NR 509/ NR509 Exam: Advanced Physical
Assessment (Latest 2026/ 2027) Questions
with Verified Answers - Chamberlain
1. A 25-year-old radio announcer comes to the clinic for an annual examination. His
BMI is 25.9 kg/m². He is concerned about his weight. What is appropriate counsel for
the patient?
A) Refer the patient to a nutritionist because he is anorexic
B) Reassure the patient that he has a normal body weight
C) Give the patient information about reduction of fat and cholesterol because he is
obese
D) Give the patient information about reduction of fat, cholesterol, and calories
because he is overweight
Answer: D) Give the patient information about reduction of fat, cholesterol, and
calories because he is overweight
(BMI 25.0–29.9 = overweight)
2. A 35-year-old archaeologist comes to your office for a regular skin check-up. She
has just returned from a dig site in Greece. She has fair skin, reddish-blond hair, and
many freckles. Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for melanoma in this
patient?
A) Age
B) Hair color
C) Heavy sun exposure
D) Actinic lentiginous
Answer: A) Age
(At 35, her age is not a significant risk factor for melanoma. Fair skin, red/blonde
hair, sun exposure, and freckling are all established risk factors)
3. A 55-year-old bookkeeper comes to your office for a routine visit. Which of the
following factors can result in a false high blood pressure reading?
A) Blood pressure cuff is tightly fitted
B) Patient is seated quietly for 10 minutes prior to measurement
C) Patient's arm is resting supported at mid-chest level while standing
D) Blood pressure is measured on a bare arm
,Answer: A) Blood pressure cuff is tightly fitted
(A too-tight or too-small cuff can falsely elevate blood pressure readings)
4. A provider is evaluating a patient with increased shortness of breath. The patient
says "Sometimes I become so anxious that I lose track of time." The provider
responds, "Lose track of time?" Which of the following describes the interviewing
technique used by the provider?
A) Summarization
B) Validation
C) Echoing
D) Partnering
Answer: C) Echoing
(Echoing involves repeating the patient's last words to encourage them to elaborate)
5. The following information is best placed in which category of a health history?
"The patient has had three cesarean sections."
A) Adult illness
B) Surgeries
C) Psychiatric
D) Obstetrics/gynecology
Answer: B) Surgeries
(Cesarean sections are surgical procedures and are documented under the surgical
history)
6. "Patient denies chest pain, palpitations, orthopnea, and paroxysmal nocturnal
dyspnea." To which category of the comprehensive health history does this belong?
A) Past medical illness
B) Present illness
C) Review of systems
D) Personal and social history
Answer: C) Review of systems
(The review of systems documents the patient's reported presence or absence of
symptoms by body system)
7. Which of the following brief screening measures is useful in assessing memory?
A) Three-item recall
B) Serial 7s
, C) Copying intersecting pentagrams
D) Spelling "world" backward
Answer: A) Three-item recall
(Three-item recall directly tests short-term memory. Serial 7s and spelling "world"
backward test concentration and attention)
8. Which of the following skin lesions is LEAST likely to metastasize?
A) Seborrheic keratosis
B) Squamous cell carcinoma
C) Basal cell carcinoma
D) Melanoma
Answer: A) Seborrheic keratosis
(Seborrheic keratoses are benign, non-cancerous lesions that do not metastasize)
9. You are examining a 25-year-old teacher who presents with fatigue, weight gain,
and hair loss. You strongly suspect hypothyroidism. What is the expected moisture
and texture of the skin in a patient with hypothyroidism?
A) Dry and smooth
B) Moist and flaky
C) Moist and velvety
D) Dry and rough
Answer: D) Dry and rough
(Hypothyroidism causes decreased sweating and metabolic slowing, resulting in dry,
rough, coarse skin. Moist and velvety skin is associated with hyperthyroidism)
10. You are beginning the physical examination of a patient. Which of the following
areas are important to observe as part of the general survey? Select all that apply.
A) Level of consciousness, signs of distress, vital signs, dress/grooming/personal
hygiene
B) Level of consciousness, signs of distress, dress/grooming/personal hygiene only
C) Vital signs, lung sounds, and bowel sounds
D) Dress/grooming, vital signs, and pupillary response
Answer: B) Level of consciousness, signs of distress, and dress/grooming/personal
hygiene
(Vital signs are measured separately and are not part of the visual general survey.
