ATI RN
health assessment practice questions nursing Questions
Question 1 of 5
While performing a mouth assessment on a patient, the nurse notices a 1-cm ulceration that is crusted and has an elevated border. It is located on the outer third of the lower lip. What other information would be most important for the nurse to obtain?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: When the patient first noticed the lesion. This information is crucial for determining the duration of the ulceration, aiding in diagnosing potential causes like trauma or infections. Nutritional status (Choice A) may not be directly related to the specific lesion. Whether the patient has had a recent cold (Choice C) is less relevant unless there are other symptoms present. Exposure to sick animals (Choice D) is not pertinent to the mouth ulceration. Therefore, obtaining information on when the patient first noticed the lesion is the most important for proper assessment and treatment planning.
Question 2 of 5
While performing a mouth assessment on a patient, the nurse notices a 1-cm ulceration that is crusted and has an elevated border. It is located on the outer third of the lower lip. What other information would be most important for the nurse to obtain?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: When the patient first noticed the lesion. This information is crucial for determining the duration of the ulceration, aiding in diagnosing potential causes like trauma or infections. Nutritional status (Choice A) may not be directly related to the specific lesion. Whether the patient has had a recent cold (Choice C) is less relevant unless there are other symptoms present. Exposure to sick animals (Choice D) is not pertinent to the mouth ulceration. Therefore, obtaining information on when the patient first noticed the lesion is the most important for proper assessment and treatment planning.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is unable to suction the nares of a newborn immediately following delivery. The attempt to pass a catheter through both nasal cavities has met with no success. What would be the nurse's best action in this situation?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale for Correct Answer (C): 1. Immediate intervention is crucial as the newborn needs clear airways for breathing. 2. Inability to suction the nares can lead to respiratory distress and compromise the infant's oxygenation. 3. Waiting or attempting again may delay necessary actions, risking the baby's health. 4. Physician's assistance may be needed, but recognizing the urgency is the nurse's responsibility to ensure timely care. Summary of Incorrect Choices: A. Attempting to suction again with a bulb syringe may not resolve the issue and delay necessary intervention. B. Waiting for the infant to stop crying is not ideal as it may prolong the risk of respiratory distress. D. While physician assistance may be necessary, immediate recognition of the critical situation is the nurse's primary responsibility.
Question 4 of 5
In assessing the sclera of a patient of African descent, which of the following would be an expected finding?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because people of African descent commonly have a pigmented layer near the outer canthus of the lower lid called the "plica semilunaris." This is a normal anatomical variation in this population. Yellow fatty deposits over the cornea (choice A) are not typical findings in this demographic. Yellow color of the sclera extending up to the iris (choice C) is not a characteristic feature. The presence of small brown macules on the sclera (choice D) is also not a common finding in individuals of African descent.
Question 5 of 5
When a light is directed across the iris of the eye from the temporal side, the examiner is assessing for:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: the presence of shadows, which may indicate glaucoma. When a light is directed across the iris from the temporal side, it helps in evaluating the presence of shadows in the anterior chamber angle, which can suggest a narrow or closed angle glaucoma. This technique is known as transillumination test and is important in detecting potential glaucoma cases. A: Drainage from dacryocystitis is incorrect as it is typically assessed by pressing on the lacrimal sac area to observe for discharge. B: Conjunctivitis over the iris is incorrect as conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, not the iris. D: A scattered light reflex indicative of cataracts is incorrect as cataracts cause clouding of the lens, not scattering of light across the iris.