1
NURS 5220 EXAM NEWEST VERSION -2025/2026- 100+ Q AND
ANS MOST POPULAR EXAM GUARANTEED SUCCESS
How is the anal ring assessed?
A. Inspection of the anus
B. External palpation of the anus
C. Use of a sigmoidoscope
D. Rotation of a finger within the anal sphincter
D: CorrectRotate your finger to examine the muscular anal ring.
Which example best describes how firm you expect a healthy prostate gland to
feel?
A. It feels like a soft olive or grape.
B. It feels like the topside of a plastic LEGO piece.
C. It feels like a small baseball.
D. It feels like a pencil eraser
D: . CorrectThe gland should feel like a pencil eraser—firm, smooth, and slightly
movable—and it should be nontender.
Mr. Bower is a 78-year-old patient who is unable to assume a standing position for
a routine rectal examination. Which is the best alternative position?
, 2
A. Lithotomy position
B. Left lateral position with the knees flexed
C. Knee-chest position
D. Prone position
B: CorrectThe rectal examination can be performed with the patient in any of
these positions: knee-chest; left lateral with hips and knees flexed; lithotomy, or
standing with the hips flexed and the upper body supported by the examining
table.
A pregnant woman presents to the emergency department with the complaint of
dark stools. She tells the examiner, "I read in a magazine that this is a sign of
bleeding." Which question by the examiner is most applicable for this situation?
A. "Where did you read that information?"
B. "Have you been giving yourself enemas?"
C. "How much fruit and vegetable intake have you had in the last few days?"
D. "Are you taking prenatal vitamins?"
D: CorrectDuring pregnancy, the stool color may be dark green or black if the
woman is taking iron supplements.
Mr. Allen is a 56-year-old patient who presents for a routine physical examination.
Before palpating his prostate, you should tell him, "You may feel an urge to
_______."
A. urinate
B. defecate
C. vomit
D. faint
, 3
A: CorrectIn men, you can palpate the posterior surface of the prostate gland on
the anterior wall. Tell the patient that he may feel the urge to urinate but that he
will not.
What is the best method of verifying anal patency in a newborn?
A. Inserting a lubricated thermometer through the anus and into the rectum
B. Inserting the fifth digit through the anus and into the rectum
C. Checking for the passage of meconium in the first 24 to 48 hours after birth
D. Inspecting the anus for an anal opening
C: CorrectIf there is no passage of stool in 24 hours in a newborn, suspect rectal
atresia, Hirschsprung disease (congenital megacolon), or cystic fibrosis.
Mr. Santos is a 67-year-old patient who presents to your office. On examination,
you palpate his prostate, noting that it is hard and irregular. The median sulcus is
not palpable. These findings are consistent with:
A. prostate cancer.
B. benign prostate hypertrophy.
C. prostatitis.
D. a rectal mass.
A: CorrectWith cancer of the prostate, a hard, irregular nodule may be palpable
on prostate examination.
, 4
Mr. Mills, a 38-year-old patient, presents with severe rectal pain and fever. Which
condition might be the cause of the symptoms?
A. An imperforate anus
B. A perianal abscess
C. Benign prostatic hypertrophy
D. An anorectal fistula
B: CorrectPerianal abscess is an infection of the soft tissues surrounding the anal
canal, with formation of a discrete abscess cavity. Symptoms include tenderness,
fever, and pain on defecation or with sitting or walking.
"Boggy, enlarged, and tender" on rectal examination is descriptive of which
condition?
A. Prostatitis
B. Anorectal abscess
C. Prostatic carcinoma
D. Rectal polyp
A: CorrectSeminal vesicles are often involved in prostatitis and may be dilated and
tender on palpation; however, the prostate may feel boggy, enlarged, and tender
or have palpable areas of fibrosis that simulate neoplasm.
A newborn does not pass meconium in the first 24 hours after birth. Which
problem must be suspected?
