Chapter 30: Health Assessment and
Physical Examination Potter:
Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
Exam Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
A nurse is a preceptor for a nurse who just graduated from nursing
school. When caring for a patient, the new graduate nurse begins
to explain to the patient the purpose of completing a physical
assessment. Which statement made by the new graduate nurse
requires the preceptor to intervene?
a. ―I will use the information from my assessment to figure out if
your antihypertensive medication is working effectively.‖
b. ―Nursing assessment data are used only to provide information
about the effectiveness of your medical care.‖
c. ―Nurses use data from their patient's physical assessment to
determine a patient's educational needs.‖
d. ―Information gained from physical assessment helps nurses
better understand their patients' emotional needs.‖ -
correct answer ✅ANS: B
Nursing assessment data are used to evaluate the effectiveness of
all aspects of a patient's care, not just the patient's medical care.
Assessment data help to evaluate the effectiveness of medications
and to determine a patient's health care needs, including the need
for patient education. Nurses also use assessment data to identify
patients' psychosocial and cultural needs.
,Chapter 30: Health Assessment and
Physical Examination Potter:
Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
Exam Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
Having misplaced a stethoscope, a nurse borrows a colleague's
stethoscope. The nurse next enters the patient's room and
identifies self, washes hands with soap, and states the purpose of
the visit. The nurse performs proper identification of the patient
before auscultating the patient's lungs. Which critical health
assessment step should the nurse have performed?
a. Running warm water over stethoscope
b. Draping stethoscope around the neck
c. Rubbing stethoscope with betadine
d. Cleaning stethoscope with alcohol -
correct answer ✅ANS: D
Bacteria and viruses can be transferred from patient to patient
when a stethoscope that is not clean is used. The stethoscope
should be cleaned before use on each patient with isopropyl
alcohol benzalkonium, or sodium hypochlorite. Running water over
the stethoscope does not kill bacteria. Betadine is an inappropriate
cleaning solution and may damage the equipment. Draping the
stethoscope around the neck is not advised.
,Chapter 30: Health Assessment and
Physical Examination Potter:
Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
Exam Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
A nurse is preparing to perform a complete physical examination on
a fragile, older-adult patient diagnosed with bilateral basilar
pneumonia. Which position will the nurse use to facilitate the
patient's breathing?
a. Prone
b. Sims'
c. Supine
d. Lateral recumbent -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
Supine is the most normally relaxed position. If the patient
becomes short of breath easily, raise the head of the bed. Supine
position would be easiest for a weak, older-adult person during the
examination. Lateral recumbent and prone positions cause
respiratory difficulty for any patient with respiratory difficulties.
Sims' position is used for assessment of the rectum and the vagina.
A nurse is conducting Weber's test. Which action will the nurse
take?
a. Place a vibrating tuning fork in the middle of patient's forehead.
, Chapter 30: Health Assessment and
Physical Examination Potter:
Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
Exam Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
b. Place a vibrating tuning fork on the patient's mastoid process.
c. Compare the number of seconds heard by bone versus air
conduction.
d. Compare the patient's degree of joint movement to the normal
level. -
correct answer ✅ANS: A
During Weber's test (lateralization of sound), the nurse places the
vibrating tuning fork in the middle of the patient's forehead. During
a Rinne test (comparison of air and bone conduction), the nurse
places a vibrating tuning fork on the patient's mastoid process and
compares the length of time air and bone conduction is heard.
Comparing the patient's degree of joint movement to the normal
level is a test for range of motion.
A head and neck physical examination is completed on a 50-year-
old female patient. All physical findings are normal except for fine
brittle hair. Which laboratory test will the nurse expect to be
ordered, based upon the physical findings?
a. Oxygen saturation
b. Liver function test
Physical Examination Potter:
Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
Exam Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
A nurse is a preceptor for a nurse who just graduated from nursing
school. When caring for a patient, the new graduate nurse begins
to explain to the patient the purpose of completing a physical
assessment. Which statement made by the new graduate nurse
requires the preceptor to intervene?
a. ―I will use the information from my assessment to figure out if
your antihypertensive medication is working effectively.‖
b. ―Nursing assessment data are used only to provide information
about the effectiveness of your medical care.‖
c. ―Nurses use data from their patient's physical assessment to
determine a patient's educational needs.‖
d. ―Information gained from physical assessment helps nurses
better understand their patients' emotional needs.‖ -
correct answer ✅ANS: B
Nursing assessment data are used to evaluate the effectiveness of
all aspects of a patient's care, not just the patient's medical care.
Assessment data help to evaluate the effectiveness of medications
and to determine a patient's health care needs, including the need
for patient education. Nurses also use assessment data to identify
patients' psychosocial and cultural needs.
,Chapter 30: Health Assessment and
Physical Examination Potter:
Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
Exam Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
Having misplaced a stethoscope, a nurse borrows a colleague's
stethoscope. The nurse next enters the patient's room and
identifies self, washes hands with soap, and states the purpose of
the visit. The nurse performs proper identification of the patient
before auscultating the patient's lungs. Which critical health
assessment step should the nurse have performed?
a. Running warm water over stethoscope
b. Draping stethoscope around the neck
c. Rubbing stethoscope with betadine
d. Cleaning stethoscope with alcohol -
correct answer ✅ANS: D
Bacteria and viruses can be transferred from patient to patient
when a stethoscope that is not clean is used. The stethoscope
should be cleaned before use on each patient with isopropyl
alcohol benzalkonium, or sodium hypochlorite. Running water over
the stethoscope does not kill bacteria. Betadine is an inappropriate
cleaning solution and may damage the equipment. Draping the
stethoscope around the neck is not advised.
,Chapter 30: Health Assessment and
Physical Examination Potter:
Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
Exam Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
A nurse is preparing to perform a complete physical examination on
a fragile, older-adult patient diagnosed with bilateral basilar
pneumonia. Which position will the nurse use to facilitate the
patient's breathing?
a. Prone
b. Sims'
c. Supine
d. Lateral recumbent -
correct answer ✅ANS: C
Supine is the most normally relaxed position. If the patient
becomes short of breath easily, raise the head of the bed. Supine
position would be easiest for a weak, older-adult person during the
examination. Lateral recumbent and prone positions cause
respiratory difficulty for any patient with respiratory difficulties.
Sims' position is used for assessment of the rectum and the vagina.
A nurse is conducting Weber's test. Which action will the nurse
take?
a. Place a vibrating tuning fork in the middle of patient's forehead.
, Chapter 30: Health Assessment and
Physical Examination Potter:
Fundamentals of Nursing, 11th Edition
Exam Questions and Answers (Latest
Update 2026)
b. Place a vibrating tuning fork on the patient's mastoid process.
c. Compare the number of seconds heard by bone versus air
conduction.
d. Compare the patient's degree of joint movement to the normal
level. -
correct answer ✅ANS: A
During Weber's test (lateralization of sound), the nurse places the
vibrating tuning fork in the middle of the patient's forehead. During
a Rinne test (comparison of air and bone conduction), the nurse
places a vibrating tuning fork on the patient's mastoid process and
compares the length of time air and bone conduction is heard.
Comparing the patient's degree of joint movement to the normal
level is a test for range of motion.
A head and neck physical examination is completed on a 50-year-
old female patient. All physical findings are normal except for fine
brittle hair. Which laboratory test will the nurse expect to be
ordered, based upon the physical findings?
a. Oxygen saturation
b. Liver function test
