NR 509 / NR509 Advanced Physical Assessment
Midterm Exam Study Guide
Questions with Verified Answers - Chamberlain
Consist of 250+ multiple choices Questions with Answers
1. A 62-year-old teacher presents to the clinic for evaluation of the following
symptoms: fever, headache, sinus congestion, sore throat, green nasal dis-
charge, and cough. This cluster of symptoms is best explained by:
A) One disease process
B) More than one disease process
ANS: A) One disease process
This cluster of symptoms is most consistent with sinusitis. The chance that all of
these symptoms are caused by multiple synchronous conditions in the same patient
is much less than the possibility of having one problem which accounts for all of
them.
,2. Steve has just seen a 5-year-old girl who wheezes when exposed to cats.
The patient's family history is positive for asthma. You think the child most
likely has asthma. What have you just accomplished?
A) You have tested your hypothesis.
B) You have developed a plan.
C) You have established a working diagnosis.
D) You have created a hypothesis.
ANS: D) You have created a hypothesis.
As you go through a history and examination, you will start to generate ideas to
explain the patient's symptoms. It is best to keep an open mind and make as many
hypotheses
as you can, to avoid missing a possibility. A common mistake is to latch onto one
idea too early.
3. Ms. Washington is a 67-year-old who had a heart attack last month. Now
she complains of shortness of breath and not being able to sleep in a flat
position (orthopnea). On examination you note increased jugular venous
pressure, an S3 gallop, crackles low in the lung fields, and swollen ankles
(edema). This is an example of a:
,A) Pathophysiologic problem
B) Psychopathologic problem
ANS: A) Pathophysiologic problem
This is an example of a pathophysiologic problem because Ms. Washington's
symptoms are consistent with a pathophysiologic process. The heart attack reduced
the ability of her heart to handle her volume status and subsequently produced the
many features of congestive heart failure.
4. On the way to see your next patient, you glance at the calendar and make
a mental note to
buy a Mother's Day card. Your patient is Ms. Hernandez, a 76-year-old widow
who lost her
husband in May, two years ago. She comes in today with a headaches, abdom-
inal pain, and
general malaise. This happened once before, about a year ago, according to
your detailed office
notes. You have done a thorough evaluation but are unable to arrive at a
consistent picture to
tie these symptoms together. This is an example of a:
A) Pathophysiologic problem
B) Psychopathologic problem
ANS: B) Psychopathologic problem
It is not uncommon for patients to experience psychopathologic symptoms around
, the anniversary of a traumatic event. The time of year and the lack of an obvious
connection
between Ms. Hernandez's symptoms would make you consider this as a possibility.
You will note that although this might have been an early consideration in your
hypothesis generation, it is
key to convince yourself that there is not a physiologic explanation for these symp-
toms, by
performing a careful history and examination.
5. Mr. Larson is a 42-year-old widowed father of two children, ages 4 and 11.
He works in a
sales office to support his family. Recently he has injured his back and you
are thinking he
would benefit from physical therapy, three times a week, for an hour per
session. What would
be your next step?
A) Write the physical therapy prescription.
B) Have your office staff explain directions to the physical therapy center.
C) Discuss the plan with Mr. Larson.
D) Tell Mr. Larson that he will be going to physical therapy three times a
week.
ANS: C) Discuss the plan with Mr. Larson.
You should discuss your proposed plan with the patient before implementing it. In this
case, you and Mr. Larson will need to weigh the benefit of physical therapy against
Midterm Exam Study Guide
Questions with Verified Answers - Chamberlain
Consist of 250+ multiple choices Questions with Answers
1. A 62-year-old teacher presents to the clinic for evaluation of the following
symptoms: fever, headache, sinus congestion, sore throat, green nasal dis-
charge, and cough. This cluster of symptoms is best explained by:
A) One disease process
B) More than one disease process
ANS: A) One disease process
This cluster of symptoms is most consistent with sinusitis. The chance that all of
these symptoms are caused by multiple synchronous conditions in the same patient
is much less than the possibility of having one problem which accounts for all of
them.
,2. Steve has just seen a 5-year-old girl who wheezes when exposed to cats.
The patient's family history is positive for asthma. You think the child most
likely has asthma. What have you just accomplished?
A) You have tested your hypothesis.
B) You have developed a plan.
C) You have established a working diagnosis.
D) You have created a hypothesis.
ANS: D) You have created a hypothesis.
As you go through a history and examination, you will start to generate ideas to
explain the patient's symptoms. It is best to keep an open mind and make as many
hypotheses
as you can, to avoid missing a possibility. A common mistake is to latch onto one
idea too early.
3. Ms. Washington is a 67-year-old who had a heart attack last month. Now
she complains of shortness of breath and not being able to sleep in a flat
position (orthopnea). On examination you note increased jugular venous
pressure, an S3 gallop, crackles low in the lung fields, and swollen ankles
(edema). This is an example of a:
,A) Pathophysiologic problem
B) Psychopathologic problem
ANS: A) Pathophysiologic problem
This is an example of a pathophysiologic problem because Ms. Washington's
symptoms are consistent with a pathophysiologic process. The heart attack reduced
the ability of her heart to handle her volume status and subsequently produced the
many features of congestive heart failure.
4. On the way to see your next patient, you glance at the calendar and make
a mental note to
buy a Mother's Day card. Your patient is Ms. Hernandez, a 76-year-old widow
who lost her
husband in May, two years ago. She comes in today with a headaches, abdom-
inal pain, and
general malaise. This happened once before, about a year ago, according to
your detailed office
notes. You have done a thorough evaluation but are unable to arrive at a
consistent picture to
tie these symptoms together. This is an example of a:
A) Pathophysiologic problem
B) Psychopathologic problem
ANS: B) Psychopathologic problem
It is not uncommon for patients to experience psychopathologic symptoms around
, the anniversary of a traumatic event. The time of year and the lack of an obvious
connection
between Ms. Hernandez's symptoms would make you consider this as a possibility.
You will note that although this might have been an early consideration in your
hypothesis generation, it is
key to convince yourself that there is not a physiologic explanation for these symp-
toms, by
performing a careful history and examination.
5. Mr. Larson is a 42-year-old widowed father of two children, ages 4 and 11.
He works in a
sales office to support his family. Recently he has injured his back and you
are thinking he
would benefit from physical therapy, three times a week, for an hour per
session. What would
be your next step?
A) Write the physical therapy prescription.
B) Have your office staff explain directions to the physical therapy center.
C) Discuss the plan with Mr. Larson.
D) Tell Mr. Larson that he will be going to physical therapy three times a
week.
ANS: C) Discuss the plan with Mr. Larson.
You should discuss your proposed plan with the patient before implementing it. In this
case, you and Mr. Larson will need to weigh the benefit of physical therapy against
