CH 17 Nose, Mouth, Throat

Question 1

The primary purpose of the ciliated mucous membrane in the nose is to:

Warm the inhaled air.
Filter out dust and bacteria.
Filter coarse particles from inhaled air.
Facilitate the movement of air through the nares.

Answer 1

Filter out dust and bacteria.

Question 2

The projections in the nasal cavity that increase the surface area are called the:
Meatus.
Septum. 
Turbinates. 
Kiesselbach plexus.

Answer 2

Turbinates

Question 3

The nurse is reviewing the development of the newborn infant. Regarding the sinuses, which statement is true in relation to a newborn infant?

a. Sphenoid sinuses are full size at birth.
b. Maxillary sinuses reach full size after puberty.
c. Frontal sinuses are fairly well developed at birth.
d. Maxillary and ethmoid sinuses are the only sinuses present at birth.

Answer 3

d. Maxillary and ethmoid sinuses are the only sinuses present at birth.

Question 4

The tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth is the:
Uvula. 
Palate. 
Papillae. 
Frenulum.

Answer 4

Frenulum.

Question 5

The salivary gland that is the largest and located in the cheek in front of the ear is the _________ gland.

a. Parotid
b. Stensens
c. Sublingual
d. Submandibular

Answer 5

a. Parotid

Question 6

In assessing the tonsils of a 30 year old, the nurse notices that they are involuted, granular in appearance, and appear to have deep crypts. What is correct response to these findings?

a. Refer the patient to a throat specialist.
b. No response is needed; this appearance is normal for the tonsils.
c. Continue with the assessment, looking for any other abnormal findings.
d. Obtain a throat culture on the patient for possible streptococcal (strep) infection.

Answer 6

b. No response is needed; this appearance is normal for the tonsils.

Question 7

The nurse is obtaining a health history on a 3-month-old infant. During the interview, the mother states, I think she is getting her first tooth because she has started drooling a lot. The nurses best response would be:

a. Youre right, drooling is usually a sign of the first tooth.
b. It would be unusual for a 3 month old to be getting her first tooth.
c. This could be the sign of a problem with the salivary glands.
d. She is just starting to salivate and hasnt learned to swallow the saliva.

Answer 7

d. She is just starting to salivate and hasnt learned to swallow the saliva.

Question 8

The nurse is assessing an 80-year-old patient. Which of these findings would be expected for this patient?

a. Hypertrophy of the gums
b. Increased production of saliva
c. Decreased ability to identify odors
d. Finer and less prominent nasal hair

Answer 8

c. Decreased ability to identify odors

Question 9

The nurse is performing an oral assessment on a 40-year-old Black patient and notices the presence of a 1 cm, nontender, grayish-white lesion on the left buccal mucosa. Which one of these statements is true? This lesion is:

a. Leukoedema and is common in dark-pigmented persons.
b. The result of hyperpigmentation and is normal.
c. Torus palatinus and would normally be found only in smokers.
d. Indicative of cancer and should be immediately tested.

Answer 9

a. Leukoedema and is common in dark-pigmented persons.

Question 10

While obtaining a health history, a patient tells the nurse that he has frequent nosebleeds and asks the best way to get them to stop. What would be the nurses best response?

a. While sitting up, place a cold compress over your nose.
b. Sit up with your head tilted forward and pinch your nose.
c. Just allow the bleeding to stop on its own, but dont blow your nose.
d. Lie on your back with your head tilted back and pinch your nose.

Answer 10

b. Sit up with your head tilted forward and pinch your nose.

Question 11

A 92-year-old patient has had a stroke. The right side of his face is drooping. The nurse might also suspect which of these assessment findings?

a. Epistaxis
b. Rhinorrhea
c. Dysphagia
d. Xerostomia

Answer 11

c. Dysphagia

Question 12

While obtaining a health history from the mother of a 1-year-old child, the nurse notices that the baby has had a bottle in his mouth the entire time. The mother states, It makes a great pacifier. The best response by the
nurse would be:
a. Youre right. Bottles make very good pacifiers.
b. Using a bottle as a pacifier is better for the teeth than thumb-sucking.
c. Its okay to use a bottle as long as it contains milk and not juice.
d. Prolonged use of a bottle can increase the risk for tooth decay and ear infections.

Answer 12

d. Prolonged use of a bottle can increase the risk for tooth decay and ear infections.

Question 13

A 72-year-old patient has a history of hypertension and chronic lung disease. An important question for the nurse to include in the health history would be:

a. Do you use a fluoride supplement?
b. Have you had tonsillitis in the last year?
c. At what age did you get your first tooth?
d. Have you noticed any dryness in your mouth?

