NU 518 Advanced Nursing Assessment: Midterm Exam (Units
1-7)
50 questions
1. Which question best assesses the 'aggravating/alleviating factors' of a headache?
A. 'When did it start?'
B. 'What makes the headache better or worse?'
C. 'Where is it located?'
D. 'How would you rate it from 0 to 10?'
Correct Answer: B. 'What makes the headache better or worse?'
Rationale: This targets factors that change the symptom.
2. The source and reliability of a history should be documented because:
A. It is required for billing only
B. It identifies the diagnosis
C. It replaces the ROS
D. Information from family members or confused patients may be less complete or accurate
Correct Answer: D. Information from family members or confused patients may be less
complete or accurate
Rationale: Reliability affects how findings are interpreted.
3. A family history of a father with myocardial infarction at age 48 is significant because:
A. It is irrelevant to the patient
B. It only matters for women
C. Premature coronary disease in a first-degree male relative (before 55) increases cardiovascular
risk
D. It indicates a genetic certainty of MI
Correct Answer: C. Premature coronary disease in a first-degree male relative (before 55)
increases cardiovascular risk
Rationale: Premature family history is a recognized risk factor.
4. Which is the best example of anchoring bias?
A. Revising the differential when new data appear
B. Ordering a test to rule out a dangerous condition
C. Sticking with an initial diagnosis of anxiety despite new findings of hypoxia and tachycardia
D. Consulting a colleague
Correct Answer: C. Sticking with an initial diagnosis of anxiety despite new findings of
hypoxia and tachycardia
Rationale: Anchoring leads to missed alternative diagnoses.
5. In SOAP documentation, 'Probable community-acquired pneumonia' belongs in:
A. Subjective
B. Assessment
C. Objective
D. Plan
Correct Answer: B. Assessment
Rationale: The assessment is the clinician's interpretation.
, 6. A social history should include:
A. Only the patient's address
B. Laboratory results
C. Tobacco, alcohol and drug use, occupation, living situation and sexual history
D. Physical exam findings
Correct Answer: C. Tobacco, alcohol and drug use, occupation, living situation and sexual
history
Rationale: Social factors influence risk and care planning.
7. Which technique is used to detect organ size and density, such as liver span?
A. Inspection
B. Percussion
C. Auscultation
D. Light palpation
Correct Answer: B. Percussion
Rationale: Percussion notes change at organ borders.
8. Percussion over the gastric air bubble produces:
A. Dullness
B. Tympany
C. Flatness
D. Resonance
Correct Answer: B. Tympany
Rationale: Air-filled hollow organs are tympanic.
9. The diaphragm of the stethoscope is best for:
A. High-pitched sounds such as S1, S2 and breath sounds
B. Low-pitched S3 and S4
C. Bruits only
D. Mitral stenosis rumble
Correct Answer: A. High-pitched sounds such as S1, S2 and breath sounds
Rationale: The diaphragm filters low frequencies.
10. BP 126/76 is classified as:
A. Elevated
B. Normal
C. Stage 1 hypertension
D. Stage 2 hypertension
Correct Answer: A. Elevated
Rationale: Systolic 120-129 with diastolic below 80.
11. A man's waist circumference of 42 inches indicates:
A. Increased cardiometabolic risk
B. Normal risk
C. Underweight
D. No relevance
Correct Answer: A. Increased cardiometabolic risk
Rationale: Above 40 inches in men increases risk.
1-7)
50 questions
1. Which question best assesses the 'aggravating/alleviating factors' of a headache?
A. 'When did it start?'
B. 'What makes the headache better or worse?'
C. 'Where is it located?'
D. 'How would you rate it from 0 to 10?'
Correct Answer: B. 'What makes the headache better or worse?'
Rationale: This targets factors that change the symptom.
2. The source and reliability of a history should be documented because:
A. It is required for billing only
B. It identifies the diagnosis
C. It replaces the ROS
D. Information from family members or confused patients may be less complete or accurate
Correct Answer: D. Information from family members or confused patients may be less
complete or accurate
Rationale: Reliability affects how findings are interpreted.
3. A family history of a father with myocardial infarction at age 48 is significant because:
A. It is irrelevant to the patient
B. It only matters for women
C. Premature coronary disease in a first-degree male relative (before 55) increases cardiovascular
risk
D. It indicates a genetic certainty of MI
Correct Answer: C. Premature coronary disease in a first-degree male relative (before 55)
increases cardiovascular risk
Rationale: Premature family history is a recognized risk factor.
4. Which is the best example of anchoring bias?
A. Revising the differential when new data appear
B. Ordering a test to rule out a dangerous condition
C. Sticking with an initial diagnosis of anxiety despite new findings of hypoxia and tachycardia
D. Consulting a colleague
Correct Answer: C. Sticking with an initial diagnosis of anxiety despite new findings of
hypoxia and tachycardia
Rationale: Anchoring leads to missed alternative diagnoses.
5. In SOAP documentation, 'Probable community-acquired pneumonia' belongs in:
A. Subjective
B. Assessment
C. Objective
D. Plan
Correct Answer: B. Assessment
Rationale: The assessment is the clinician's interpretation.
, 6. A social history should include:
A. Only the patient's address
B. Laboratory results
C. Tobacco, alcohol and drug use, occupation, living situation and sexual history
D. Physical exam findings
Correct Answer: C. Tobacco, alcohol and drug use, occupation, living situation and sexual
history
Rationale: Social factors influence risk and care planning.
7. Which technique is used to detect organ size and density, such as liver span?
A. Inspection
B. Percussion
C. Auscultation
D. Light palpation
Correct Answer: B. Percussion
Rationale: Percussion notes change at organ borders.
8. Percussion over the gastric air bubble produces:
A. Dullness
B. Tympany
C. Flatness
D. Resonance
Correct Answer: B. Tympany
Rationale: Air-filled hollow organs are tympanic.
9. The diaphragm of the stethoscope is best for:
A. High-pitched sounds such as S1, S2 and breath sounds
B. Low-pitched S3 and S4
C. Bruits only
D. Mitral stenosis rumble
Correct Answer: A. High-pitched sounds such as S1, S2 and breath sounds
Rationale: The diaphragm filters low frequencies.
10. BP 126/76 is classified as:
A. Elevated
B. Normal
C. Stage 1 hypertension
D. Stage 2 hypertension
Correct Answer: A. Elevated
Rationale: Systolic 120-129 with diastolic below 80.
11. A man's waist circumference of 42 inches indicates:
A. Increased cardiometabolic risk
B. Normal risk
C. Underweight
D. No relevance
Correct Answer: A. Increased cardiometabolic risk
Rationale: Above 40 inches in men increases risk.
