of the circumference of the upper arm.
3. The position of the arm used for blood pressure assessment should be above the level of the heart.
4. Goal blood pressure for this patient should be systolic less than 120 mm Hg and diastolic less than 80 mmHg.
5. The last audible sound auscultated during blood pressure assessment should be recorded for the systolic
reading.
6. An unsupported arm may be used for an accurate blood pressure measure-
: 1, 2, 4
11. While caring for a patient with heart disease, the nurse notices an irregu- larity in the rhythm of the patient's
radial pulse. The previous assessment did not reveal an irregular pulse. What would be the BEST action to take?:
count the patient's apical pulse for one minute
12. Which of the following statements is true regarding use of the tympanic thermometer?: The practitioner
needs to wait at least 10 minutes to obtain the temperature if the patient has been outdoors.
13. Which of the following is true regarding an oral temperature?: The ther- mometer should be placed in the
posterior sublingual pocket of the mouth.
14. The nurse is taking a blood pressure on a patient; the patient's baseline blood pressure is unknown. The nurse
does not have any previous information about the patient's blood pressure measurements, nor is the patient able
to give any information about previous blood pressure readings. Which of the following techniques would be the
MOST accurate way to measure this patient's blood pressure?: Inflate the blood pressure cuff 30 mm Hg above the
point at which the palpated pulse disappeared.
15. A patient is being seen in the clinic for "fainting episodes". The patient has a blood pressure of 150/90 in a lying
position, 120/80 in a sitting position, and 90/60 in a standing position. How should the nurse interpret these
findings?-
: The change in blood pressure readings is called orthostatic hypotension.
16. In the article by Rakotz, 'Medical students and measuring blood pressure: Results from the American Medical
Association Blood Pressure Check Chal- lenge', what are the consequences of poor technique when measuring blood
pressure?: all of the above
- A 5- to 10-mm Hg error can result in an incorrect diagnosis of hypertension.
- Poor technique can cause patients with hypertension that is controlled to appear
