Bates’ Guide To Physical Examination and History
Taking 13th Edition Bickley Test Bank & Rationales
Chapters 1-27| Complete Guide A+
A visiting nurse is making an initial home visit for a patient who has many chronic medical
problems. Which type of data base is most appropriate to collect in this setting?
a A follow-up data base to evaluate changes at appropriate intervals
b An episodic data base because of the continuing, complex medical problems of this patient
c A complete health data base because of the nurses primary responsibility for monitoring the
patients health d An emergency data base because of the need to col ANSWER: ✔-
ANSWER: C
The complete data base is collected in a primary care setting, such as a pediatric or family
practice clinic, independent or group private practice, college health service, womens health care
agency, visiting nurse agency, or community health agency. In these settings, the nurse is the
first health professional to see the patient and has the primary responsibility for monitoring the
persons health care.
Which situation is most appropriate during which the nurse performs a focused or
problem-centered history? a Patient is admitted to a long-term care facility. b Patient has
a sudden and severe shortness of breath. c Patient is admitted to the hospital for surgery
the following day.
d Patient in an outpatient clinic has cold and influenza-like symptoms. ANSWER: ✔-
ANSWER: D
In a focused or problem-centered data base, the nurse collects a mini data base, which is smaller
in scope than the completed data base. This mini data base primarily concerns one problem, one
cue complex, or one body system.
,A patient is at the clinic to have her blood pressure checked. She has been coming to the clinic
weekly since she changed medications 2 months ago. The nurse should:
a Collect a follow-up data base and then check her blood pressure. b Ask her to
read her health record and indicate any changes since her last visit.
c Check only her blood pressure because her complete health history was documented 2
months ago.
d Obtain a complete health history before checking her blood pressure because much
ANSWER: ✔- ANSWER: A
A follow-up data base is used in all settings to follow up short-term or chronic health problems.
The other responses are not appropriate for the situation.
A patient is brought by ambulance to the emergency department with multiple traumas received
in an automobile accident. He is alert and cooperative, but his injuries are quite severe. How
would the nurse proceed with data collection?
a Collect history information first, then perform the physical examination and institute
life-saving measures.
b Simultaneously ask history questions while performing the examination and initiating
life-saving measures.
c Collect all information on the history f ANSWER: ✔- ANSWER: B
The emergency data base calls for a rapid collection of the data base, often concurrently
compiled with life-saving measures. The other responses are not appropriate for the situation.
A 42-year-old patient of Asian descent is being seen at the clinic for an initial examination. The
nurse knows that including cultural information in his health assessment is important to:
,a Identify the cause of his illness. b Make accurate disease diagnoses. c
Provide cultural health rights for the individual d Provide culturally sensitive
and appropriate care. ANSWER: ✔- ANSWER: D
The inclusion of cultural considerations in the health assessment is of paramount importance to
gathering data that are accurate and meaningful and to intervening with culturally sensitive and
appropriate care.
CHAPTER 2 Evaluating Clinical Evidence
1. When performing a physical assessment, the first technique the nurse will always use is:
a Palpation. b
Inspection. c
Percussion.
d Auscultation. ANSWER: ✔- ANSWER: B
The skills requisite for the physical examination are inspection, palpation, percussion, and
auscultation. The skills are performed one at a time and in this order (with the exception of the
abdominal assessment, during which auscultation takes place before palpation and percussion).
The assessment of each body system begins with inspection. A focused inspection takes time
and yields a surprising amount of information.
2. The nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment. Which statement is true about the
physical assessment? The inspection phase: a Usually yields little information. b Takes time and
reveals a surprising amount of information. c May be somewhat uncomfortable for the expert
, practitioner. d Requires a quick glance at the patients body systems before proceeding with
palpation.
ANSWER: ✔- ANSWER: B
A focused inspection takes time and yields a surprising amount of information. Initially, the
examiner may feel uncomfortable, staring at the person without also doing something. A focused
assessment is significantly more than a quick glance.
3. The nurse is assessing a patients skin during an office visit. What part of the hand and
technique should be used to best assess the patients skin temperature? a Fingertips; they are
more sensitive to small changes in temperature. b Dorsal surface of the hand; the skin is
thinner on this surface than on the palms.
c Ulnar portion of the hand; increased blood supply in this area enhances
temperature sensitivity. d Palmar surface of the hand; this surface is the most
sensitive to temperature va ANSWER: ✔- ANSWER: B
The dorsa (backs) of the hands and fingers are best for determining temperature because the
skin is thinner on the dorsal surfaces than on the palms. Fingertips are best for fine, tactile
discrimination. The other responses are not useful for palpation.
