Exam 17: Nose, Mouth, and Throat

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 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?

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

During an assessment, a patient mentions that "I just can't smell like I used to. I can barely smell the roses in my garden. Why is that?" For which possible causes of changes in the sense of smell will the nurse assess? (Select all that apply.)

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. Which is the best response by the nurse?

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?

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

A woman who is in the second trimester of pregnancy mentions that she has had "more nosebleeds than ever" since she became pregnant. What is the likely reason for this?

What is the primary purpose of the ciliated mucous membrane in the nose?

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?

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

The nurse is performing an assessment. Which of these findings would cause the greatest concern?

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

What is the tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth called?

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. What do these findings indicate?

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 nurse's best response?

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

During an assessment of a 26-year-old for "a spot on my lip I think is cancer," the clinic 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 is the most appropriate action by the nurse?

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

When assessing the tongue of an adult, what finding would be considered abnormal?