Answer 13

d. Have you noticed any dryness in your mouth?

Question 13

A 72-year-old patient has a history of hypertension and chronic lung disease. An important question for the nurse to include in the health history would be:

a. Do you use a fluoride supplement?
b. Have you had tonsillitis in the last year?
c. At what age did you get your first tooth?
d. Have you noticed any dryness in your mouth?

Answer 13

d. Have you noticed any dryness in your mouth?

Question 14

The nurse is using an otoscope to assess the nasal cavity. Which of these techniques iscorrect?

a. Inserting the speculum at least 3 cm into the vestibule
b. Avoiding touching the nasal septum with the speculum
c. Gently displacing the nose to the side that is being examined
d. Keeping the speculum tip medial to avoid touching the floor of the nares

Answer 14

b. Avoiding touching the nasal septum with the speculum

With chronic allergies, the mucosa looks swollen, boggy, pale, and gray. Elevated body temperature, colds, and nosebleeds do not cause these mucosal changes.

Question 15

The nurse is performing an assessment on a 21-year-old patient and notices that his nasal mucosa appears pale, gray, and swollen. What would be the most appropriate question to ask the patient?

a. Are you aware of having any allergies?
b. Do you have an elevated temperature?
c. Have you had any symptoms of a cold?
d. Have you been having frequent nosebleeds?

Answer 15

a. Are you aware of having any allergies?

Question 16

The nurse is palpating the sinus areas. If the findings are normal, then the patient should report which sensation?

a. No sensation
b. Firm pressure
c. Pain during palpation
d. Pain sensation behind eyes

Answer 16

b. Firm pressure

Question 17

During an oral assessment of a 30-year-old Black patient, the nurse notices bluish lips and a dark line along the gingival margin. What action would the nurse perform in response to this finding?

a. Check the patients hemoglobin for anemia
b. Assess for other signs of insufficient oxygen supply.
c. Proceed with the assessment, knowing that this appearance is a normal finding.
d. Ask if he has been exposed to an excessive amount of carbon monoxide.

Answer 17

c. Proceed with the assessment, knowing that this appearance is a normal finding.

Question 18

During an assessment of a 20-year-old patient with a 3-day history of nausea and vomiting, the nurse notices dry mucosa and deep vertical fissures in the tongue. These findings are reflective of:

a. Dehydration.
b. Irritation by gastric juices.
c. A normal oral assessment.
d. Side effects from nausea medication.

Answer 18

a. Dehydration.

Question 19

A 32-year-old woman is at the clinic for little white bumps in my mouth. During the assessment, the nurse notes that she has a 0.5 cm white, nontender papule under her tongue and one on the mucosa of her right cheek. What would the nurse tell the patient?

a. These spots indicate an infection such as strep throat.
b. These bumps could be indicative of a serious lesion, so I will refer you to a specialist.
c. This condition is called leukoplakia and can be caused by chronic irritation such as with smoking.
d. These bumps are Fordyce granules, which are sebaceous cysts and are not a serious condition.

Answer 19

d. These bumps are Fordyce granules, which are sebaceous cysts and are not a serious condition.

Question 19

A 10 year old is at the clinic for a sore throat that has lasted 6 days. Which of these findings would be consistent with an acute infection?

a. Tonsils 1+/1-4+ and pink; the same color as the oral mucosa
b. Tonsils 2+/1-4+ with small plugs of white debris
c. Tonsils 3+/1-4+ with large white spots
d. Tonsils 3+/1-4+ with pale coloring

Answer 19

c. Tonsils 3+/1-4+ with large white spots

Question 20

Immediately after birth, the nurse is unable to suction the nares of a newborn. An attempt is made to pass a catheter through both nasal cavities with no success. What should the nurse do next?

a. Attempt to suction again with a bulb syringe.
b. Wait a few minutes, and try again once the infant stops crying.
c. Recognize that this situation requires immediate intervention.
d. Contact the physician to schedule an appointment for the infant at his or her next hospital visit.

Answer 20

c. Recognize that this situation requires immediate intervention.

Question 21

The nurse notices that the mother of a 2-year-old boy brings him into the clinic quite frequently for various
injuries and suspects there may be some child abuse involved. During an inspection of his mouth, the nurse should look for:
a. Swollen, red tonsils.
b. Ulcerations on the hard palate.
c. Bruising on the buccal mucosa or gums.
d. Small yellow papules along the hard palate.

Answer 21

c. Bruising on the buccal mucosa or gums.

