PNC Patient Assessment & Documentation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When documenting a parishioner's fall risk assessment, which factor is MOST important to include?
- Current medication list including psychotropics and diuretics (Correct answer)
- The parishioner's preferred worship schedule
- Number of years attending the congregation
- Distance from home to the church building
Correct answer: Current medication list including psychotropics and diuretics
Medications such as psychotropics and diuretics significantly increase fall risk and must be documented in any fall risk assessment.
Question 2: A parish nurse is conducting a functional assessment using the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Which activity is NOT included in this tool?
- Managing finances independently (Correct answer)
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Transferring
Correct answer: Managing finances independently
The Katz Index assesses bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and feeding — financial management is not included.
Question 3: Which screening tool is most appropriate for a parish nurse to use when conducting an initial depression screen on an older adult congregant?
- Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) (Correct answer)
- PHQ-2 adapted for pediatrics
- Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale only
- Beck Anxiety Inventory
Correct answer: Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
The Geriatric Depression Scale is specifically designed and validated for depression screening in older adults.
Question 4: During a home visit, a parish nurse observes that a 78-year-old parishioner has difficulty recalling recent events. The MOST appropriate first action is to:
- Administer a brief cognitive screening tool such as the Mini-Cog (Correct answer)
- Immediately refer to a neurologist
- Notify the congregation without the parishioner's consent
- Document and take no further action
Correct answer: Administer a brief cognitive screening tool such as the Mini-Cog
A brief validated cognitive screening tool like the Mini-Cog helps determine whether further evaluation is warranted before making referrals.
Question 5: SOAP documentation format stands for Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan. Which of the following belongs in the 'Objective' section?
- Blood pressure reading of 148/92 mmHg (Correct answer)
- Parishioner reports feeling dizzy
- Nurse suspects hypertension is uncontrolled
- Referral to primary care physician
Correct answer: Blood pressure reading of 148/92 mmHg
Objective data includes measurable, observable findings such as vital signs recorded by the nurse.
Question 6: A parish nurse is documenting a spiritual distress assessment. Which observation BEST indicates spiritual distress?
- Parishioner expresses feeling abandoned by God following a cancer diagnosis (Correct answer)
- Parishioner attends weekly services regularly
- Parishioner asks about volunteer opportunities
- Parishioner reports good appetite and sleep
Correct answer: Parishioner expresses feeling abandoned by God following a cancer diagnosis
Expressing feelings of abandonment by God is a hallmark indicator of spiritual distress as defined by NANDA nursing diagnosis criteria.
Question 7: When performing a pain assessment using the PQRST method, the letter 'R' refers to which component?
- Radiation or region of the pain (Correct answer)
- Rate of onset in minutes
- Response to previous treatments only
- Risk factors for chronic pain
Correct answer: Radiation or region of the pain
In the PQRST pain assessment, 'R' stands for Region/Radiation — where the pain is located and whether it spreads.
PNC Patient Assessment & Documentation 2
When documenting a parishioner's fall risk assessment, which factor is MOST important to include?