CHAPTER 15: ASSESSING HEAD AND
NECK EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
What is the most common type of hyperthyroidism? - ANS Graves' disease
A client complains of recurring headaches that are worse when first waking in the morning and
with coughing or sneezing. What would be the nurse's most appropriate action? -
ANS Perform a focused assessment
A client with a cervical spine injury reports chronic pain. What would be the most appropriate
initial nursing intervention for this client? - ANS Assess the client regarding characteristics of
the pain.
The nurse practitioner auscultates both lobes of a client's enlarged thyroid gland. Identification
of what sound would tend to confirm a diagnosis of a toxic goiter? - ANS Bruit
Teenagers doing community service following arrest for driving under the influence are working
at the rehabilitation hospital with clients who have paraplegia. These clients have been
paralyzed by drunk drivers. How would the nurses who care for these clients best use the time
spent with these teenagers? - ANS Educating them about not drinking and driving
Upon examination of the head and neck of a client, a nurse notes that the submandibular nodes
are tender and enlarged. The nurse should assess the client for further findings related to what
condition? - ANS Acute infection
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, A client reports severe pain in the posterior region of the neck and difficulty turning the head to
the right. What additional information should the nurse collect? - ANS Previous injuries to
the head and neck
A 73-year-old woman comes to the office for evaluation of new onset of tremors. She is not
taking any medications, herbs, or supplements. She has no chronic medical conditions. She does
not smoke or drink alcohol. She walks into the examination room with slow, shuffling steps. She
has decreased facial mobility with a blunt expression without any changes in hair distribution on
her face. Based on this description, what is the most likely reason for the client's symptoms? -
ANS Parkinson's disease
When palpating the lymph nodes of the neck, the nurse assesses for which of the following
characteristics? - ANS Consistency, delineation, mobility, tenderness
A 66-year-old woman has come to the clinic with complaints of increasing fatigue over the last
several months. She claims to frequently feel lethargic and listless and states that, "I can never
seem to get warm, no matter what the thermostat is set at." How should the nurse proceed
with assessment? - ANS Assess the woman for hypothyroidism.
A nurse is assessing a client with hyperthyroidism for the presence of a bruit. Which assessment
technique should the nurse use? - ANS Auscultation
A nurse palpates an elderly client's thyroid and detects an enlargement over the right lateral
lobe. What action should the nurse take first? - ANS Auscultate with the bell over the lateral
lobes
The nurse is palpating a client's cervical vertebrae. Which vertebra can be easily palpated when
the neck is flexed and should help the nurse locate the other vertebrae? - ANS c7
During your physical examination of the client you note an enlarged tender tonsillar lymph
node. What would you do? - ANS Look for a source such as infection in the area that it drains
A client presents at the clinic for a routine check-up. The nurse notes that she is dressed in
warm clothing even though the temperature outside is 73°F (22.8°C). The nurse also notes that
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
NECK EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+ 2025/2026
What is the most common type of hyperthyroidism? - ANS Graves' disease
A client complains of recurring headaches that are worse when first waking in the morning and
with coughing or sneezing. What would be the nurse's most appropriate action? -
ANS Perform a focused assessment
A client with a cervical spine injury reports chronic pain. What would be the most appropriate
initial nursing intervention for this client? - ANS Assess the client regarding characteristics of
the pain.
The nurse practitioner auscultates both lobes of a client's enlarged thyroid gland. Identification
of what sound would tend to confirm a diagnosis of a toxic goiter? - ANS Bruit
Teenagers doing community service following arrest for driving under the influence are working
at the rehabilitation hospital with clients who have paraplegia. These clients have been
paralyzed by drunk drivers. How would the nurses who care for these clients best use the time
spent with these teenagers? - ANS Educating them about not drinking and driving
Upon examination of the head and neck of a client, a nurse notes that the submandibular nodes
are tender and enlarged. The nurse should assess the client for further findings related to what
condition? - ANS Acute infection
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, A client reports severe pain in the posterior region of the neck and difficulty turning the head to
the right. What additional information should the nurse collect? - ANS Previous injuries to
the head and neck
A 73-year-old woman comes to the office for evaluation of new onset of tremors. She is not
taking any medications, herbs, or supplements. She has no chronic medical conditions. She does
not smoke or drink alcohol. She walks into the examination room with slow, shuffling steps. She
has decreased facial mobility with a blunt expression without any changes in hair distribution on
her face. Based on this description, what is the most likely reason for the client's symptoms? -
ANS Parkinson's disease
When palpating the lymph nodes of the neck, the nurse assesses for which of the following
characteristics? - ANS Consistency, delineation, mobility, tenderness
A 66-year-old woman has come to the clinic with complaints of increasing fatigue over the last
several months. She claims to frequently feel lethargic and listless and states that, "I can never
seem to get warm, no matter what the thermostat is set at." How should the nurse proceed
with assessment? - ANS Assess the woman for hypothyroidism.
A nurse is assessing a client with hyperthyroidism for the presence of a bruit. Which assessment
technique should the nurse use? - ANS Auscultation
A nurse palpates an elderly client's thyroid and detects an enlargement over the right lateral
lobe. What action should the nurse take first? - ANS Auscultate with the bell over the lateral
lobes
The nurse is palpating a client's cervical vertebrae. Which vertebra can be easily palpated when
the neck is flexed and should help the nurse locate the other vertebrae? - ANS c7
During your physical examination of the client you note an enlarged tender tonsillar lymph
node. What would you do? - ANS Look for a source such as infection in the area that it drains
A client presents at the clinic for a routine check-up. The nurse notes that she is dressed in
warm clothing even though the temperature outside is 73°F (22.8°C). The nurse also notes that
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