Question 22

The nurse is assessing a 3 year old for drainage from the nose. On assessment, a purulent drainage that has a very foul odor is noted from the left naris and no drainage is observed from the right naris. The child is afebrile with no other symptoms. What should the nurse do next?

a. Refer to the physician for an antibiotic order.
b. Have the mother bring the child back in 1 week.
c. Perform an otoscopic examination of the left nares.
d. Tell the mother that this drainage is normal for a child of this age.

Answer 22

c. Perform an otoscopic examination of the left nares.

Question 23

During an assessment of a 26 year old at the clinic for a spot on my lip I think is cancer, the nurse notices a group of clear vesicles with an erythematous base around them located at the lip-skin border. The patient mentions that she just returned from Hawaii. What would be the most appropriate response by the nurse?

a. Tell the patient she needs to see a skin specialist.
b. Discuss the benefits of having a biopsy performed on any unusual lesion.
c. Tell the patient that these vesicles are indicative of herpes simplex I or cold sores and that they will heal in 4 to 10 days.
d. Tell the patient that these vesicles are most likely the result of a riboflavin deficiency and discuss nutrition.

Answer 23

c. Tell the patient that these vesicles are indicative of herpes simplex I or cold sores and that they will heal in 4 to 10 days.

Question 24

While performing an assessment of the mouth, the nurse notices that the patient has a 1-cm ulceration that is crusted with an elevated border and located on the outer third of the lower lip. What other information would be most important for the nurse to assess?

a. Nutritional status
b. When the patient first noticed the lesion
c. Whether the patient has had a recent cold
d. Whether the patient has had any recent exposure to sick animals

Answer 24

b. When the patient first noticed the lesion

Question 25

A pregnant woman states that she is concerned about her gums because she has noticed they are swollen and have started bleeding. What would be an appropriate response by the nurse?

a. Your condition is probably due to a vitamin C deficiency.
b. Im not sure what causes swollen and bleeding gums, but let me know if its not better in a few weeks.
c. You need to make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible to have this checked.
d. Swollen and bleeding gums can be caused by the change in hormonal balance in your system during pregnancy.

Answer 25

d. Swollen and bleeding gums can be caused by the change in hormonal balance in your system during pregnancy.

Question 26

A 40-year-old patient who has just finished chemotherapy for breast cancer tells the nurse that she is concerned about her mouth. During the assessment the nurse finds areas of buccal mucosa that are raw and red with some bleeding, as well as other areas that have a white, cheesy coating. The nurse recognizes that this abnormality is:

a. Aphthous ulcers.
b. Candidiasis.
c. Leukoplakia.
d. Koplik spots.

Answer 26

b. Candidiasis.

Question 27

The nurse is assessing a patient in the hospital who has received numerous antibiotics and notices that his tongue appears to be black and hairy. In response to his concern, what would the nurse say?

a. We will need to get a biopsy to determine the cause.
b. This is an overgrowth of hair and will go away in a few days.
c. Black, hairy tongue is a fungal infection caused by all the antibiotics you have received.
d. This is probably caused by the same bacteria you had in your lungs.

Answer 27

c. Black, hairy tongue is a fungal infection caused by all the antibiotics you have received.

Question 28

The nurse is assessing a patient with a history of intravenous drug abuse. In assessing his mouth, the nurse
notices a dark red confluent macule on the hard palate. This could be an early sign of:
a. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
b. Measles.
c. Leukemia.
d. Carcinoma.

Answer 28

a. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Question 29

A mother brings her 4-month-old infant to the clinic with concerns regarding a small pad in the middle of the upper lip that has been there since 1 month of age. The infant has no health problems. On physical examination, the nurse notices a 0.5-cm, fleshy, elevated area in the middle of the upper lip. No evidence of inflammation or drainage is observed. What would the nurse tell this mother?

a. This area of irritation is caused from teething and is nothing to worry about.
b. This finding is abnormal and should be evaluated by another health care provider.
c. This area of irritation is the result of chronic drooling and should resolve within the next month or two.
d. This elevated area is a sucking tubercle caused from the friction of breastfeeding or bottle-feeding and is normal.

Answer 29

d. This elevated area is a sucking tubercle caused from the friction of breastfeeding or bottle-feeding and is normal.

Question 30

A mother is concerned because her 18-month-old toddler has 12 teeth. She is wondering if this is normal for a child of this age. The nurses best response would be:

a. How many teeth did you have at this age?
b. All 20 deciduous teeth are expected to erupt by age 4 years.
c. This is a normal number of teeth for an 18 month old.
d. Normally, by age 2 years, 16 deciduous teeth are expected.

