Chapter 09: General Survey and
Measurement
Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 8th Edition by
Carolyn Jarvis
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is performing a general survey. Which action is a component of the general
survey?
a. Observing the patients body stature and nutritional status
b. Interpreting the subjective information the patient has reported
c. Measuring the patients temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure
d. Observing specific body systems while performing the physical assessment
ANS: A
The general survey is a study of the whole person that includes observing the
patients physical appearance, body structure, mobility, and behavior.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
2. When measuring a patients weight, the nurse is aware of which of these guidelines?
a. The patient is always weighed wearing only his or herundergarments.
b. The type of scale does not matter, as long as the weights are similar from day to
day.
c. The patient may leave on his or her jacket and shoes as long as these are
documented next to the weight.
d. Attempts should be made to weigh the patient at approximately the same time of
day, if a sequence of weights is necessary.
ANS: D
A standardized balance scale is used to measure weight. The patient should
remove his or her shoes and heavy outer clothing. If a sequence of repeated
weights is necessary, then the nurse should attempt to weigh the patient at
approximately the same time of day and with the same types of clothing worn
each time.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
3. During an examination of a child, the nurse considers that physical growth is the best
index of a childs:
, a. General health.
b. Genetic makeup.
c. Nutritional status.
d. Activity and exercise patterns.
ANS: A
Physical growth is the best index of a childs general health; recording the childs
height and weight helps determine normal growth patterns.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
MSC: Client Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. A 1-month-old infant has a head measurement of 34 cm and has a chest circumference
of 32 cm. Based on the interpretation of these findings, the nurse would:
a. Refer the infant to a physician for further evaluation.
b. Consider these findings normal for a 1-month-old infant.
c. Expect the chest circumference to be greater than the head circumference.
d. Ask the parent to return in 2 weeks to re-evaluate the head and chest
circumferences.
ANS: B
The newborns head measures approximately 32 to 38 cm and is approximately 2
cm larger than the chest circumference. Between 6 months and 2 years, both
measurements are approximately the same, and after age 2 years, the chest
circumference is greater than the head circumference.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyzing (Analysis)
MSC: Client Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance
5. The nurse is assessing an 80-year-old male patient. Which assessment findings would be
considered normal?
a. Increase in body weight from his younger years
b. Additional deposits of fat on the thighs and lower legs
c. Presence of kyphosis and flexion in the knees and hips
d. Change in overall body proportion, including a longer trunk and shorter
extremities
ANS: C
Changes that occur in the aging person include more prominent bony landmarks,
decreased body weight (especially in men), a decrease in subcutaneous fat from
the face and periphery, and additional fat deposited on the abdomen and hips.
Postural changes of kyphosis and slight flexion in the knees and hips also occur.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application)
MSC: Client Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance
6. The nurse should measure rectal temperatures in which of these patients?
a. School-age child
Measurement
Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 8th Edition by
Carolyn Jarvis
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is performing a general survey. Which action is a component of the general
survey?
a. Observing the patients body stature and nutritional status
b. Interpreting the subjective information the patient has reported
c. Measuring the patients temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure
d. Observing specific body systems while performing the physical assessment
ANS: A
The general survey is a study of the whole person that includes observing the
patients physical appearance, body structure, mobility, and behavior.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
2. When measuring a patients weight, the nurse is aware of which of these guidelines?
a. The patient is always weighed wearing only his or herundergarments.
b. The type of scale does not matter, as long as the weights are similar from day to
day.
c. The patient may leave on his or her jacket and shoes as long as these are
documented next to the weight.
d. Attempts should be made to weigh the patient at approximately the same time of
day, if a sequence of weights is necessary.
ANS: D
A standardized balance scale is used to measure weight. The patient should
remove his or her shoes and heavy outer clothing. If a sequence of repeated
weights is necessary, then the nurse should attempt to weigh the patient at
approximately the same time of day and with the same types of clothing worn
each time.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension)
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
3. During an examination of a child, the nurse considers that physical growth is the best
index of a childs:
, a. General health.
b. Genetic makeup.
c. Nutritional status.
d. Activity and exercise patterns.
ANS: A
Physical growth is the best index of a childs general health; recording the childs
height and weight helps determine normal growth patterns.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering (Knowledge)
MSC: Client Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. A 1-month-old infant has a head measurement of 34 cm and has a chest circumference
of 32 cm. Based on the interpretation of these findings, the nurse would:
a. Refer the infant to a physician for further evaluation.
b. Consider these findings normal for a 1-month-old infant.
c. Expect the chest circumference to be greater than the head circumference.
d. Ask the parent to return in 2 weeks to re-evaluate the head and chest
circumferences.
ANS: B
The newborns head measures approximately 32 to 38 cm and is approximately 2
cm larger than the chest circumference. Between 6 months and 2 years, both
measurements are approximately the same, and after age 2 years, the chest
circumference is greater than the head circumference.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyzing (Analysis)
MSC: Client Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance
5. The nurse is assessing an 80-year-old male patient. Which assessment findings would be
considered normal?
a. Increase in body weight from his younger years
b. Additional deposits of fat on the thighs and lower legs
c. Presence of kyphosis and flexion in the knees and hips
d. Change in overall body proportion, including a longer trunk and shorter
extremities
ANS: C
Changes that occur in the aging person include more prominent bony landmarks,
decreased body weight (especially in men), a decrease in subcutaneous fat from
the face and periphery, and additional fat deposited on the abdomen and hips.
Postural changes of kyphosis and slight flexion in the knees and hips also occur.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application)
MSC: Client Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance
6. The nurse should measure rectal temperatures in which of these patients?
a. School-age child
