Chapter 50 Assessment and Management of Patients With
Female Physiologic Processes
1. A school nurse is presenting information on human development and sexuality. When
describing the role of hormones in sexual development, which hormone does the nurse
teach the class is the most important one for developing and maintaining the female
reproductive organs?
A) Estrogen
B) Progesterone
C) Androgens
D) Follicle-stimulating hormone
Ans: A
Feedback:
Estrogens are responsible for developing and maintaining the female reproductive
organs. Progesterone is the most important hormone for conditioning the endometrium
in preparation for implantation of the fertilized ovum. Androgens, secreted by the
ovaries in small amounts, are involved in the early development of the follicle and
affect the female libido. Follicle-stimulating hormone is responsible for stimulating the
ovaries to secrete estrogen.
2. The nurse is taking the sexual history of an adolescent who has come into the free
clinic. What question best assesses the patient's need for further information?
A) ìAre you involved in an intimate relationship at this time?î
B) ìHow many sexual partners have you had?î
C) ìWhat questions or concerns do you have about your sexual health?î
D) ìHave you ever been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection?î
Ans: C
Feedback:
An open-ended question related to the patient's need for further information should be
included while obtaining a sexual history. None of the other listed questions are open-
ended.
3. The nurse is being trained to perform assessment screenings for abuse on patients who
come into the walk-in clinic where the nurse works. Which of the following assessment
questions is most appropriate?
A) ìWould you describe your relationship as healthy and functional?î
B) ìHave you ever been forced into sexual activity?î
C) ìDo you make your husband uncontrollably angry?î
D) ìHow is conflict usually handled in your home?î
Ans: B
Feedback:
Asking about abuse directly is effective in identifying the presence of abuse and should
be included in the health history of all women. Oblique questions that relate to the
character of the relationship or conflict resolution are less useful clinically. Asking
about making a partner angry is not an appropriate way to screen for family violence
because it does not directly address the problem.
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, 4. A premenopausal patient is complaining of vaginal spotting and sharp, colicky lower
abdominal pain. She informs the nurse that her period is 2 weeks late. The nurse should
recognize a need for this patient to be investigated for what health problem?
A) Trichomonas vaginalis
B) Ectopic pregnancy
C) Cervical cancer
D) Fibromyalgia
Ans: B
Feedback:
Clinical symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include delay in menstruation of 1 to 2
weeks, vaginal spotting, and sharp, colicky pain. Trichomonas vaginalis causes a
vaginal infection. Cervical cancer and fibromyalgia do not affect menstruation.
5. A female patient who has cognitive and physical disabilities has come into the clinic for
a routine check-up. When planning this patient's assessment, what action should the
nurse take?
A) Ensure that a chaperone is available to be present during the assessment.
B) Limit the length and scope of the health assessment.
C) Avoid health promotion or disease prevention education.
D) Avoid equating the patient with her disabilities.
Ans: D
Feedback:
When working with women who have disabilities, it is important that the nurse avoid
equating the woman with her disability; the nurse must make an effort to understand
that the patient and the disability are not synonymous. A chaperone is not necessarily
required and there may or may not be a need to abbreviate the assessment. The nurse
should provide education as needed.
6. A patient calls the clinic and tells the nurse she has thick white, curd-like discharge
from her vagina. How should the nurse best interpret this preliminary data?
A) The drainage is physiologic and normal.
B) The patient may have a Candida species infection.
C) The patient needs a Pap smear as soon as possible.
D) The patient may have a Trichomonas infection.
Ans: B
Feedback:
Drainage caused by Candida is typically curd-like and white. Trichomonas infections
usually cause copious, frothy yellowish-green discharge. There is no immediate need
for a Pap smear, as malignancy is an unlikely cause.
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Female Physiologic Processes
1. A school nurse is presenting information on human development and sexuality. When
describing the role of hormones in sexual development, which hormone does the nurse
teach the class is the most important one for developing and maintaining the female
reproductive organs?
A) Estrogen
B) Progesterone
C) Androgens
D) Follicle-stimulating hormone
Ans: A
Feedback:
Estrogens are responsible for developing and maintaining the female reproductive
organs. Progesterone is the most important hormone for conditioning the endometrium
in preparation for implantation of the fertilized ovum. Androgens, secreted by the
ovaries in small amounts, are involved in the early development of the follicle and
affect the female libido. Follicle-stimulating hormone is responsible for stimulating the
ovaries to secrete estrogen.
2. The nurse is taking the sexual history of an adolescent who has come into the free
clinic. What question best assesses the patient's need for further information?
A) ìAre you involved in an intimate relationship at this time?î
B) ìHow many sexual partners have you had?î
C) ìWhat questions or concerns do you have about your sexual health?î
D) ìHave you ever been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection?î
Ans: C
Feedback:
An open-ended question related to the patient's need for further information should be
included while obtaining a sexual history. None of the other listed questions are open-
ended.
3. The nurse is being trained to perform assessment screenings for abuse on patients who
come into the walk-in clinic where the nurse works. Which of the following assessment
questions is most appropriate?
A) ìWould you describe your relationship as healthy and functional?î
B) ìHave you ever been forced into sexual activity?î
C) ìDo you make your husband uncontrollably angry?î
D) ìHow is conflict usually handled in your home?î
Ans: B
Feedback:
Asking about abuse directly is effective in identifying the presence of abuse and should
be included in the health history of all women. Oblique questions that relate to the
character of the relationship or conflict resolution are less useful clinically. Asking
about making a partner angry is not an appropriate way to screen for family violence
because it does not directly address the problem.
Page 1
, 4. A premenopausal patient is complaining of vaginal spotting and sharp, colicky lower
abdominal pain. She informs the nurse that her period is 2 weeks late. The nurse should
recognize a need for this patient to be investigated for what health problem?
A) Trichomonas vaginalis
B) Ectopic pregnancy
C) Cervical cancer
D) Fibromyalgia
Ans: B
Feedback:
Clinical symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy include delay in menstruation of 1 to 2
weeks, vaginal spotting, and sharp, colicky pain. Trichomonas vaginalis causes a
vaginal infection. Cervical cancer and fibromyalgia do not affect menstruation.
5. A female patient who has cognitive and physical disabilities has come into the clinic for
a routine check-up. When planning this patient's assessment, what action should the
nurse take?
A) Ensure that a chaperone is available to be present during the assessment.
B) Limit the length and scope of the health assessment.
C) Avoid health promotion or disease prevention education.
D) Avoid equating the patient with her disabilities.
Ans: D
Feedback:
When working with women who have disabilities, it is important that the nurse avoid
equating the woman with her disability; the nurse must make an effort to understand
that the patient and the disability are not synonymous. A chaperone is not necessarily
required and there may or may not be a need to abbreviate the assessment. The nurse
should provide education as needed.
6. A patient calls the clinic and tells the nurse she has thick white, curd-like discharge
from her vagina. How should the nurse best interpret this preliminary data?
A) The drainage is physiologic and normal.
B) The patient may have a Candida species infection.
C) The patient needs a Pap smear as soon as possible.
D) The patient may have a Trichomonas infection.
Ans: B
Feedback:
Drainage caused by Candida is typically curd-like and white. Trichomonas infections
usually cause copious, frothy yellowish-green discharge. There is no immediate need
for a Pap smear, as malignancy is an unlikely cause.
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