ATI RN
health assessment practice questions Questions
Question 1 of 9
A 52-year-old patient complains of seeing occasional"floaters or spots" in front of his eyes. The nurse should:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because floaters are a common and typically benign phenomenon caused by condensed vitreous fibers in the eye. A nurse should educate the patient that floaters are usually not significant and do not require immediate intervention. Option A is incorrect because counting the number of floaters is unnecessary. Option B is incorrect because presuming glaucoma without proper assessment is inappropriate. Option C is incorrect because seeing occasional floaters is a common and normal occurrence in many individuals.
Question 2 of 9
A 31-year-old patient tells the nurse that he has noticed pain in his left ear when people speak loudly to him. The nurse knows that this finding:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because pain in the ear when people speak loudly can be a sign of a middle ear infection. This is due to increased pressure in the middle ear caused by inflammation or fluid buildup. Recruitment (B) is a phenomenon related to hearing loss, not ear pain. Cerumen impaction (D) would not typically cause pain in response to loud sounds. It is not normal for a person of that age to experience ear pain when people speak loudly (A).
Question 3 of 9
When examining the face, the nurse is aware that the two pairs of salivary glands that are accessible to examination are the _____ glands.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C, parotid and submandibular glands. The parotid and submandibular glands are the two pairs of salivary glands that are accessible for examination in the face. The parotid gland is located near the ear, while the submandibular gland is located under the jaw. The other choices are incorrect because: A: Occipital and submental glands are not salivary glands accessible for examination in the face. B: Parotid gland is correct, but jugulodigastric gland is not a salivary gland. D: Submandibular gland is correct, but occipital gland is not a salivary gland.
Question 4 of 9
An 85-year-old female patient is complaining about the fact that the bones in her face have become more noticeable. What explanation should the nurse provide?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because as individuals age, there is a natural decrease in skin elasticity, subcutaneous fat, and moisture content in the skin. These factors contribute to the bones becoming more noticeable in the face. Choice A is incorrect because diets low in protein and high in carbohydrates do not directly cause enlargement of facial bones. Choice B is incorrect as the use of a specific moisturizer does not directly impact the visibility of facial bones. Choice D is incorrect because facial skin actually loses elasticity with age, leading to less taut skin and more prominent bones.
Question 5 of 9
A colleague is assessing an 80-year-old patient who has ear pain and asks him to hold his nose and swallow. Which of the following about this technique is true?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because asking the patient to hold his nose and swallow causes the eustachian tube to open, equalizing pressure in the middle ear. This action will cause the eardrum to bulge slightly outward, making landmarks more visible. Choice A is incorrect as age alone does not preclude the use of this technique. Choice B is incorrect because this technique is not primarily used for assessing otitis media. Choice C is incorrect as it is not specific to upper respiratory infections.
Question 6 of 9
A 52-year-old patient complains of seeing occasional"floaters or spots" in front of his eyes. The nurse should:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because floaters are a common and typically benign phenomenon caused by condensed vitreous fibers in the eye. A nurse should educate the patient that floaters are usually not significant and do not require immediate intervention. Option A is incorrect because counting the number of floaters is unnecessary. Option B is incorrect because presuming glaucoma without proper assessment is inappropriate. Option C is incorrect because seeing occasional floaters is a common and normal occurrence in many individuals.
Question 7 of 9
When assessing the tongue of an adult, an abnormal finding would be:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because a smooth, glossy dorsal surface of the tongue is abnormal in adults and may indicate glossitis or nutritional deficiencies. B is incorrect as a thin white coating is normal. Raised papillae (choice C) may indicate transient lingual papillitis but are not typically abnormal. Visible venous patterns (choice D) are normal on the ventral surface.
Question 8 of 9
In using the ophthalmoscope to assess a patient's eyes, the nurse notes a red glow in the patient's pupils. On the basis of this finding, the nurse would:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale for Correct Answer (C): 1. Red glow in pupils indicates a normal reflection off the inner retina known as the red reflex. 2. The red reflex helps to visualize the internal structures of the eye, including the retina. 3. This finding is expected during an ophthalmoscopic examination. 4. No abnormality is suggested by the presence of a red glow in the pupils. Summary of Other Choices: A: Incorrect. Red glow does not indicate an opacity in the lens or cornea. B: Incorrect. Checking the light source is unnecessary as red glow is a normal finding. D: Incorrect. Referral is not needed as red reflex is a normal part of an ophthalmoscopic exam.
Question 9 of 9
A patient has a normal pupillary light reflex. The nurse recognizes this to indicate that:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because a normal pupillary light reflex involves the constriction of both pupils in response to bright light. This reflex is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, specifically the parasympathetic nervous system. When light is detected by the retina, signals are sent to the brain which then triggers the constriction of both pupils to reduce the amount of light entering the eye. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the pupillary light reflex. Vision convergence, light reflection, and focusing the image at the center of the pupil are not directly related to the pupillary light reflex.