NR 509 Advanced Physical Assessment – Midterm Exam
Study Questions with Correct Answers | Chamberlain
University | 2025–2026 Edition (Grade A+)
INTRODUCTION:
This document provides a complete set of midterm exam study
questions and 100% verified correct answers for NR 509: Advanced
Physical Assessment at Chamberlain University. The material
covers key topics such as cardiovascular and respiratory
assessment, neurological and musculoskeletal evaluations,
dermatologic conditions, cranial nerves, diagnostic reasoning, and
clinical interviewing techniques. Updated for the 2025–2026
academic year, this guide is ideal for thorough preparation and
achieving top exam results.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
41. A 72-year-old retiree presents to the cardiology clinic with
palpitations af- ter several months of symptoms. An
electrocardiogram (ECG) shows a tach- yarrhythmia, which the
cardiologist diagnoses as atrial fibrillation. In measur- ing the
blood pressure of a patient with chronic atrial fibrillation, which of
the following statements is true?:
,a. The precise blood pressure is measured by taking the average
of three pressures in both arms over a span of 20 minutes.
b. Single automated measurement in the oflce setting provides a
reliable value for the true blood pressure.
c. Ambulatory monitoring over 2-24 hours is recommended
because this rhythm produces variable and inconsistent blood
pressures.
d. Measuring blood pressure in patients with atrial fibrillation is
no ditterent than measuring blood pressure in patients with normal
cardiac rhythms.
e. Because atrial fibrillation is an uncommon arrhythmia, blood
pressure management of these patients does not have widespread
significance in oflce or ambulatory practice.
42. A 42-year-old architect presents with widespread pain
complaints, including headaches almost daily, pain at the site of an
old motor vehicle accident injury, and generalized achiness and
hypersensitivity throughout the body. He recounts that his first
episodes of ongoing pain occurred in his early 20s, and he has been
to many practitioners over several years seeking a firm diagnosis
and adequate treatment of his complaints. Which of the following
statements is true regarding chronic pain?:
a. Following assessment and evaluation, ~80% of patients with
non-cancer-related pain report control of their symptoms.
b. Chronic pain is defined as pain not due to cancer or a
recognized medical condition that persists for >3-6 months.
,c. Chronic pain is defined as focused pain lasting >8 months
following acute injury or illness.
d. In primary care practices, non-cancer-related chronic pain is
seen in <10% of patients.
e. Pain that recurs at intervals of months or years is never
considered to be "chronic pain."
43. Disparities in pain treatment have been well described in
numerous studies comparing Caucasian patients to those of African
American and Hispanic ori- gin. Which of the following statements
is true concerning this issue?:
a. Racial and ethnic biases are only relevant in geographic areas
that have a history of racial and ethnic discrimination.
b. Racial and ethnic biases never involve two persons of the
same race or ethnic group.
c. Language barriers do not contribute to the problem of racial
and ethnic biases.
d. Biases of the treating clinician are associated with
overtreatment of pain in minority patients and non-English
speakers.
e. Biases of the treating clinician are associated with under-
treatment of pain in minority patients and non-English speakers.
45. Which of the following statements is true concerning mental
health disor- ders in primary care?:
a. The prevalence for mental disorders is estimated to be ~10%,
of which only 25% are not diagnosed.
, b. Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent of all diagnoses in
this setting.
c. Somatic symptom disorder (DSM-5) is distinctly uncommon in
this setting and constitutes less than 5% of these disorders.
d. Mood disorders make up ~25% of all diagnoses.
e. Alcohol and substance abuse are not considered mental health
disorders.
