1. EXERCISE, Unit 1.
INSTRUCTIONS: To complete this exercise, circle the letter of the response that best answers
the question or completes the statement or write the answer in the space provided. After you
have completed the all of the exercises, turn to "Solutions to Exercises" at the end of this lesson
and check your answers. If you have responded to any of the exercises incorrectly, reread the
material referenced after the answer.
1. As a practical nurse who may be called upon to assist the health care provider during a
physical examination, you should know the basics of the examination in
order to ____________________________________________ ________________and so that
you
may _________________________________________________________________________
2. Two purposes for performing the physical examination are
a. __________________________________________________ ______________ and
b. ___________________________________________________________________.
3. You should have the patient void into a urine specimen cup in order to
______________________________ ________and to________
__________________________
4. If a male is examining a female, or vice versa, you should
______________________________
to protect the patient, the health care provider, and the hospital or clinic.
5. You should ______________________________ if the patient has a draining wound, is
bleeding, is vomiting, or has an infection.
6. You should __________________________________________ because the physician
needs to know the information that has been obtained through the nursing observations and lab
reports.
7. To provide continuing privacy for the patient, be sure to
_______________________________ each time the patient assumes a different position during
the examination.
2. 8. The health care providers who could perform the physical examination are the
_______________, ____________________ or __________________________.
9. Four body systems that the health care provider would usually examine during a physical
examination are:
a. ____________________________________________.
b. ____________________________________________.
c. ____________________________________________.
d. ____________________________________________.
10. When restraining a child during the physical examination, you should:
a. Hold the child's arms above his head with one hand and hold his feet at the
ankles with your other hand.
b. Stand on the opposite side of the table from the examiner.
c. Place the child's arms alongside his body and wrap him in a sheet or blanket.
d. All of the above.
11. Physiological measurements, which are routinely made, are the patient's __________
_______, ______________________ __________, ___________________________________ ,
and _________________________________________________and lab test such as
____________________________________________ , _________________________ , and
_____________________________________.
12. The purposes for draping the patient during physical examination are to
_______________________________, to _______________________________,_________
and to _____________________________________________.
13. Factors that indicate the patient’s need for assistance are ____________________________
, ___________________________________, _________________________________ ,
and _____________________________________________________________________.
3. Unit Vital Signs
Exercise.
INSTRUCTIONS: To complete this exercise, circle the letter of the response that best answers
the question or completes the statement or write the answer in the space provided. After you
have completed the all of the exercises, turn to "Solutions to Exercises" at the end of this lesson
and check your answers. If you have responded to any of the exercises incorrectly, reread the
material referenced after the answer.
1. Vital signs are:
a. _______________________________________________________.
b. _______________________________________________________.
c. _______________________________________________________.
d. _______________________________________________________.
2. One of the measurements taken to establish a baseline for further observation of the patient
is his weight. Three reasons for weighing the patient are:
a. ____________________________________________________________.
b. ____________________________________________________________.
c. ____________________________________________________________.
3. Six principles related to weighing the patient are
a. _____________________________________________________________.
b. _____________________________________________________________.
c. _____________________________________________________________.
d. _____________________________________________________________.
e. _____________________________________________________________.
f. ______________________________________________________________
4. A helpless patient may be weighed while lying down on a ____________________.
4. 5. Bold temperature is defined as the measure of heat inside the body or the balance between
__________________________________________________
6. Body heat is lost through:
a. __________________ , which is direct physical contact with an object.
b. _____________________ when body heat warms the surrounding air.
c. _____________________ when body heat warms surrounding objects without physical
contact
d. _____________________ when perspiration changes from a liquid to a vapor.
7. The average, normal, oral temperature for an adult is ________________ ºF or
___________________ ºC.
8. To convert Celcius to Fahrenheit, you should ____________________ and
_____________________
9. If the patient has a temperature of 37.5º C, the converted Fahrenheit temperature would be:
a. 97.7º
b. 99.5º
c. 97.5º
10. Four factors, which influence normal body temperature, are:
a. _____________________________________________________________________.
b. _____________________________________________________________________.
c. _____________________________________________________________________.
d. _____________________________________________________________________.
. 11. When the patient has an elevated temperature, _____________ (a fever) is present.
12. The medical term for a temperature below normal is _____________________.
13. Patients most at risk for hypothermia are:
a. __________________________________________________.
b. __________________________________________________.
c. __________________________________________________.
5. 14. To obtain an oral temperature, place the thermometer in the ________________ for
_______________________ minutes.
15. To obtain a rectal temperature, insert the thermometer into the anal opening __________
inches for ________________ minutes.
