NURS 5220 Practice Questions (1–150)
Advanced Health Assessment & Communication
comprehensively covering advanced health assessment, pediatrics, communication,
pharmacology, and dosage calculations
1. When asking a patient, “Can you describe that for me?”, this is an example of a:
A) Leading question
B) ✓ Open-ended question
C) Closed-ended question
D) Reflective question
2. Best response when a patient behaves seductively:
A) Laugh it off
B) ✓ Calmly reassert professional boundaries
C) Ignore the behavior
D) Encourage emotional sharing
3. A nurse hears a patient sob during interview. Best action:
A) Pause and let the patient cry, then continue
B) Stop interview
C) Continue quickly
D) Change topic
✓A
4. In communicating with an upset patient, the most important behavior is:
A) Documenting quotes
B) Phrasing questions clearly
C) ✓ Listening and observing nonverbal cues
D) Avoiding giving advice
5. When interviewing a patient about drug use, the best approach is:
A) Start by providing drug facts
B) Be direct, firm, concise
C) ✓ Ensure confidentiality, build trust
D) Ask pointed questions
6. A response of “I don’t get headaches often, do I?” is an example of:
A) Open question
B) ✓ Leading question
C) Neutral question
D) Reflective question
7. Open-ended questions are especially useful during:
A) Review of symptoms
B) ✓ Sensitive or emotional topics
C) Genogram design
D) Physical exam
8. Periods of silence in an interview:
A) Should be avoided
B) ✓ Allow patient to reflect and speak
, C) Indicate discomfort
D) Require immediate question
Pediatrics & Neurological Assessment
9. Normal “peau d'orange” finding refers to:
A) Skin
B) Breast tissue
C) Enlarged lymph node
D) Abnormal tummy finding
✓B
10. Negative obturator sign suggests:
A) No intra-abdominal infection
B) Leg pain
C) Appendicitis
D) Enlarged lymph node
✓A
11. You observe JVD in a patient—this suggests:
A) Dehydration
B) ✓ Elevated central venous pressure
C) Skin allergy
D) Pneumonia
12. Hearing a bruit on thyroid exam means:
A) Gland is normal
B) ✓ Check with bell for vascular flow
C) Normal aging
D) Heart murmur
13. Scratchy heart sounds on exam usually indicate:
A) Normal
B) ✓ Pericardial friction rub
C) Pleural effusion
D) Murmur
14. Apical impulse is normally at:
A) 2nd intercostal space
B) ✓ 4th or 5th intercostal at midclavicular line
C) Right mid-axillary
D) Epigastric area
15. Shortness of breath at night warrants evaluation for:
A) MI only
B) Sleep apnea
C) ✓ CHF or cardiac issues
D) Asthma
16. A patient with feeling worthless & sleep issues for 3 weeks—explore:
A) Panic disorder
B) ✓ Depression and suicidal ideation
, C) Substance abuse
D) Cognitive decline
17. In interviewing drug use, the best approach is:
A) Describe drug effects
B) ✓ Ask directly but non-judgmentally
C) Avoid topic
D) Use medical terms
Infant Neurologic Assessment
18. A mother says her 3-month-old “falls asleep while feeding sometimes.” This indicates:
A) Normal
B) ✓ Possible CNS dysfunction—evaluate further
C) GERD only
D) Not concerning
19. Mother reports hypertension in pregnancy—this history suggests:
A) Normal pregnancy
B) ✓ Risk for infant neuro issues—further evaluation needed
C) No impact
D) Only nutritional issues
Physical Exam & System Assessment
20. Milia on newborn skin is an expected finding.
✓A
21. Skin “tenting” in older adults suggests:
A) Aging only
B) ✓ Dehydration
C) Infection
D) Eczema
22. Tender splenic tip on palpation suggests:
A) Normal
B) Splenomegaly
C) ✓ Possible pathology
D) Bowel obstruction
23. Bruit heard over carotid artery indicates:
A) Low BP
B) ✓ Arterial occlusion or turbulence
C) Innocent heart sound
D) Respiratory problem
24. A murmur at apex that is loud and blowing suggests:
A) Innocent murmur
B) Aortic stenosis
C) ✓ Mitral regurgitation
