ATI RN
NCLEX Practice Questions Health Assessment Questions
Question 1 of 5
When assessing inflammation in a dark-skinned person, the nurse may need to:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Step 1: Dark skin may not show cyanosis well, making choice A less reliable. Step 2: Erythema refers to redness, which may not be easily visible in dark skin, making choice B less suitable. Step 3: Palpating for edema and increased warmth allows for a more reliable assessment of inflammation in dark skin, making choice C the correct answer. Step 4: Palpating for tenderness and ecchymosis may be useful but not specific to inflammation assessment in dark skin, making choice D less relevant.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse notices that a patient's palpebral fissures are not symmetrical. On examination, the nurse may find that there has been damage to:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for why choice C (CN VII) is correct: 1. Palpebral fissures are controlled by muscles innervated by CN VII (facial nerve). 2. Damage to CN VII can result in facial asymmetry, affecting palpebral fissures. 3. CN III (choice A) controls eye movement, not palpebral fissures. 4. CN V (choice B) controls facial sensation, not palpebral fissures. 5. CN VIII (choice D) controls hearing and balance, not palpebral fissures. Summary: Choice C is correct as damage to CN VII affects palpebral fissures due to facial muscle innervation. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they do not control the muscles responsible for palpebral fissures.
Question 3 of 5
The muscles in the neck that are innervated by CN XI are the:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: sternomastoid and trapezius. CN XI, also known as the spinal accessory nerve, innervates the sternomastoid and trapezius muscles. The sternomastoid muscle is responsible for neck rotation and flexion, while the trapezius muscle is responsible for shoulder movement and stability. The other choices are incorrect because the omohyoid and sternomandibular muscles are not innervated by CN XI. The spinal accessory nerve does not innervate the omohyoid muscle, and the sternomandibular muscle is not a recognized muscle in the neck. Therefore, choices B, C, and D are incorrect.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is aware that all of the areas in the body where lymph nodes are accessible for examination are the:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because lymph nodes are accessible for examination in the head and neck, arms, breasts, and axillae. Lymph nodes are present in these areas where they can be easily palpated and assessed for any signs of inflammation or abnormalities. The other choices are incorrect because they do not include all the areas where lymph nodes are accessible for examination. Choice A does not include the axillae, which is a crucial area for examining lymph nodes in the arms. Choice B does not include the axillae and breasts. Choice D does not include the breasts, which are important areas for lymph node examination in cases of breast cancer or other breast-related conditions.
Question 5 of 5
A patient reports a severe throbbing headache in the frontotemporal area of his head that he experienced while studying for an examination, He says that the headache was somewhat relieved when he lay down. He tells the nurse that his mother also used to get these headaches. The nurse suspects that he may be suffering from:
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: migraine headaches. The patient's symptoms of severe throbbing headache in the frontotemporal area, triggered by stress (studying for an exam), partially relieved by lying down, and family history of similar headaches are indicative of migraines. Migraines commonly present with these characteristics, often exacerbated by stress and have a genetic component. A: Hypertension does not typically present with throbbing headaches in a specific area or relief with lying down. B: Cluster headaches are characterized by severe, unilateral headaches around the eye area, not frontotemporal. C: Tension headaches usually present as dull, constant pressure-type headaches, not throbbing, and do not have the familial pattern described by the patient.