NR509 Bates Test Bank Midterm Exam
Ques ons and Answers PDF 2026
128 pages
A pa ent presents for evalua on of a sharp, aching chest pain which increases with breathing.
Which anatomic area would you localize the symptom to?
A) Musculoskeletal
B) Reproduc ve
C) Urinary
D) Endocrine - ANSWER A) Musculoskeletal
Chest pain may be due to a musculoskeletal condi on, such as costochondri s or
intercostal muscle cramp. This would be worsened by mo on of the chest wall. Pleuri c chest
pain is also a sharp chest pain which increases with a deep breath. This type of pain can
occur with inflamma on of the pleura from pneumonia or other condi ons and pulmonary
embolus.
A pa ent comes to the emergency room for evalua on of shortness of breath. To which
anatomic region would you assign the symptom?
A) Reproduc ve
B) Urinary
C) Cardiac
,D) Hematologic - ANSWER C) Cardiac
Cardiac disorders such as conges ve heart failure are the most likely on this list to result in
shortness of breath. There are cases within the other categories which may also result
in shortness of breath, such as anemia in the hematologic category, pregnancy in the
reproduc ve
category, or sepsis with UTI in the urinary category.
A pa ent presents for evalua on of a cough. Which of the following anatomic regions can be
responsible for a cough?
A) Ophthalmologic
B) Auditory
C) Cardiac
D) Endocrine - ANSWER C) Cardiac
The cardiac system can cause a cough if the pa ent has conges ve heart failure. This results in
fluid buildup in the lungs, which in turn can cause a cough that produces pink,
frothy sputum. A foreign body in the ear may also cause a cough by s mula ng Arnold's branch
of the vagus nerve, but this is less likely to be seen clinically than heart failure.
A 22-year-old adver sing copywriter presents for evalua on of joint pain. The pain is new,
located in the wrists and fingers bilaterally, with some subjec ve fever. The pa ent denies a
rash; she also denies recent travel or camping ac vi es. She has a family history significant for
rheumatoid arthri s. Based on this informa on, which of the following pathologic processes
would be the most correct?
,A) Infec ous
B) Inflammatory
C) Hematologic
D) Trauma c - ANSWER B) Inflammatory
The descrip on is most consistent with an inflammatory process, although all the other
e ologies should be considered. Lyme disease is an infec on which commonly causes
arthri s, hemophilia is a hematologic condi on which can cause bleeding in the joints, and
trauma can obviously cause joint pain.
A 47-year-old contractor presents for evalua on of neck pain, which has been intermi ent for
several years. He normally takes over-the-counter medica ons to ease the pain, but this me
they haven't worked as well and he s ll has discomfort. He recently wallpapered the en re
second floor in his house, which caused him great discomfort. The pain resolved with rest. He
denies fever, chills, rash, upper respiratory symptoms, trauma, or injury to the neck. Based on
this descrip on, what is the most likely pathologic process?
A) Infec ous
B) Neoplas c
C) Degenera ve
D) Trauma c - ANSWER C) Degenera ve
The descrip on is most consistent with degenera ve arthri s in the neck. The
pa ent has had intermi ent symptoms and the ques ons asked to elicit per nent nega ve and
posi ve findings are nega ve for infec ous, trauma c, or neoplas c disease.
A 15-year-old high school sophomore comes to the clinic for evalua on of a 3-week history
of sneezing; itchy, watery eyes; clear nasal discharge; ear pain; and nonproduc ve cough. Which
, is the most likely pathologic process?
A) Infec on
B) Inflamma on
C) Allergic
D) Vascular - ANSWER C) Allergic
This descrip on is most consistent with allergic rhini s.
A 19-year old-college student presents to the emergency room with fever, headache, and
neck pain/s ffness. She is concerned about the possibility of meningococcal meningi s.
Several of her dorm mates have been vaccinated, but she hasn't been. Which of the following
physical examina on descrip ons is most consistent with meningi s?
A) Head is normocephalic and atrauma c, fundi with sharp discs, neck supple with full range
of mo on
B) Head is normocephalic and atrauma c, fundi with sharp discs, neck with paraspinous
muscle spasm and limited range of mo on to the right
C) Head is normocephalic and atrauma c, fundi with blurred disc margins, neck tender to
palpa on, unable to perform range of mo on
D) Head is normocephalic and atrauma c, fundi with blurred disc margins, neck supple with
full range of mo on - ANSWER C) Head is normocephalic and atrauma c, fundi with
blurred disc margins, neck tender to
palpa on, unable to perform range of mo on
Ques ons and Answers PDF 2026
128 pages
A pa ent presents for evalua on of a sharp, aching chest pain which increases with breathing.
