NR 509 Week 3 Quiz| Chamberlain University|
Actual Exam Questions and Correct Answers
One key to a thorough and accurate physical examination is developing a systematic sequence of
examination. As the nurse practitioner, you should organize your physical examination around
which of the following goals?
A) Completing the exam as quickly as possible
B) Ensuring consistency and minimizing patient discomfort
C) Focusing only on the patient’s chief complaint
D) Performing tests in alphabetical order
Correct Answer: B) Ensuring consistency and minimizing patient discomfort
Explanation: A systematic sequence ensures thoroughness, consistency across patients, and
minimizes discomfort by organizing the exam logically (e.g., head-to-toe). Speed, focusing only
on the chief complaint, or alphabetical order compromises thoroughness.
Mr. Smith, a 46-year-old contractor, reports pain in the right great toe. “Feels like a ton of bricks
fell on my foot.” He reports pain starting in his great toe and extending up his leg. This is:
A) Objective data
B) Subjective data
C) Diagnostic data
D) Clinical impression
Correct Answer: B) Subjective data
Explanation: The patient’s description of pain and its characteristics is subjective data, as it is
based on his personal experience. Objective data are measurable, diagnostic data come from
tests, and clinical impression is the provider’s interpretation.
A 33-year-old male patient presents to the office complaining of fatigue, weight changes, aches,
and difficulty sleeping. The patient admits that a recent breakup and financial troubles are
impacting his mood. Which of the following would be the highest priority to assess during the
interview?
A) Nutritional habits
,B) Mental health status
C) Family history of chronic diseases
D) Exercise routine
Correct Answer: B) Mental health status
Explanation: The patient’s reported mood impact from a breakup and financial troubles,
combined with symptoms like fatigue and insomnia, suggests a mental health issue (e.g.,
depression). This is the highest priority due to potential severity and impact on overall health.
The components of the health history include all of the following except:
A) Review of systems
B) Past medical history
C) Vital signs
D) Social history
Correct Answer: C) Vital signs
Explanation: The health history includes review of systems, past medical history, social history,
family history, and chief complaint. Vital signs are part of the physical exam, not the history.
For which of the following patients would a comprehensive health history be appropriate?
A) A patient with an acute ankle sprain
B) A new patient establishing care with no specific complaints
C) A patient with a follow-up for hypertension
D) A patient with a minor laceration
Correct Answer: B) A new patient establishing care with no specific complaints
Explanation: A comprehensive health history is appropriate for new patients to establish a
baseline, especially without specific complaints. Acute or follow-up visits typically require
focused histories.
Smith is a pleasant obese female with a BMI of 37, BP 116/82, HR 74, RR 22, SpO2 95%. This
information is:
A) Subjective data
, B) Objective data
C) Health history
D) Review of systems
Correct Answer: B) Objective data
Explanation: BMI, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and SpO2 are measurable
findings from the physical exam, making them objective data. “Pleasant” is subjective, but the
primary data here are objective.
Which of the following represents appropriate documentation under the review of systems
section of SOAP notes?
A) Patient reports no chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations
B) BP 120/80, HR 76, RR 16
C) Diagnosed with hypertension in 2015
D) Patient works as a teacher
Correct Answer: A) Patient reports no chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations
Explanation: The review of systems documents patient-reported symptoms (or absence thereof)
for each body system. Vital signs are objective, past diagnoses belong in medical history, and
occupation is social history.
You are seeing an elderly man with multiple complaints. He has chronic arthritis, pain from an
old war injury, and headaches. Today he complains of these pains as well as a dull chest pain
under his sternum. What would the order of priority be for your problem list?
A) Chest pain, arthritis, war injury pain, headaches
B) Arthritis, chest pain, headaches, war injury pain
C) Chest pain, headaches, arthritis, war injury pain
D) Headaches, chest pain, arthritis, war injury pain
Correct Answer: A) Chest pain, arthritis, war injury pain, headaches
Explanation: Chest pain is a first-level priority due to potential life-threatening causes (e.g.,
cardiac). Arthritis and war injury pain are second-level (chronic but urgent), and headaches are
third-level (less urgent unless severe).
