ATI RN
health assessment practice questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
During an examination, the nurse finds that a patient's left temporal artery is more tortuous and feels hardened and tender compared with the right temporal artery. What condition does the nurse suspect?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Temporal arteritis. Temporal arteritis is characterized by inflammation of the temporal arteries, leading to symptoms such as tenderness, hardness, and tortuosity. The left temporal artery being more affected than the right is a common presentation. Crepitation (choice A) refers to a crackling sound or sensation, typically associated with bone or joint abnormalities, not arterial inflammation. Mastoiditis (choice B) is an infection of the mastoid bone behind the ear, not related to temporal arteries. Bell's palsy (choice D) is a condition affecting facial nerves, not arteries.
Question 2 of 5
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.
Question 3 of 5
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 4 of 5
A patient's vision is recorded as 20/80 in each eye. The nurse recognizes that this finding indicates:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: poor vision. In the 20/80 visual acuity notation, 20 represents the test distance in feet, and 80 represents the line on the eye chart that the patient can read. Therefore, a person with 20/80 vision can only see at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can see at 80 feet. This indicates poor vision as the patient's visual acuity is significantly below normal. Summary: - Choice B (acute vision) is incorrect as 20/80 vision indicates poor vision, not exceptional sharpness. - Choice C (normal vision) is incorrect as 20/80 vision is below normal range. - Choice D (presbyopia) is incorrect as presbyopia is a condition related to aging and difficulty focusing on close objects, not specifically indicated by 20/80 vision.
Question 5 of 5
A 60-year-old man is at the clinic for an eye examination. The nurse suspects that he has ptosis of one eye. Ptosis is:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: drooping of the upper eyelid. Ptosis refers to the drooping of the upper eyelid, which may occur due to weakened eyelid muscles or nerve damage. In this case, the nurse suspects ptosis in the 60-year-old man, which is likely due to age-related muscle weakness. Choice A, a cloudy cornea, is incorrect as it refers to a different eye condition. Choice B, an unequal red reflex, is incorrect as it is related to abnormalities in the retina. Choice D, protruding and bulging eyes, is incorrect as it indicates exophthalmos, a condition typically seen in thyroid eye disease.