46. Which of the following complaints/findings is considered to be
a patient identifier for mental health screening?:
a. High use of health services due to chronic unstable medical
diagnoses
b. Symptoms lasting for >2 weeks
c. Acute pain syndromes of 10 days' duration that require
opiates for relief
d. Substance abuse
e. A patient with type I diabetes and neuropathic pain
47. A 38-year-old accountant presents to the office with a series
of generalized complaints. He relates that he feels a loss of pleasure
in daily activities, has difficulty sleeping, and is experiencing
problems making decisions. Which of the following best explains
the patient's presentation?:
a. Substance abuse with anhedonia
b. Bipolar disorder in the early pre-excitatory phase
c. Histrionic personality
Study Questions with Correct Answers | Chamberlain
University | 2025–2026 Edition (Grade A+)
INTRODUCTION:
This document provides a complete set of midterm exam study
questions and 100% verified correct answers for NR 509: Advanced
Physical Assessment at Chamberlain University. The material
covers key topics such as cardiovascular and respiratory
assessment, neurological and musculoskeletal evaluations,
dermatologic conditions, cranial nerves, diagnostic reasoning, and
clinical interviewing techniques. Updated for the 2025–2026
academic year, this guide is ideal for thorough preparation and
achieving top exam results.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
41. A 72-year-old retiree presents to the cardiology clinic with
palpitations af- ter several months of symptoms. An
electrocardiogram (ECG) shows a tach- yarrhythmia, which the
cardiologist diagnoses as atrial fibrillation. In measur- ing the
blood pressure of a patient with chronic atrial fibrillation, which of
the following statements is true?:
,a. The precise blood pressure is measured by taking the average
of three pressures in both arms over a span of 20 minutes.
b. Single automated measurement in the oflce setting provides a
reliable value for the true blood pressure.
c. Ambulatory monitoring over 2-24 hours is recommended
because this rhythm produces variable and inconsistent blood
pressures.
d. Measuring blood pressure in patients with atrial fibrillation is
no ditterent than measuring blood pressure in patients with normal
cardiac rhythms.
e. Because atrial fibrillation is an uncommon arrhythmia, blood
pressure management of these patients does not have widespread
significance in oflce or ambulatory practice.
42. A 42-year-old architect presents with widespread pain
complaints, including headaches almost daily, pain at the site of an
old motor vehicle accident injury, and generalized achiness and
hypersensitivity throughout the body. He recounts that his first
episodes of ongoing pain occurred in his early 20s, and he has been
to many practitioners over several years seeking a firm diagnosis
and adequate treatment of his complaints. Which of the following
statements is true regarding chronic pain?:
a. Following assessment and evaluation, ~80% of patients with
non-cancer-related pain report control of their symptoms.
b. Chronic pain is defined as pain not due to cancer or a
recognized medical condition that persists for >3-6 months.
,c. Chronic pain is defined as focused pain lasting >8 months
following acute injury or illness.
d. In primary care practices, non-cancer-related chronic pain is
seen in <10% of patients.
e. Pain that recurs at intervals of months or years is never
considered to be "chronic pain."
43. Disparities in pain treatment have been well described in
numerous studies comparing Caucasian patients to those of African
American and Hispanic ori- gin. Which of the following statements
is true concerning this issue?:
a. Racial and ethnic biases are only relevant in geographic areas
that have a history of racial and ethnic discrimination.
b. Racial and ethnic biases never involve two persons of the
same race or ethnic group.
c. Language barriers do not contribute to the problem of racial
and ethnic biases.
d. Biases of the treating clinician are associated with
overtreatment of pain in minority patients and non-English
speakers.
e. Biases of the treating clinician are associated with under-
treatment of pain in minority patients and non-English speakers.
45. Which of the following statements is true concerning mental
health disor- ders in primary care?:
a. The prevalence for mental disorders is estimated to be ~10%,
of which only 25% are not diagnosed.
, b. Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent of all diagnoses in
this setting.
c. Somatic symptom disorder (DSM-5) is distinctly uncommon in
this setting and constitutes less than 5% of these disorders.
d. Mood disorders make up ~25% of all diagnoses.
e. Alcohol and substance abuse are not considered mental health
disorders.
46. Which of the following complaints/findings is considered to be
a patient identifier for mental health screening?:
a. High use of health services due to chronic unstable medical
diagnoses
b. Symptoms lasting for >2 weeks
c. Acute pain syndromes of 10 days' duration that require
opiates for relief
d. Substance abuse
e. A patient with type I diabetes and neuropathic pain
47. A 38-year-old accountant presents to the office with a series
of generalized complaints. He relates that he feels a loss of pleasure
in daily activities, has difficulty sleeping, and is experiencing
problems making decisions. Which of the following best explains
the patient's presentation?:
a. Substance abuse with anhedonia
b. Bipolar disorder in the early pre-excitatory phase
c. Histrionic personality