The general survey focuses on overall appearance, behavior, and level of
consciousness)
Assessment (Latest 2026/ 2027) Questions
with Verified Answers - Chamberlain
1. A 25-year-old radio announcer comes to the clinic for an annual examination. His
BMI is 25.9 kg/m². He is concerned about his weight. What is appropriate counsel for
the patient?
A) Refer the patient to a nutritionist because he is anorexic
B) Reassure the patient that he has a normal body weight
C) Give the patient information about reduction of fat and cholesterol because he is
obese
D) Give the patient information about reduction of fat, cholesterol, and calories
because he is overweight
Answer: D) Give the patient information about reduction of fat, cholesterol, and
calories because he is overweight
(BMI 25.0–29.9 = overweight)
2. A 35-year-old archaeologist comes to your office for a regular skin check-up. She
has just returned from a dig site in Greece. She has fair skin, reddish-blond hair, and
many freckles. Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for melanoma in this
patient?
A) Age
B) Hair color
C) Heavy sun exposure
D) Actinic lentiginous
Answer: A) Age
(At 35, her age is not a significant risk factor for melanoma. Fair skin, red/blonde
hair, sun exposure, and freckling are all established risk factors)
3. A 55-year-old bookkeeper comes to your office for a routine visit. Which of the
following factors can result in a false high blood pressure reading?
A) Blood pressure cuff is tightly fitted
B) Patient is seated quietly for 10 minutes prior to measurement
C) Patient's arm is resting supported at mid-chest level while standing
D) Blood pressure is measured on a bare arm
,Answer: A) Blood pressure cuff is tightly fitted
(A too-tight or too-small cuff can falsely elevate blood pressure readings)
4. A provider is evaluating a patient with increased shortness of breath. The patient
says "Sometimes I become so anxious that I lose track of time." The provider
responds, "Lose track of time?" Which of the following describes the interviewing
technique used by the provider?
A) Summarization
B) Validation
C) Echoing
D) Partnering
Answer: C) Echoing
(Echoing involves repeating the patient's last words to encourage them to elaborate)
5. The following information is best placed in which category of a health history?
"The patient has had three cesarean sections."
A) Adult illness
B) Surgeries
C) Psychiatric
D) Obstetrics/gynecology
Answer: B) Surgeries
(Cesarean sections are surgical procedures and are documented under the surgical
history)
6. "Patient denies chest pain, palpitations, orthopnea, and paroxysmal nocturnal
dyspnea." To which category of the comprehensive health history does this belong?
A) Past medical illness
B) Present illness
C) Review of systems
D) Personal and social history
Answer: C) Review of systems
(The review of systems documents the patient's reported presence or absence of
symptoms by body system)
7. Which of the following brief screening measures is useful in assessing memory?
A) Three-item recall
B) Serial 7s
, C) Copying intersecting pentagrams
D) Spelling "world" backward
Answer: A) Three-item recall
(Three-item recall directly tests short-term memory. Serial 7s and spelling "world"
backward test concentration and attention)
8. Which of the following skin lesions is LEAST likely to metastasize?
A) Seborrheic keratosis
B) Squamous cell carcinoma
C) Basal cell carcinoma
D) Melanoma
Answer: A) Seborrheic keratosis
(Seborrheic keratoses are benign, non-cancerous lesions that do not metastasize)
9. You are examining a 25-year-old teacher who presents with fatigue, weight gain,
and hair loss. You strongly suspect hypothyroidism. What is the expected moisture
and texture of the skin in a patient with hypothyroidism?
A) Dry and smooth
B) Moist and flaky
C) Moist and velvety
D) Dry and rough
Answer: D) Dry and rough
(Hypothyroidism causes decreased sweating and metabolic slowing, resulting in dry,
rough, coarse skin. Moist and velvety skin is associated with hyperthyroidism)
10. You are beginning the physical examination of a patient. Which of the following
areas are important to observe as part of the general survey? Select all that apply.
A) Level of consciousness, signs of distress, vital signs, dress/grooming/personal
hygiene
B) Level of consciousness, signs of distress, dress/grooming/personal hygiene only
C) Vital signs, lung sounds, and bowel sounds
D) Dress/grooming, vital signs, and pupillary response
Answer: B) Level of consciousness, signs of distress, and dress/grooming/personal
hygiene
(Vital signs are measured separately and are not part of the visual general survey.
The general survey focuses on overall appearance, behavior, and level of
consciousness)