4. Which of these techniques uses the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature, moisture, and
swelling when the nurse is assessing a patient?
a Palpation b Inspection c Percussion d
Auscultation ANSWER: ✔-
ANSWER: A
Taking 13th Edition Bickley Test Bank & Rationales
Chapters 1-27| Complete Guide A+
A visiting nurse is making an initial home visit for a patient who has many chronic medical
problems. Which type of data base is most appropriate to collect in this setting?
a A follow-up data base to evaluate changes at appropriate intervals
b An episodic data base because of the continuing, complex medical problems of this patient
c A complete health data base because of the nurses primary responsibility for monitoring the
patients health d An emergency data base because of the need to col ANSWER: ✔-
ANSWER: C
The complete data base is collected in a primary care setting, such as a pediatric or family
practice clinic, independent or group private practice, college health service, womens health care
agency, visiting nurse agency, or community health agency. In these settings, the nurse is the
first health professional to see the patient and has the primary responsibility for monitoring the
persons health care.
Which situation is most appropriate during which the nurse performs a focused or
problem-centered history? a Patient is admitted to a long-term care facility. b Patient has
a sudden and severe shortness of breath. c Patient is admitted to the hospital for surgery
the following day.
d Patient in an outpatient clinic has cold and influenza-like symptoms. ANSWER: ✔-
ANSWER: D
In a focused or problem-centered data base, the nurse collects a mini data base, which is smaller
in scope than the completed data base. This mini data base primarily concerns one problem, one
cue complex, or one body system.
,A patient is at the clinic to have her blood pressure checked. She has been coming to the clinic
weekly since she changed medications 2 months ago. The nurse should:
a Collect a follow-up data base and then check her blood pressure. b Ask her to
read her health record and indicate any changes since her last visit.
c Check only her blood pressure because her complete health history was documented 2
months ago.
d Obtain a complete health history before checking her blood pressure because much
ANSWER: ✔- ANSWER: A
A follow-up data base is used in all settings to follow up short-term or chronic health problems.
The other responses are not appropriate for the situation.
A patient is brought by ambulance to the emergency department with multiple traumas received
in an automobile accident. He is alert and cooperative, but his injuries are quite severe. How
would the nurse proceed with data collection?
a Collect history information first, then perform the physical examination and institute
life-saving measures.
b Simultaneously ask history questions while performing the examination and initiating
life-saving measures.
c Collect all information on the history f ANSWER: ✔- ANSWER: B
The emergency data base calls for a rapid collection of the data base, often concurrently
compiled with life-saving measures. The other responses are not appropriate for the situation.
A 42-year-old patient of Asian descent is being seen at the clinic for an initial examination. The
nurse knows that including cultural information in his health assessment is important to:
,a Identify the cause of his illness. b Make accurate disease diagnoses. c
Provide cultural health rights for the individual d Provide culturally sensitive
and appropriate care. ANSWER: ✔- ANSWER: D
The inclusion of cultural considerations in the health assessment is of paramount importance to
gathering data that are accurate and meaningful and to intervening with culturally sensitive and
appropriate care.
CHAPTER 2 Evaluating Clinical Evidence
1. When performing a physical assessment, the first technique the nurse will always use is:
a Palpation. b
Inspection. c
Percussion.
d Auscultation. ANSWER: ✔- ANSWER: B
The skills requisite for the physical examination are inspection, palpation, percussion, and
auscultation. The skills are performed one at a time and in this order (with the exception of the
abdominal assessment, during which auscultation takes place before palpation and percussion).
The assessment of each body system begins with inspection. A focused inspection takes time
and yields a surprising amount of information.
2. The nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment. Which statement is true about the
physical assessment? The inspection phase: a Usually yields little information. b Takes time and
reveals a surprising amount of information. c May be somewhat uncomfortable for the expert
, practitioner. d Requires a quick glance at the patients body systems before proceeding with
palpation.
ANSWER: ✔- ANSWER: B
A focused inspection takes time and yields a surprising amount of information. Initially, the
examiner may feel uncomfortable, staring at the person without also doing something. A focused
assessment is significantly more than a quick glance.
3. The nurse is assessing a patients skin during an office visit. What part of the hand and
technique should be used to best assess the patients skin temperature? a Fingertips; they are
more sensitive to small changes in temperature. b Dorsal surface of the hand; the skin is
thinner on this surface than on the palms.
c Ulnar portion of the hand; increased blood supply in this area enhances
temperature sensitivity. d Palmar surface of the hand; this surface is the most
sensitive to temperature va ANSWER: ✔- ANSWER: B
The dorsa (backs) of the hands and fingers are best for determining temperature because the
skin is thinner on the dorsal surfaces than on the palms. Fingertips are best for fine, tactile
discrimination. The other responses are not useful for palpation.
4. Which of these techniques uses the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature, moisture, and
swelling when the nurse is assessing a patient?
a Palpation b Inspection c Percussion d
Auscultation ANSWER: ✔-
ANSWER: A
