NYU HAP Midterm Exam Questions with DEATAILED solutions|
2025/2026 Latest Update (Grade A+)
The nurse notices a colleague is preparing to check the blood pressure of a patient
who is sitting with his legs crossed. The nurse knows that this will:
a. yield a falsely low blood pressure.
b. have no effect on the blood pressure reading.
c. produces an auscultatory gap.
d. yield a falsely high blood pressure.
D
(Blood pressure increases when legs are crossed and care should be taken to ensure
that feet are flat on the floor to avoid a *false high blood pressure.)
Which activity illustrates the concept of primary prevention?
a. exercising three times a week
b. monthly breast self-examination
c. education about living with asthma
d. colonoscopy after age of 50
A
(a primary prevention aimed at preventing the individual from developing an
illness.)
A 75- y/o man reports he stopped playing cards with his friends because, over
time, he noticed their voices began to sound mumbled. How does the nurse explain
the possible cause of this change?
Page 1 of 21
,a. sudden low-frequency hearing loss
b. damage to the middle ear from ear infections
c. gradual high-frequency hearing loss
d. lack of earwax in the outer ear
C
(High-frequency hearing loss, or presbycusis, can occur as we age. It involves
problems w]usually with discerning certain constant sounds like F, S, T and Z.
Vowels are easier to hear for a person with high-frequency loss. Not being able to
hear certain letter sounds may make speech sound mumbled. Older adults can
become disheartened or frustrated when not being able to make out speech
adequately and can become withdrawn. The issue is not related to a low-frequency
hearing loss, lack of earwax, or ear infections.)
A nurse is assessing a patient who complains of "awful" hip pain after suffering a
fracture and rates it as a 9 on a scale of 0 to 10. Which of the following physiologic
signs may accompany acute pain? (Select all that apply)
a. depression
b. tachycardia
c. increased blood pressure
d. loss of weight and appetite
CB
(Tachycardia and increased bp are associated with the sympathetic nervous system
response that occurs in acute pain. Depression and loss of appetite are more
associated with chronic pain.)
A patient is describing his symptoms to the nurse. Which of these statements
reflects a description of the aggravating factors for his symptoms?
Page 2 of 21
, a. "It is a sharp, burning pain in my stomach."
b. "When I sit down to use the computer, it gets worse."
c. "I think this pain is telling me that something bad is wrong with me."
d. "I also have the sweats and nausea when I feel this pain."
B
(Aggravating factors are things the patient does or that happen to the patient that
make the symptom worse or more pronounced. This answer is the only one that
was associated with a symptom.)
A patient drifts off to sleep when she is not being stimulated. The nurse can arouse
her easily when calling her name, but she remains drowsy during the conversation.
The best description of this patient's level of consciousness would be:
a. semialert
b. obtunded
c. stuporous
d. lethargic
D
(When a patient is lethargic, they may be drowsy but awaken easily to stimulation.
They can answer questions and follow commands. A patient who is obtunded is
difficult to arouse and needs constant stimulation in order to keep them awake.
They may answer basic, direct questions. Wen a patient is stuporous, they require
vigorous stimulation to arouse and will not be able to answer questions to follow
commands. Semialert is not a term used in a mental health assessment.)
During shift report, a nurse learns that a patient has a macular rash. As the nurse
inspects the patient's skin, what finding will confirm the rash?
a. elevated, firm, well-defined lesions less than 1 cm in diameter
Page 3 of 21
2025/2026 Latest Update (Grade A+)
The nurse notices a colleague is preparing to check the blood pressure of a patient
who is sitting with his legs crossed. The nurse knows that this will:
a. yield a falsely low blood pressure.
b. have no effect on the blood pressure reading.
c. produces an auscultatory gap.
d. yield a falsely high blood pressure.
D
(Blood pressure increases when legs are crossed and care should be taken to ensure
that feet are flat on the floor to avoid a *false high blood pressure.)
Which activity illustrates the concept of primary prevention?
a. exercising three times a week
b. monthly breast self-examination
c. education about living with asthma
d. colonoscopy after age of 50
A
(a primary prevention aimed at preventing the individual from developing an
illness.)
A 75- y/o man reports he stopped playing cards with his friends because, over
time, he noticed their voices began to sound mumbled. How does the nurse explain
the possible cause of this change?
Page 1 of 21
,a. sudden low-frequency hearing loss
b. damage to the middle ear from ear infections
c. gradual high-frequency hearing loss
d. lack of earwax in the outer ear
C
(High-frequency hearing loss, or presbycusis, can occur as we age. It involves
problems w]usually with discerning certain constant sounds like F, S, T and Z.
Vowels are easier to hear for a person with high-frequency loss. Not being able to
hear certain letter sounds may make speech sound mumbled. Older adults can
become disheartened or frustrated when not being able to make out speech
adequately and can become withdrawn. The issue is not related to a low-frequency
hearing loss, lack of earwax, or ear infections.)
A nurse is assessing a patient who complains of "awful" hip pain after suffering a
fracture and rates it as a 9 on a scale of 0 to 10. Which of the following physiologic
signs may accompany acute pain? (Select all that apply)
a. depression
b. tachycardia
c. increased blood pressure
d. loss of weight and appetite
CB
(Tachycardia and increased bp are associated with the sympathetic nervous system
response that occurs in acute pain. Depression and loss of appetite are more
associated with chronic pain.)
A patient is describing his symptoms to the nurse. Which of these statements
reflects a description of the aggravating factors for his symptoms?
Page 2 of 21
, a. "It is a sharp, burning pain in my stomach."
b. "When I sit down to use the computer, it gets worse."
c. "I think this pain is telling me that something bad is wrong with me."
d. "I also have the sweats and nausea when I feel this pain."
B
(Aggravating factors are things the patient does or that happen to the patient that
make the symptom worse or more pronounced. This answer is the only one that
was associated with a symptom.)
A patient drifts off to sleep when she is not being stimulated. The nurse can arouse
her easily when calling her name, but she remains drowsy during the conversation.
The best description of this patient's level of consciousness would be:
a. semialert
b. obtunded
c. stuporous
d. lethargic
D
(When a patient is lethargic, they may be drowsy but awaken easily to stimulation.
They can answer questions and follow commands. A patient who is obtunded is
difficult to arouse and needs constant stimulation in order to keep them awake.
They may answer basic, direct questions. Wen a patient is stuporous, they require
vigorous stimulation to arouse and will not be able to answer questions to follow
commands. Semialert is not a term used in a mental health assessment.)
During shift report, a nurse learns that a patient has a macular rash. As the nurse
inspects the patient's skin, what finding will confirm the rash?
a. elevated, firm, well-defined lesions less than 1 cm in diameter
Page 3 of 21