Which anatomic area would you localize the symptom to?
A) Musculoskeletal
B) Reproduc ve
C) Urinary
D) Endocrine - ANSWER A) Musculoskeletal
Chest pain may be due to a musculoskeletal condi on, such as costochondri s or
intercostal muscle cramp. This would be worsened by mo on of the chest wall. Pleuri c chest
pain is also a sharp chest pain which increases with a deep breath. This type of pain can
occur with inflamma on of the pleura from pneumonia or other condi ons and pulmonary
embolus.
A pa ent comes to the emergency room for evalua on of shortness of breath. To which
anatomic region would you assign the symptom?
A) Reproduc ve
B) Urinary
C) Cardiac
,D) Hematologic - ANSWER C) Cardiac
Cardiac disorders such as conges ve heart failure are the most likely on this list to result in
shortness of breath. There are cases within the other categories which may also result
in shortness of breath, such as anemia in the hematologic category, pregnancy in the
reproduc ve
category, or sepsis with UTI in the urinary category.
A pa ent presents for evalua on of a cough. Which of the following anatomic regions can be
responsible for a cough?
A) Ophthalmologic
B) Auditory
C) Cardiac
D) Endocrine - ANSWER C) Cardiac
The cardiac system can cause a cough if the pa ent has conges ve heart failure. This results in
fluid buildup in the lungs, which in turn can cause a cough that produces pink,
frothy sputum. A foreign body in the ear may also cause a cough by s mula ng Arnold's branch
of the vagus nerve, but this is less likely to be seen clinically than heart failure.
A 22-year-old adver sing copywriter presents for evalua on of joint pain. The pain is new,
located in the wrists and fingers bilaterally, with some subjec ve fever. The pa ent denies a
rash; she also denies recent travel or camping ac vi es. She has a family history significant for
rheumatoid arthri s. Based on this informa on, which of the following pathologic processes
would be the most correct?
,A) Infec ous
B) Inflammatory
C) Hematologic
D) Trauma c - ANSWER B) Inflammatory
The descrip on is most consistent with an inflammatory process, although all the other
e ologies should be considered. Lyme disease is an infec on which commonly causes
arthri s, hemophilia is a hematologic condi on which can cause bleeding in the joints, and
trauma can obviously cause joint pain.
A 47-year-old contractor presents for evalua on of neck pain, which has been intermi ent for
several years. He normally takes over-the-counter medica ons to ease the pain, but this me
they haven't worked as well and he s ll has discomfort. He recently wallpapered the en re
second floor in his house, which caused him great discomfort. The pain resolved with rest. He
denies fever, chills, rash, upper respiratory symptoms, trauma, or injury to the neck. Based on
this descrip on, what is the most likely pathologic process?
A) Infec ous
B) Neoplas c
C) Degenera ve
D) Trauma c - ANSWER C) Degenera ve
The descrip on is most consistent with degenera ve arthri s in the neck. The
pa ent has had intermi ent symptoms and the ques ons asked to elicit per nent nega ve and
posi ve findings are nega ve for infec ous, trauma c, or neoplas c disease.
A 15-year-old high school sophomore comes to the clinic for evalua on of a 3-week history
of sneezing; itchy, watery eyes; clear nasal discharge; ear pain; and nonproduc ve cough. Which
, is the most likely pathologic process?
A) Infec on
B) Inflamma on
C) Allergic
D) Vascular - ANSWER C) Allergic
This descrip on is most consistent with allergic rhini s.
A 19-year old-college student presents to the emergency room with fever, headache, and
neck pain/s ffness. She is concerned about the possibility of meningococcal meningi s.
Several of her dorm mates have been vaccinated, but she hasn't been. Which of the following
physical examina on descrip ons is most consistent with meningi s?
A) Head is normocephalic and atrauma c, fundi with sharp discs, neck supple with full range
of mo on
B) Head is normocephalic and atrauma c, fundi with sharp discs, neck with paraspinous
muscle spasm and limited range of mo on to the right
C) Head is normocephalic and atrauma c, fundi with blurred disc margins, neck tender to
palpa on, unable to perform range of mo on
D) Head is normocephalic and atrauma c, fundi with blurred disc margins, neck supple with
full range of mo on - ANSWER C) Head is normocephalic and atrauma c, fundi with
blurred disc margins, neck tender to
palpa on, unable to perform range of mo on
