Study Questions
Chapter 8: Physical Assessment Techniques
- The primary goal of standard precautions is:
(a)to encourage good handwashing technique.
(b)to prevent exchange of blood and body fluids.
(c)to prevent allergic reactions to latex gloves.
(d)concerned only with airborne transmission of pathogens.
Answer: b
Rationale: Handwashing and wearing gloves are important aspects of standard precautions. Airborne transmission is another level of precautions.
- Transmission-based precautions:
(a)are the same as standard precautions.
(b)are concerned with contact, droplet, and airborne transmission of microorganisms as well as exchange of blood or body fluids.
(c)are only concerned with contact, droplet, and airborne transmission of microorganisms.
(d)are the same as universal precautions.
Answer: b
Rationale: Transmission-based precautions are used in conjunction with standard (also known as universal) precautions.
- Which assessment technique reveals information about the position of organs and masses?
(a)deep palpation
(b)light palpation
(c)vision
(d)smell
Answer: a
Rationale: Organs and masses may be deep within the body.
- The senses used for inspection of a patient are:
(a)touch and smell.
(b)vision and touch.
(c)hearing and vision.
(d)vision and smell.
Answer: d
Rationale: Touch is used for palpation and hearing is used for auscultation and percussion.
- When assessing temperature, which portion of the hand is most sensitive?
(a)finger pads
(b)palmar surface of hand
(c)dorsal surface of hand
(d)ulnar surface of hand
Answer: c
Rationale: Different nerve endings are more sensitive to different properties.
- When using percussion to assess a patient, dullness is normally found in which location?
(a)lungs
(b)liver
(c)muscle or bone
(d)gastric air bubble
Answer: b
Rationale: Normal lungs are resonant. Flatness is heard over muscle or bone, and tympany is heard over a gastric air bubble.
- When using fist percussion to assess a patient, caution must be used to prevent (choose two):
(a)any discomfort to the patient.
(b)injury to the patient.
(c)injury to oneself.
(d)misunderstanding by the patient of the nurse's intentions.
Answer: b, d
Rationale: Fist percussion is used to assess tenderness in the patient, and self-injury is highly unlikely. One must use care not to injure the patient, and the technique must first be explained to prevent the patient from thinking that the nurse is trying to hurt him.
- An example of direct or immediate auscultation is:
(a)audible sounds, such as wheezing.
(b)use of a Doppler ultrasonic stethoscope.
(c)use of a stethoscope's diaphragm.
(d)use of a stethoscope's bell.
Answer: a
Rationale: Answers (b), (c), and (d) are examples of indirect or mediate auscultation.
- Hindrances to auscultation may include all of the following except:
(a)a noisy environment.
(b)placing the bell of the stethoscope lightly on the skin.
(c)patient hair over the area to be auscultated.
(d)patient movement.
Answer: b
Rationale: The bell should be placed lightly to prevent the skin from acting like a diaphragm.
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