ATI RN
Health Assessment and Physical Examination Test Bank Questions
Question 1 of 9
A patient is concerned about a dark skin lesion on her anterolateral abdomen. It has not changed, and there is no discharge or bleeding. On examination there is a medium brown circular lesion on the anterolateral wall of the abdomen. It is soft, has regular borders, is evenly pigmented, and is about 7 mm in diameter. What is this lesion?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Given the description provided, the lesion appears to be a dermatofibroma. Dermatofibromas are common benign skin lesions that typically present as a firm, solitary nodule on the skin. They commonly occur on the lower extremities but can also be found on the trunk. The characteristics of a dermatofibroma include being firm to the touch, having regular borders, being evenly pigmented, and a diameter typically less than 1 cm to 2 cm. They are usually painless and do not change significantly over time.
Question 2 of 9
Which area of the arm drains to the epitrochlear nodes?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The area of the arm that drains to the epitrochlear nodes includes the ulnar surface of the forearm and hand, little and ring fingers, and the ulnar side of the middle finger. The epitrochlear nodes are located in the medial aspect of the arm above the elbow, close to the insertion of the biceps brachii muscle. These nodes receive lymphatic drainage from the above-mentioned areas and play a role in the immune response against infections in these regions.
Question 3 of 9
A patient presents for evaluation of a sharp, aching chest pain which increases with breathing. Which anatomic area would you localize the symptom to?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The symptom described - sharp, aching chest pain that increases with breathing - is typically associated with musculoskeletal issues. The pain worsening with breathing suggests a connection to the movements of the chest wall, which could involve the muscles, bones, or joints in that area. Conditions such as costochondritis (inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone) or muscle strains in the chest wall are common causes of chest pain that worsens with breathing. This localization to the musculoskeletal system is based on the characteristics of the pain and how it is affected by breathing, helping to narrow down the differential diagnosis.
Question 4 of 9
It started a few hours ago, and she has noted nausea with sensitivity to light; she has had headaches like this in the past, usually less than one per week, but not as severe. She does not know of any inciting factors. There has been no change in the frequency of her headaches. She usually takes an over- the-counter analgesic, and this results in resolution of the headache. Based on this description, what is the most likely diagnosis of the type of headache?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The description of the headache as starting a few hours ago, associated with nausea, sensitivity to light, and being severe in intensity suggests a migraine headache. Migraine headaches are often accompanied by these symptoms, known as migraine features. The fact that the patient experiences headaches like this less than once a week and typically uses over-the-counter analgesics to relieve them is also suggestive of migraines. Tension headaches typically present as a more mild to moderate, band-like pressure around the head, without the associated symptoms of nausea and sensitivity to light. Cluster headaches are characterized by excruciating pain around one eye, often accompanied by other symptoms like redness or tearing in the eye. Analgesic rebound headaches occur due to overuse of pain medications and typically present as daily headaches that improve with the same medication that caused them in the first place.
Question 5 of 9
A 72-year-old teacher comes to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation after being in the hospital for 6 weeks. She was treated for sepsis and respiratory failure and had to be on the ventilator for 3 weeks. You are completing your initial assessment and are evaluating her skin condition. On her sacrum there is full-thickness skin loss that is 5 cm in diameter, with damage to the subcutaneous tissue. The underlying muscle is not affected. You diagnose this as a pressure ulcer. What is the stage of this ulcer?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A stage 3 pressure ulcer involves full-thickness skin loss with damage and necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue, but the underlying muscle is not affected. In this case, the description of the full-thickness skin loss with involvement of the subcutaneous tissue but not the muscle corresponds to a stage 3 pressure ulcer. Stage 1 involves intact skin with non-blanchable redness, stage 2 involves partial-thickness skin loss with a shallow open ulcer, and stage 4 involves full-thickness tissue loss with the involvement of muscle, bone, or supporting structures.
Question 6 of 9
Which of the following is consistent with good percussion technique?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Leaving the plexor finger on the pleximeter after each strike is consistent with good percussion technique. This helps to maintain stability and precision during percussion by providing a consistent point of contact for accurate assessment of the underlying structures. This technique also helps to control the force and angle of the percussive strike, ensuring accurate interpretation of the resulting sounds produced. Maintaining this contact can enhance the effectiveness of percussion as a diagnostic tool in physical examinations.
Question 7 of 9
Mrs. LaFarge is a 60-year-old who presents with urinary incontinence. She is unable to get to the bathroom quickly enough when she senses the need to urinate. She has normal mobility. Which of the following is most likely?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Urge incontinence, also known as overactive bladder, is characterized by a sudden and strong urge to urinate which is difficult to control. In this case, Mrs. LaFarge is unable to get to the bathroom quickly enough when she senses the need to urinate, which indicates a lack of control over the urge to urinate. This is typically caused by involuntary contractions of the bladder muscle. Stress incontinence, on the other hand, is leakage of urine during activities that increase intra-abdominal pressure, such as coughing or exercising. Overflow incontinence is characterized by urinary retention and constant dribbling of urine due to the bladder being unable to empty properly. Functional incontinence occurs when a person has normal bladder control but is unable to reach the bathroom in time due to physical or cognitive impairments. Since Mrs. LaFarge is experiencing a sudden and strong urge to urinate that she cannot
Question 8 of 9
You ask a patient to draw a clock. He fills in all the numbers on the right half of the circle. What do you suspect?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Filling in all the numbers on just one side of the clock when asked to draw a clock suggests a visual field deficit, typically seen in hemianopsia. Hemianopsia is a visual impairment where half of the visual field is lost due to neurological damage or injury, such as a stroke. This causes the individual to have difficulty perceiving or attending to objects in the affected visual field. In this case, the patient's right visual field may be affected, leading to the specific pattern of filling numbers on the right half of the clock. It is essential to further assess and refer the patient for a complete visual field evaluation and neurological examination.
Question 9 of 9
A patient is concerned about a dark skin lesion on her anterolateral abdomen. It has not changed, and there is no discharge or bleeding. On examination there is a medium brown circular lesion on the anterolateral wall of the abdomen. It is soft, has regular borders, is evenly pigmented, and is about 7 mm in diameter. What is this lesion?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Given the description provided, the lesion appears to be a dermatofibroma. Dermatofibromas are common benign skin lesions that typically present as a firm, solitary nodule on the skin. They commonly occur on the lower extremities but can also be found on the trunk. The characteristics of a dermatofibroma include being firm to the touch, having regular borders, being evenly pigmented, and a diameter typically less than 1 cm to 2 cm. They are usually painless and do not change significantly over time.