ATI RN
nclex physical and health assessment questions Questions
Question 1 of 9
The nurse is assessing a 3-year-old who has been brought to the clinic for"drainage from the nose." On assessment, it is found that there is a purulent, malodorous drainage from the left naris but no drainage from the right naris. The child is afebrile and has no other symptoms. What should the nurse do next?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Perform an otoscopic examination of the left naris. The rationale for this is that the child presenting with purulent, malodorous drainage from one naris may indicate a foreign body lodged in the left naris causing infection. By performing an otoscopic examination, the nurse can visualize inside the naris to identify any foreign body or signs of infection. This step is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment plan. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect: A: Referring the child for an antibiotic prescription without further assessment is premature and may not address the underlying cause. B: Having the mother bring the child back in 1 week delays the necessary examination and potential treatment. D: Telling the mother that this is normal without proper assessment could lead to overlooking a potential health issue that requires intervention.
Question 2 of 9
The nurse is assessing a 3-year-old who has been brought to the clinic for"drainage from the nose." On assessment, it is found that there is a purulent, malodorous drainage from the left naris but no drainage from the right naris. The child is afebrile and has no other symptoms. What should the nurse do next?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Perform an otoscopic examination of the left naris. The rationale for this is that the child presenting with purulent, malodorous drainage from one naris may indicate a foreign body lodged in the left naris causing infection. By performing an otoscopic examination, the nurse can visualize inside the naris to identify any foreign body or signs of infection. This step is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment plan. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect: A: Referring the child for an antibiotic prescription without further assessment is premature and may not address the underlying cause. B: Having the mother bring the child back in 1 week delays the necessary examination and potential treatment. D: Telling the mother that this is normal without proper assessment could lead to overlooking a potential health issue that requires intervention.
Question 3 of 9
Which of the following assessment findings would the nurse be most concerned about?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, an ulceration with rolled edges on the side of the tongue, as it could indicate a possible malignancy such as oral cancer. The presence of rolled edges is concerning for malignancy due to the irregularity in shape and potential for rapid growth. This finding should be promptly investigated to rule out cancer. A: A painful vesicle inside the cheek for 2 days is likely a benign condition such as a canker sore. B: The presence of moist, nontender Stenson's ducts is a normal finding in the mouth. C: Stippled gingival margins that adhere snugly to the teeth could indicate a healthy gum tissue attachment. In summary, the other choices are less concerning as they are either benign or normal variations, while the presence of an ulceration with rolled edges raises significant suspicion for malignancy.
Question 4 of 9
The mother of a newborn asks the nurse when her baby's eyesight will be fully developed. The nurse should say:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because vision is not fully developed until around 2 years of age. Newborns have limited visual capabilities and their visual acuity improves over time. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because infants do not develop the ability to focus on an object at 8 months (B), develop coordinated eye movements by 3 months (C), or have uncoordinated eye movements in the first year of life (D). These statements do not accurately reflect the timeline of visual development in infants.
Question 5 of 9
Which of the following best describes the test to assess the function of cranial nerve (CN) X?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because cranial nerve X, also known as the vagus nerve, controls the movement of the soft palate and uvula. Asking the patient to say "ahhh" assesses the function of CN X as the soft palate and uvula should elevate symmetrically. A: Observing the patient's ability to articulate specific words does not specifically test CN X function. B: Assessing movement of the hard palate and uvula with the gag reflex primarily tests CN IX (glossopharyngeal nerve). C: Having the patient stick out the tongue and observing for tremors or pulling to one side primarily tests CN XII (hypoglossal nerve).
Question 6 of 9
The nurse is preparing to assess the visual acuity of a 16-year-old patient. How would the nurse proceed?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because the nurse should use the Snellen chart positioned 6.1 m (20 ft) away to assess visual acuity. This is the standard method for testing distance vision. The nurse should ask the patient to read the letters on the chart from the top row down, covering one eye at a time if necessary. This method provides an accurate measurement of visual acuity at a distance. A: Performing the confrontation test assesses visual fields, not visual acuity. B: Using a Jaeger card is for near vision testing, not distance visual acuity. D: Assessing the ability to read newsprint at a close distance does not provide an accurate measurement of visual acuity at a distance.
Question 7 of 9
A mother is concerned that her 18-month-old already has 12 teeth. She is wondering if this is normal for a child of this age. The nurse's best response would be:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. At 18 months, it is expected for a child to have erupted around 16 deciduous teeth. The rationale for this answer is based on dental development milestones. By age 3, most children should have their full set of 20 primary teeth. Therefore, the nurse should inform the mother that it is normal for an 18-month-old to have around 16 teeth. Choice A is incorrect as comparing the mother's teeth at that age is irrelevant to the child's dental development. Choice B is incorrect because all 20 deciduous teeth should be present by age 3, not 4. Choice C is incorrect as having 12 teeth at 18 months is below the expected number of erupted teeth for that age.
Question 8 of 9
When the retina is examined, which of the following is considered a normal finding?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: An optic disc that is a yellow-orange colour. This is a normal finding because the optic disc typically appears yellow-orange due to the presence of nerve fibers. The yellow-orange color is due to the absence of blood vessels in this area. This is a normal anatomical characteristic of the optic disc. Option B is incorrect because blurred optic disc margins can indicate pathology such as papilledema. Option C is incorrect because the presence of pigmented crescents in the macular area can indicate a condition like myopic degeneration, not a normal finding. Option D is incorrect because the macula is normally located temporally, not nasally, to the optic disc.
Question 9 of 9
A patient comes to the clinic complaining of neck and shoulder pain and is unable to turn her head. The nurse suspects damage to CN _____ and starts the examination by:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B (XI; asking the patient to shrug her shoulders against resistance). This is the correct choice because the nurse suspects damage to the spinal accessory nerve (CN XI), which innervates the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Asking the patient to shrug her shoulders against resistance tests the function of the trapezius muscle, which is innervated by CN XI. This examination helps to assess the integrity of the nerve and its ability to innervate the muscle. Palpating the anterior and posterior triangles (choice A) is not specific to CN XI function. Percussing the sternomastoid and submandibular neck muscles (choice C) is related to CN XII, not CN XI. Assessing for a positive Romberg's sign (choice D) is not relevant to testing the function of CN XI.