NCLEX Questions: Health and Physical Assessment (Adult)

The clinic nurse prepares to perform a focused assessment on a client who is complaining of symptoms of a cold, a cough, and lung congestion. Which of the following would the nurse include for this type of assessment? Select all that apply. 1. Auscultating lung sounds 2. Obtaining the client's temperature. 3. Assessing the strength of peripheral pulses. 4. Obtaining information about the client's respirations. 5. Performing a musculoskeletal and neurological examination. 6. Asking the client about a family history of any illness or disease.

1, 2, and 4. Rationale: A focused assessment focuses on a limited or short-term problem, such as the client's complaint. Because the client is complaining of symptoms of a cold, a cough, and lung congestion, the nurse would focus on the respiratory system and the presence of an infection. A complete assessment includes a complete health history and physical examination and forms a baseline database. Assessing the strength of peripheral pulses relates to a vascular assessment, which is not related to this client's complaints. A musculoskeletal and neurological examination also is not related to this client's complaints. Asking the client about a family history of any illness or disease would be included in a complete assessment.

The nurse notes documentation that a client is exhibiting Cheyne-Stoke respirations. On assessment of the client, the nurse expects to not which of the following? 1. Rhythmic respirations with periods of apnea. 2. Regular rapid and deep, sustained respirations. 3. Totally irregular respiration in rhythm and depth. 4. Irregular respirations with pauses at the end of inspiration and expiration.

1. Rhythmic respirations with periods of apnea. Rationale: Cheyne-Stokes respirations are rhythmic respirations with periods of apnea and can indicate a metabolic dysfunction in the cerebral hemisphere or basal ganglia. Neurogenic hyperventilation is a regular, rapid and deep, sustained respiration that can indicate a dysfunction in the low midbrain and middle pons. Ataxic respirations are totally irregular in rhythm and depth and indicate a dysfunction in the medulla. Apneustic respirations are irregular respirations with pauses at the end of inspiration and expiration and can indicate a dysfunction in the middle or caudal pons.

The nurse is instructing a client how to perform a testicular self-examination (TSE). The nurse explains that the best time to perform this exam is: 1. After a shower or bath. 2. While standing to void. 3. After having a bowel movement. 4. While lying in bed before arising.

1. After a shower or bath. Rationale: The nurse should instruct the client to perform the exam on the same day each month. The nurse should also instruct the client that the best time to perform a TSE is after a shower or bath when the hands are warm and soapy and the scrotum is warm. Palpation is easier and the client will be better able to identify any abnormalities. The client would stand to perform the exam, but it would be difficult to perform the exam while voiding. Having a BM is unrelated to performing the TSE.

The nurse is testing the extraocular movements in a client to assess for muscle weakness in the eyes. The nurse implements which physical assessment technique to assess for muscle weakness in the eye? 1. Tests the corneal reflexes. 2. Tests the six cardinal positions of gaze. 3. Tests visual acuity using a Snellen eye chart. 4. Tests sensory function by asking the client to close eyes and then lightly touch the forehead, cheeks, and chin.

2. Tests the six cardinal positions of gaze. Rationale: Testing the six cardinal positions of gaze is done to assess for muscle weakness in the eyes. The client is asked to hold the head steady, then to follow movement of an object through the positions of gaze. The client should follow the object in a parallel manner with the two eyes. A Snellen eye chart assesses visual acuity and cranial nerve II (optic). Testing sensory function by having the client close his or her eyes and then lightly touching areas of the face and testing the corneal reflexes assess cranial nerve V (trigeminal).

The nurse notes documentation that a client has conductive hearing loss. The nurse understands that this type of hearing loss is caused by which of the following? 1. A defect in the cochlea. 2. A defect in the 8th cranial nerve. 3. A physical obstruction to the transmission of sound waves. 4. A defect in the sensory fibers that lead to the cerebral cortex.

3. A physical obstruction to the transmission of sound waves. Rationale: A conductive hearing loss occurs as a result of a physical obstruction to the transmission of sound waves. A sensorineural hearing loss occurs as a result of a pathological process in the inner ear, a defect in the 8th cranial nerve, or a defect of the sensory fibers that lead to the cerebral cortex.

The nurse is performing a neurological assessment on a client and elicits a positive Romberg's sign. The nurse makes this determination based on which observation? 1. An involuntary rhythmic, rapid, twitching of the eyeballs. 2. A dorsiflexion of the ankle and great toe with fanning of the other toes. 3. A significant sway when the client stands erect with feet together, arms at the side, and the eyes closed. 4. A lack of normal sense of position when the client is unable to return extended fingers to a point of reference.

3. A significant sway when the client stands erect with feet together, arms at the side, and the eyes closed. Rationale: In Romberg's test, the client is asked to stand with the feet together and the arms at the sides, and to close the eyes and hold the position; normally the client can maintain posture and balance. A positive Romberg's sign is a vestibular neurological sign that is found when a client exhibits a loss of balance when closing the eyes. This may occur with cerebellar ataxia, loss of proprioception, and loss of vestibular function.

While performing a cardiac assessment on a client with an incompetent heart valve, the nurse auscultates a murmur. Which of the following best describes the sound of a heart murmur? 1. Lub-dub sounds. 2. Scratchy, leathery heart noise. 3. Gentle, blowing or swooshing noise. 4. Abrupt, high-pitched snapping noise.

3. Gentle, blowing or swooshing noise. Rationale: A heart murmur is an abnormal heart sound and is described as a gentle, blowing, swooshing sound. Lub-dub sounds are normal and represent the S1 (first heart sound) and S2 (second heart sound), respectively. A pericardial friction rub is described as a scratchy, leathery heart sound. A click is described as an abrupt, high-pitched snapping sound.

A Spanish-speaking client arrives at the triage desk in the ER department and states to the nurse, "No speak English, need interpreter." What is the best action for the nurse to take? 1. Have one of the client's family members interpret. 2. Have the Spanish speaking triage receptionist interpret. 3. Page an interpreter from the hospital's interpreter services. 4. Obtain a Spanish-English dictionary and attempt to triage the client.

3. Page an interpreter from the hospital's interpreter services. Rationale: English-speaking family members may not appropriately understand what is asked of them and may paraphrase what the client is actually saying. Also, client confidentiality as well as accurate information may be compromised when a family member or non-health care provider acts as interpreter.

A client with a diagnosis of asthma is admitted to the hospital with respiratory distress. What type of adventitious lung sounds would the nurse expect to hear when performing a respiratory assessment on this client? 1. Stridor 2. Crackles 3. Wheezes 4. Diminished

3. Wheezes Rationale: Asthma is a respiratory disorder characterized by recurring episodes of dyspnea, constriction of the bronchi, and wheezing. Wheezes are described as high-pitched musical sounds heard when air passes through an obstructed or narrowed lumen of a respiratory passageway. Stridor is a harsh sound noted with an upper airway obstruction and often signals a life-threatening emergency. Crackles are produced by air passing over retained airway secretions or fluid, or the sudden opening of collapsed airways. Diminished lung sounds are heard over lung tissue where poor oxygen exchange is occurring.