D) Pericarditis
Advanced Health Assessment & Communication
comprehensively covering advanced health assessment, pediatrics, communication,
pharmacology, and dosage calculations
1. When asking a patient, “Can you describe that for me?”, this is an example of a:
A) Leading question
B) ✓ Open-ended question
C) Closed-ended question
D) Reflective question
2. Best response when a patient behaves seductively:
A) Laugh it off
B) ✓ Calmly reassert professional boundaries
C) Ignore the behavior
D) Encourage emotional sharing
3. A nurse hears a patient sob during interview. Best action:
A) Pause and let the patient cry, then continue
B) Stop interview
C) Continue quickly
D) Change topic
✓A
4. In communicating with an upset patient, the most important behavior is:
A) Documenting quotes
B) Phrasing questions clearly
C) ✓ Listening and observing nonverbal cues
D) Avoiding giving advice
5. When interviewing a patient about drug use, the best approach is:
A) Start by providing drug facts
B) Be direct, firm, concise
C) ✓ Ensure confidentiality, build trust
D) Ask pointed questions
6. A response of “I don’t get headaches often, do I?” is an example of:
A) Open question
B) ✓ Leading question
C) Neutral question
D) Reflective question
7. Open-ended questions are especially useful during:
A) Review of symptoms
B) ✓ Sensitive or emotional topics
C) Genogram design
D) Physical exam
8. Periods of silence in an interview:
A) Should be avoided
B) ✓ Allow patient to reflect and speak
, C) Indicate discomfort
D) Require immediate question
Pediatrics & Neurological Assessment
9. Normal “peau d'orange” finding refers to:
A) Skin
B) Breast tissue
C) Enlarged lymph node
D) Abnormal tummy finding
✓B
10. Negative obturator sign suggests:
A) No intra-abdominal infection
B) Leg pain
C) Appendicitis
D) Enlarged lymph node
✓A
11. You observe JVD in a patient—this suggests:
A) Dehydration
B) ✓ Elevated central venous pressure
C) Skin allergy
D) Pneumonia
12. Hearing a bruit on thyroid exam means:
A) Gland is normal
B) ✓ Check with bell for vascular flow
C) Normal aging
D) Heart murmur
13. Scratchy heart sounds on exam usually indicate:
A) Normal
B) ✓ Pericardial friction rub
C) Pleural effusion
D) Murmur
14. Apical impulse is normally at:
A) 2nd intercostal space
B) ✓ 4th or 5th intercostal at midclavicular line
C) Right mid-axillary
D) Epigastric area
15. Shortness of breath at night warrants evaluation for:
A) MI only
B) Sleep apnea
C) ✓ CHF or cardiac issues
D) Asthma
16. A patient with feeling worthless & sleep issues for 3 weeks—explore:
A) Panic disorder
B) ✓ Depression and suicidal ideation
, C) Substance abuse
D) Cognitive decline
17. In interviewing drug use, the best approach is:
A) Describe drug effects
B) ✓ Ask directly but non-judgmentally
C) Avoid topic
D) Use medical terms
Infant Neurologic Assessment
18. A mother says her 3-month-old “falls asleep while feeding sometimes.” This indicates:
A) Normal
B) ✓ Possible CNS dysfunction—evaluate further
C) GERD only
D) Not concerning
19. Mother reports hypertension in pregnancy—this history suggests:
A) Normal pregnancy
B) ✓ Risk for infant neuro issues—further evaluation needed
C) No impact
D) Only nutritional issues
Physical Exam & System Assessment
20. Milia on newborn skin is an expected finding.
✓A
21. Skin “tenting” in older adults suggests:
A) Aging only
B) ✓ Dehydration
C) Infection
D) Eczema
22. Tender splenic tip on palpation suggests:
A) Normal
B) Splenomegaly
C) ✓ Possible pathology
D) Bowel obstruction
23. Bruit heard over carotid artery indicates:
A) Low BP
B) ✓ Arterial occlusion or turbulence
C) Innocent heart sound
D) Respiratory problem
24. A murmur at apex that is loud and blowing suggests:
A) Innocent murmur
B) Aortic stenosis
C) ✓ Mitral regurgitation
D) Pericarditis