A. Biliary atresia
B. Cystic fibrosis
NURS 5220 EXAM NEWEST VERSION -2025/2026- 100+ Q AND
ANS MOST POPULAR EXAM GUARANTEED SUCCESS
How is the anal ring assessed?
A. Inspection of the anus
B. External palpation of the anus
C. Use of a sigmoidoscope
D. Rotation of a finger within the anal sphincter
D: CorrectRotate your finger to examine the muscular anal ring.
Which example best describes how firm you expect a healthy prostate gland to
feel?
A. It feels like a soft olive or grape.
B. It feels like the topside of a plastic LEGO piece.
C. It feels like a small baseball.
D. It feels like a pencil eraser
D: . CorrectThe gland should feel like a pencil eraser—firm, smooth, and slightly
movable—and it should be nontender.
Mr. Bower is a 78-year-old patient who is unable to assume a standing position for
a routine rectal examination. Which is the best alternative position?
, 2
A. Lithotomy position
B. Left lateral position with the knees flexed
C. Knee-chest position
D. Prone position
B: CorrectThe rectal examination can be performed with the patient in any of
these positions: knee-chest; left lateral with hips and knees flexed; lithotomy, or
standing with the hips flexed and the upper body supported by the examining
table.
A pregnant woman presents to the emergency department with the complaint of
dark stools. She tells the examiner, "I read in a magazine that this is a sign of
bleeding." Which question by the examiner is most applicable for this situation?
A. "Where did you read that information?"
B. "Have you been giving yourself enemas?"
C. "How much fruit and vegetable intake have you had in the last few days?"
D. "Are you taking prenatal vitamins?"
D: CorrectDuring pregnancy, the stool color may be dark green or black if the
woman is taking iron supplements.
Mr. Allen is a 56-year-old patient who presents for a routine physical examination.
Before palpating his prostate, you should tell him, "You may feel an urge to
_______."
A. urinate
B. defecate
C. vomit
D. faint
, 3
A: CorrectIn men, you can palpate the posterior surface of the prostate gland on
the anterior wall. Tell the patient that he may feel the urge to urinate but that he
will not.
What is the best method of verifying anal patency in a newborn?
A. Inserting a lubricated thermometer through the anus and into the rectum
B. Inserting the fifth digit through the anus and into the rectum
C. Checking for the passage of meconium in the first 24 to 48 hours after birth
D. Inspecting the anus for an anal opening
C: CorrectIf there is no passage of stool in 24 hours in a newborn, suspect rectal
atresia, Hirschsprung disease (congenital megacolon), or cystic fibrosis.
Mr. Santos is a 67-year-old patient who presents to your office. On examination,
you palpate his prostate, noting that it is hard and irregular. The median sulcus is
not palpable. These findings are consistent with:
A. prostate cancer.
B. benign prostate hypertrophy.
C. prostatitis.
D. a rectal mass.
A: CorrectWith cancer of the prostate, a hard, irregular nodule may be palpable
on prostate examination.
, 4
Mr. Mills, a 38-year-old patient, presents with severe rectal pain and fever. Which
condition might be the cause of the symptoms?
A. An imperforate anus
B. A perianal abscess
C. Benign prostatic hypertrophy
D. An anorectal fistula
B: CorrectPerianal abscess is an infection of the soft tissues surrounding the anal
canal, with formation of a discrete abscess cavity. Symptoms include tenderness,
fever, and pain on defecation or with sitting or walking.
"Boggy, enlarged, and tender" on rectal examination is descriptive of which
condition?
A. Prostatitis
B. Anorectal abscess
C. Prostatic carcinoma
D. Rectal polyp
A: CorrectSeminal vesicles are often involved in prostatitis and may be dilated and
tender on palpation; however, the prostate may feel boggy, enlarged, and tender
or have palpable areas of fibrosis that simulate neoplasm.
A newborn does not pass meconium in the first 24 hours after birth. Which
problem must be suspected?
A. Biliary atresia
B. Cystic fibrosis