Actual Exam Questions and Correct Answers
One key to a thorough and accurate physical examination is developing a systematic sequence of
examination. As the nurse practitioner, you should organize your physical examination around
which of the following goals?
A) Completing the exam as quickly as possible
B) Ensuring consistency and minimizing patient discomfort
C) Focusing only on the patient’s chief complaint
D) Performing tests in alphabetical order
Correct Answer: B) Ensuring consistency and minimizing patient discomfort
Explanation: A systematic sequence ensures thoroughness, consistency across patients, and
minimizes discomfort by organizing the exam logically (e.g., head-to-toe). Speed, focusing only
on the chief complaint, or alphabetical order compromises thoroughness.
Mr. Smith, a 46-year-old contractor, reports pain in the right great toe. “Feels like a ton of bricks
fell on my foot.” He reports pain starting in his great toe and extending up his leg. This is:
A) Objective data
B) Subjective data
C) Diagnostic data
D) Clinical impression
Correct Answer: B) Subjective data
Explanation: The patient’s description of pain and its characteristics is subjective data, as it is
based on his personal experience. Objective data are measurable, diagnostic data come from
tests, and clinical impression is the provider’s interpretation.
A 33-year-old male patient presents to the office complaining of fatigue, weight changes, aches,
and difficulty sleeping. The patient admits that a recent breakup and financial troubles are
impacting his mood. Which of the following would be the highest priority to assess during the
interview?
A) Nutritional habits
,B) Mental health status
C) Family history of chronic diseases
D) Exercise routine
Correct Answer: B) Mental health status
Explanation: The patient’s reported mood impact from a breakup and financial troubles,
combined with symptoms like fatigue and insomnia, suggests a mental health issue (e.g.,
depression). This is the highest priority due to potential severity and impact on overall health.
The components of the health history include all of the following except:
A) Review of systems
B) Past medical history
C) Vital signs
D) Social history
Correct Answer: C) Vital signs
Explanation: The health history includes review of systems, past medical history, social history,
family history, and chief complaint. Vital signs are part of the physical exam, not the history.
For which of the following patients would a comprehensive health history be appropriate?
A) A patient with an acute ankle sprain
B) A new patient establishing care with no specific complaints
C) A patient with a follow-up for hypertension
D) A patient with a minor laceration
Correct Answer: B) A new patient establishing care with no specific complaints
Explanation: A comprehensive health history is appropriate for new patients to establish a
baseline, especially without specific complaints. Acute or follow-up visits typically require
focused histories.
Smith is a pleasant obese female with a BMI of 37, BP 116/82, HR 74, RR 22, SpO2 95%. This
information is:
A) Subjective data
, B) Objective data
C) Health history
D) Review of systems
Correct Answer: B) Objective data
Explanation: BMI, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and SpO2 are measurable
findings from the physical exam, making them objective data. “Pleasant” is subjective, but the
primary data here are objective.
Which of the following represents appropriate documentation under the review of systems
section of SOAP notes?
A) Patient reports no chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations
B) BP 120/80, HR 76, RR 16
C) Diagnosed with hypertension in 2015
D) Patient works as a teacher
Correct Answer: A) Patient reports no chest pain, shortness of breath, or palpitations
Explanation: The review of systems documents patient-reported symptoms (or absence thereof)
for each body system. Vital signs are objective, past diagnoses belong in medical history, and
occupation is social history.
You are seeing an elderly man with multiple complaints. He has chronic arthritis, pain from an
old war injury, and headaches. Today he complains of these pains as well as a dull chest pain
under his sternum. What would the order of priority be for your problem list?
A) Chest pain, arthritis, war injury pain, headaches
B) Arthritis, chest pain, headaches, war injury pain
C) Chest pain, headaches, arthritis, war injury pain
D) Headaches, chest pain, arthritis, war injury pain
Correct Answer: A) Chest pain, arthritis, war injury pain, headaches
Explanation: Chest pain is a first-level priority due to potential life-threatening causes (e.g.,
cardiac). Arthritis and war injury pain are second-level (chronic but urgent), and headaches are
third-level (less urgent unless severe).
