ATI RN
Physical Assessment Nursing Practice Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
You are conducting a workshop on the measurement of jugular venous pulsation. As part of your instruction, you tell the students to make sure that they can distinguish between the jugular venous pulsation and the carotid pulse. Which one of the following characteristics is typical of the carotid pulse?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The carotid pulse is typically palpable, meaning that you can feel it when you place your fingers lightly on the carotid artery located in the neck. In contrast, jugular venous pulsation is not typically palpable. When examining jugular venous pulsation, it is important to differentiate it from the carotid pulse by considering factors such as the quality of pulsation, response to pressure, and changes with position.
Question 2 of 5
You are examining a patient with emphysema in exacerbation and are having difficulty hearing his heart sounds. What should you do to obtain a good examination?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In a patient with emphysema, lung hyperinflation can make it difficult to hear heart sounds anteriorly. Listening posteriorly, especially between the scapulae, can often provide a clearer auscultation of the heart sounds due to reduced interference from lung sounds. The posterior approach can also help avoid any abdominal sounds that might obscure the cardiac sounds when auscultating in the epigastrium. It is important to make sure the patient is in a comfortable position for better examination, and in this case, listening posteriorly would be the best choice for assessing heart sounds in a patient with emphysema in exacerbation.
Question 3 of 5
Mrs. Patton, a 48-year-old woman, comes to your office with a complaint of a breast mass. Without any other information, what is the risk of this mass being cancerous?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: When a woman over the age of 40 presents with a breast mass, the risk of the mass being cancerous is around 40%. This risk is higher in older women compared to younger women. It is important for Mrs. Patton to undergo further evaluation, which may include imaging tests, a biopsy, and consultation with a specialist to confirm the diagnosis and determine the appropriate treatment. It is crucial to address breast masses promptly to ensure timely management and optimal outcomes.
Question 4 of 5
A 27-year-old policewoman comes to your clinic, complaining of severe left-sided back pain radiating down into her groin. It began in the middle of the night and woke her up suddenly. It hurts in her bladder to urinate but she has no burning on the outside. She has had no frequency or urgency with urination but she has seen blood in her urine. She has had nausea with the pain but no vomiting or fever. She denies any other recent illness or injuries. Her past medical history is unremarkable. She denies tobacco or drug use and drinks alcohol rarely. Her mother has high blood pressure and her father is healthy. On examination she looks her stated age and is in obvious pain. She is lying on her left side trying to remain very still. Her cardiac, pulmonary, and abdominal examinations are unremarkable. She has tenderness just inferior to the left costovertebral angle. Her urine pregnancy test is negative and her urine analysis shows red blood cells. What type of urinary tract pain is she most likely to have?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The policewoman's presentation of severe left-sided back pain radiating down into her groin, associated with nausea, blood in urine, and tenderness just inferior to the left costovertebral angle is highly suggestive of a kidney stone causing ureteral colic. Kidney stones are solid masses made of crystals that form in the kidneys and can cause sudden severe pain as they move through the urinary tract, leading to blockage and subsequent stretching of the ureter (the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder), resulting in pain that radiates from the flank down to the groin region. The presence of blood in the urine (hematuria) is a common finding with kidney stones due to irritation and damage to the ureteral lining as the stone passes. The negative urine pregnancy test rules out pregnancy-related causes of urinary symptoms. Musculoskeletal pain is less likely given the location and character of the pain
Question 5 of 5
You are palpating the abdomen and feel a small mass. Which of the following would you do next?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: When palpating the abdomen and feeling a small mass, the next step would be to perform an ultrasound. Ultrasound imaging is a non-invasive and reliable way to further evaluate the size, location, and characteristics of the mass. It can provide valuable information to determine the nature of the mass, such as whether it is a cyst, a solid mass, or another type of abnormality. This imaging modality can help guide further management and treatment decisions, such as determining if surgery is necessary or if further monitoring is required. Ultrasound is a safe and commonly used tool in assessing abdominal masses, making it an appropriate next step in this scenario.