16. To obtain an axillary temperature, place the thermometer in a ___________ axilla for
____________________ minutes.
17. Certain precautions must be taken when obtaining a temperature. The rectal method is
contraindicated if the patient has:
a. ____________________________________________________.
b. ____________________________________________________.
c. ____________________________________________________.
18. There are eight common arterial pulse sites; list three of these sites.
a. ________________________________________________.
b. ________________________________________________.
c. ________________________________________________.
20. A normal pulse can be felt with moderate pressure of the finger. When greater
pressure exerted by the finger cannot blot out the pulse, it is called
_____________________________. A pulse with little force is described as
________________________________.
21. Body build and size are factors, which affect the pulse rate. A short, fat person will
probably have a _____________________ pulse rate than a tall, slender person.
22. The normal breathing pattern is relaxed, effortless, and regular. When breathing is rapid,
the term used is ________________________________.
23. ________________ is the medical term used when breathing is difficult or painful.
24. ____________________________ is the term for cycles of deep, rapid breaths for
about 30 seconds, followed by absence of respiration for 10 to 30 seconds. This
pattern of respiration sometimes precedes death.
6. 25. Normal blood pressure for a young adult is about 120/80. ____________________ is blood
pressure above 140/90. If the blood pressure is below 90/60, the patient has
_______________________________ and may be in shock.
26. List five factors, which influence blood pressure values:
a. _____________________________________________.
b. _____________________________________________.
c. _____________________________________________.
d. _____________________________________________.
e. _____________________________________________.
27. The most common site for measuring blood pressure is the ______________, just above
the antecubital area, using the_________________________ artery.
28. List two principles related to obtaining the blood pressure.
a. ____________________________________________________________.
b. ____________________________________________________________.
SOLUTIONS TO EXERCISE, unit 1
1. Have the appropriate equipment and supplies on hand; place the patient in the proper position
and drape him correctly.
2. Any two of these are correct:
To determine the patient's level of health or psychological function.
To arrive at a tentative diagnosis.
To confirm a diagnosis.
To evaluate the effectiveness of prescribed medical treatment and therapy.
7. 3. Empty the bladder; obtain a urine specimen for urinalysis.
4. Stay in the room.
5. Wear gloves.
6. Have the patient's chart available.
7. Adjust the drapes.
8. Physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant.
9. Any four of the following are correct:
Musculoskeletal.
Integumentary.
Eyes, ears, nose, and throat.
Cardiovascular.
Respiratory.
Gastrointestinal.
Neurologic.
Genitourinary.
Endocrine.
10. d
11. Vital signs, blood pressure, height, and weight; CBC with differential, urinalysis, and
electrolytes.
12. Prevent unnecessary exposure, help the patient relax, prevent chilling.
13. Age; level of understanding; ability to move; state of health.
SOLUTIONS TO EXERCISE, UNIT 2
1. Temperature.
Pulse.
Respiration.
Blood pressure.
8. 2. Diet management.
Observation of medical status.
Calculation of medication dosages.
3. Weigh him before breakfast.
Use the same scales.
Assure that the scales are properly balanced.
Weigh him in the same amount of clothing.
Have him void before you weigh him.
Avoid weighing any equipment attached to him.
4. Litter scales.
5. Heat produced and heat lost.
6. a. Conduction.
b. Convection.
c. Radiation.
d. Evaporation.
7. 98.6º
F; 37.0º
8. Multiply by 9/5; add 32.
9. b (para 4-6b, Table 4-2)
10. Individual metabolism differs. Body temperature is lower in the morning and higher in the
evening. Normal temperature for infants and children is higher than normal adult temperature.
Ovulation in some women cause a slight rise followed by a drop in body temperature.
11. Pyrexia.
12. Hypothermia.
13. Postoperative patients.
Newborn infants.
9. Elderly or debilitated patients.
14. Sublingual pocket;
15. 1.5; 3 to 4.
16. Dry; 8 to 10.
17. Diarrhea.
Rectal disease.
Recently had rectal surgery.
18. Any three of the following is correct:
1. Temporal. 5. Femoral.
2. Carotid. 6. Radial.
3. Apical. 7. Popliteal.
4. Brachial. 8. Dorsalis pedi
19. Tachycardia; bradycardia.
20. Full or bounding; weak or thready.
21. Higher.
22. Tachypnea.
23. Dyspnea.
24. Cheyne-Stokes.
25. Hypertension; hypotension.
26. Any five of the following is correct:
1. Age. 5. Pain.
2. Sex. 6. Emotional status.
3. Body build. 7. Disease state and medicati
4. Exercise.
27. Arm; brachial.
28. Any two of the following is correct:
1. The patient's arm must be at the level of the heart.
2. The arm should be supported during the entire procedure.
3. The cuff and stethoscope should be placed directly on the skin.
4. The cuff should be quickly deflated to zero, once the last measurement is heard.