Answer 30

c. This is a normal number of teeth for an 18 month old.

Question 31

When examining the mouth of an older patient, the nurse recognizes which finding is due to the aging process?

a. Teeth appearing shorter
b. Tongue that looks smoother in appearance
c. Buccal mucosa that is beefy red in appearance
d. Small, painless lump on the dorsum of the tongue

Answer 31

b. Tongue that looks smoother in appearance

Question 31

When examining the mouth of an older patient, the nurse recognizes which finding is due to the aging process?

a. Teeth appearing shorter
b. Tongue that looks smoother in appearance
c. Buccal mucosa that is beefy red in appearance
d. Small, painless lump on the dorsum of the tongue

Answer 31

b. Tongue that looks smoother in appearance

Question 32

When examining the nares of a 45-year-old patient who has complaints of rhinorrhea, itching of the nose and eyes, and sneezing, the nurse notices the following: pale turbinates, swelling of the turbinates, and clear rhinorrhea. Which of these conditions is most likely the cause?

a. Nasal polyps
b. Acute sinusitis
c. Allergic rhinitis
d. Acute rhinitis

Answer 32

c. Allergic rhinitis

Question 33

When assessing the tongue of an adult, the nurse knows that an abnormal finding would be:

a. Smooth glossy dorsal surface.
b. Thin white coating over the tongue.
c. Raised papillae on the dorsal surface.
d. Visible venous patterns on the ventral surface.

Answer 33

a. Smooth glossy dorsal surface.

Question 34

35. The nurse is performing an assessment. Which of these findings would cause the greatest concern?
    a. Painful vesicle inside the cheek for 2 days
    b. Presence of moist, nontender Stensens ducts
    c. Stippled gingival margins that snugly adhere to the teeth
    d. Ulceration on the side of the tongue with rolled edges

Answer 34

d. Ulceration on the side of the tongue with rolled edges

Question 34

A patient has been diagnosed with strep throat. The nurse is aware that without treatment, which complication may occur?

a. Rubella
b. Leukoplakia
c. Rheumatic fever
d. Scarlet fever

Answer 34

c. Rheumatic fever

Question 35

During a checkup, a 22-year-old woman tells the nurse that she uses an over-the-counter nasal spray because of her allergies. She also states that it does not work as well as it used to when she first started using it. The best response by the nurse would be:

a. You should never use over-the-counter nasal sprays because of the risk of addiction.
b. You should try switching to another brand of medication to prevent this problem.
c. Continuing to use this spray is important to keep your allergies under control.
d. Using these nasal medications irritates the lining of the nose and may cause rebound swelling.

Answer 35

d. Using these nasal medications irritates the lining of the nose and may cause rebound swelling.

Question 36

During an oral examination of a 4-year-old Native-American child, the nurse notices that her uvula is partially split. Which of these statements is accurate?

a. This condition is a cleft palate and is common in Native Americans.
b. A bifid uvula may occur in some Native-American groups.
c. This condition is due to an injury and should be reported to the authorities.
d. A bifid uvula is palatinus, which frequently occurs in Native Americans

Answer 36

b. A bifid uvula may occur in some Native-American groups.

Question 37

A patient comes into the clinic complaining of facial pain, fever, and malaise. On examination, the nurse notes swollen turbinates and purulent discharge from the nose. The patient also complains of a dull, throbbing pain in his cheeks and teeth on the right side and pain when the nurse palpates the areas. The nurse recognizes that this patient has:

a. Posterior epistaxis.
b. Frontal sinusitis.
c. Maxillary sinusitis.
d. Nasal polyps.

Answer 37

c. Maxillary sinusitis.

Question 37

A patient comes into the clinic complaining of facial pain, fever, and malaise. On examination, the nurse notes swollen turbinates and purulent discharge from the nose. The patient also complains of a dull, throbbing pain in his cheeks and teeth on the right side and pain when the nurse palpates the areas. The nurse recognizes that this patient has:

a. Posterior epistaxis.
b. Frontal sinusitis.
c. Maxillary sinusitis.
d. Nasal polyps.

Answer 37

c. Maxillary sinusitis.

Question 38

A woman who is in the second trimester of pregnancy mentions that she has had more nosebleeds than ever since she became pregnant. The nurse recognizes that this is a result of:

a. A problem with the patients coagulation system.
b. Increased vascularity in the upper respiratory tract as a result of the pregnancy.
c. Increased susceptibility to colds and nasal irritation.
d. Inappropriate use of nasal sprays.

Answer 38

b. Increased vascularity in the upper respiratory tract as a result of the pregnancy.