ATI RN
Physical Examination and Health Assessment 8th Edition Test Bank Questions
Question 1 of 9
The following information is best placed in which category? "The patient has had three cesarean sections."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The information provided, specifically about the patient having three cesarean sections, is most appropriate to be placed under the Obstetrics/gynecology category. This category focuses on the healthcare of women, particularly during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum period, which includes details about cesarean sections. This information is not related to adult illnesses, surgeries in general, or psychiatric conditions.
Question 2 of 9
A 55-year-old smoker complains of chest pain and gestures with a closed fist over her sternum to describe it. Which of the following diagnoses should you consider because of her gesture?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The closed fist gesture over the sternum to describe chest pain is a typical characteristic of angina pectoris. Angina pectoris is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood. The gesture of clenching a fist over the sternum is often used to describe the tight, squeezing, or pressure-like discomfort experienced with angina. This type of chest pain is typically triggered by physical or emotional stress and is relieved by rest or medications like nitroglycerin. Considering the patient's age, smoking history, and the description of the chest pain gesture, angina pectoris should be a top consideration in this case.
Question 3 of 9
Mrs. R. is a 92-year-old retired teacher who comes to your clinic accompanied by her daughter. You ask Mrs. R. why she came to your clinic today. She looks at her daughter and doesn't say anything in response to your question. This is an example of which type of challenging patient?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Mrs. R. is exhibiting characteristics of a silent patient because she does not respond or engage in conversation when directly asked a question by the healthcare provider. In this case, Mrs. R.'s lack of verbal response could be due to various reasons such as shyness, anxiety, cognitive impairment, or communication barriers. It is important for healthcare providers to recognize and adapt to different communication styles and preferences of patients to ensure effective patient-provider interaction and care. In situations like these, it may be helpful to provide alternative communication methods or allow more time for the patient to respond comfortably.
Question 4 of 9
Steve has just seen a 5-year-old girl who wheezes when exposed to cats. The patient's family history is positive for asthma. You think the child most likely has asthma. What have you just accomplished?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: By connecting the patient's presenting symptoms (wheezing when exposed to cats) and family history of asthma, you have identified asthma as the most likely diagnosis for the 5-year-old girl. This initial conclusion, based on the available information, is known as a working diagnosis. Further evaluation and testing may be required to confirm the diagnosis, but at this stage, you have established a preliminary understanding of the likely condition affecting the patient.
Question 5 of 9
Jim is a 60-year-old man who presents with vomiting. He denies seeing any blood with emesis, which has been occurring for 2 days. He does note a dark, granular substance resembling the coffee left in the filter after brewing. What do you suspect?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The description of dark, granular material resembling coffee grounds in the vomitus suggests upper gastrointestinal bleeding. One common cause of upper GI bleeding is a peptic ulcer, which can present with symptoms such as vomiting blood or coffee ground material. Peptic ulcers can develop in the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine (duodenum). Risk factors for peptic ulcers include infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria, the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), smoking, and alcohol consumption. Prompt evaluation and management are necessary in cases of upper GI bleeding to address the underlying cause and prevent complications.
Question 6 of 9
You are working in a college health clinic and seeing a young woman with a red, painful, swollen DIP joint on the left index finger. There are also a few papules, pustules, and vesicles on reddened bases, located on the distal extremities. This would be consistent with which of the following?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The description provided indicates a presentation consistent with gonococcal arthritis. Gonococcal arthritis is an infectious arthritis caused by the bacteria Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Symptoms typically include red, swollen, and painful joints, especially affecting the distal joints of the limbs. The presence of papules, pustules, and vesicles on reddened bases at the distal extremities is characteristic of disseminated gonococcal infection. In women, the DIP joint involvement in the finger can be indicative of this condition. Prompt diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics are essential to prevent complications associated with gonococcal arthritis. It is important to consider a sexually transmitted infection like gonorrhea in young patients presenting with joint symptoms and cutaneous findings.
Question 7 of 9
Her head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat examinations are essentially normal. Inspection of her anterior and posterior chest shows no abnormalities. On auscultation of her chest, there is decreased air movement and a high-pitched whistling on expiration in all lobes. Percussion reveals resonant lungs. Which disorder of the thorax or lung does this best describe?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The symptoms described, including decreased air movement, high-pitched whistling (wheezing) on expiration in all lobes, and resonant lungs on percussion, are characteristic findings of asthma. Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition characterized by airway inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and increased mucus production, leading to symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and cough. The presence of wheezing, particularly on expiration, is a classic sign of asthma. In contrast, spontaneous pneumothorax would typically present with sudden chest pain and shortness of breath, accompanied by hyperresonant percussion notes due to trapped air in the pleural space. COPD, a chronic lung condition characterized by progressive airflow limitation, would often present with symptoms such as chronic cough, sputum production, and dyspnea on exertion. Pneumonia is an infection of the lung tissue,
Question 8 of 9
You notice a patient has a strong pulse and then a weak pulse. This pattern continues. Which of the following is likely?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The scenario described with a strong pulse followed by a weak pulse is characteristic of pulsus paradoxus, a finding often associated with cardiac tamponade. Cardiac tamponade is a medical emergency where there is an accumulation of fluid (such as blood) in the pericardial sac that exerts pressure on the heart, limiting its ability to pump effectively. As a result, patients may exhibit this pulsus paradoxus, where the pulse strength varies with respiration. The other conditions listed (emphysema, asthma exacerbation, severe left heart failure) are not typically associated with this specific pulsatile pattern.
Question 9 of 9
A patient is assigned a visual acuity of 20/100 in her left eye. Which of the following is true?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In the context of visual acuity, the numbers in the ratio 20/100 represent a comparison between the patient's vision and normal vision. Specifically, a visual acuity of 20/100 means that the patient can see at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can see at 100 feet. This indicates that the patient's vision is reduced, as she needs to be closer to see the same level of detail compared to someone with normal vision.