HSRT - Health Sciences Reasoning Deductive Reasoning Application Questions and Answers

Question 1

A hospital protocol states: 'All patients presenting with a fever above 101°F and a persistent cough must be tested for influenza.' A patient arrives with a temperature of 102°F and has been coughing for three days.
Based on deductive reasoning, what is the only logical conclusion?

Accepted Answer

The patient must be tested for influenza.

Answer

The patient has influenza.

Answer

The patient requires a chest X-ray.

Answer

The patient should be admitted to the hospital.

Question 2

A senior nurse tells a student, 'If a patient is on anticoagulant medication, they should not be given intramuscular injections because of the risk of hematoma.' The student reviews a patient's chart and sees an order for an intramuscular injection and an active prescription for warfarin, an anticoagulant. Which of the following is the most appropriate conclusion derived from deductive reasoning?

Accepted Answer

The nurse should question the order for the intramuscular injection.

Answer

The prescribing physician made a mistake.

Answer

The nurse should administer the injection carefully.

Answer

The patient will definitely develop a hematoma.

Question 3

Which of the following scenarios is a clear application of deductive reasoning in a health sciences context?

Accepted Answer

A pharmacist knows that Drug X is a beta-blocker and that all beta-blockers lower heart rate. When a patient is prescribed Drug X, the pharmacist concludes the patient's heart rate will likely decrease.

Answer

A physical therapist observes that several elderly patients who perform a specific exercise regain mobility faster and hypothesizes the exercise is beneficial for all elderly patients.

Answer

A researcher notices a correlation between high-sugar diets and an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes in a population study and suggests a causal link.

Answer

A paramedic arrives at a scene and, based on the patient's slurred speech and facial droop, suspects a stroke.

Question 4

Premise 1: All sterile surgical instruments are free from microorganisms. Premise 2: This scalpel is a sterile surgical instrument. What conclusion logically follows from these premises?

Accepted Answer

This scalpel is free from microorganisms.

Answer

This scalpel is safe to use.

Answer

This scalpel is sharp.

Answer

This scalpel was recently autoclaved.

Question 5

A clinical guideline states that for a diagnosis of 'Major Depressive Disorder,' a patient must exhibit at least five specific symptoms, one of which must be either a 'depressed mood' or 'loss of interest or pleasure.' A clinician determines a patient has a depressed mood and four other listed symptoms. Using deductive reasoning, what can the clinician conclude?

Accepted Answer

The patient has Major Depressive Disorder.

Answer

The patient needs to be assessed for the other required symptoms.

Answer

The patient will benefit from antidepressant medication.

Answer

The patient's condition is severe.

Question 6

In a deductive argument, if the premises are true, the conclusion must be:

Accepted Answer

True

Answer

Probably true

Answer

Plausible

Answer

Empirically verifiable

A hospital protocol states: 'All patients presenting with a fever above 101°F and a persistent cough must be tested for influenza.' A patient arrives with a temperature of 102°F and has been coughing for three days.Based on deductive reasoning, what is the only logical conclusion?

A hospital protocol states: 'All patients presenting with a fever above 101°F and a persistent cough must be tested for influenza.' A patient arrives with a temperature of 102°F and has been coughing for three days.
Based on deductive reasoning, what is the only logical conclusion?