NSG 3160 Exam 4 Review – Questions/ Answers_ 2026.
Nursing Process & Assessment
1. A nurse is assessing a new patient with multiple chronic illnesses for the first time.
Which type of database should the nurse collect?
• A) Episodic database
• B) Emergency database
• C) Complete total health database
• D) Follow-up database
Answer: C) Complete total health database
Rationale: A complete total health database is performed on new patients to establish a baseline
and measure all future changes. The complete health history and full physical examination yields
first diagnoses.
2. A patient comes to the emergency department after an overdose. What type of
assessment should be performed first?
• A) Complete health database
• B) Episodic database
• C) Follow-up database
• D) Emergency database
Answer: D) Emergency database
Rationale: In emergency situations, urgent or rapid collection of crucial information is needed.
Ask closed-ended questions until the patient is stabilized, then a complete database can be
performed.
3. A patient presents with a short-term problem involving one body system. Which type of
database is appropriate?
• A) Complete total health database
• B) Episodic or problem-centered database
• C) Emergency database
• D) Follow-up database
,Answer: B) Episodic or problem-centered database
Rationale: An episodic or problem-centered database collects a "mini" database for limited or
short-term problems involving one problem, one cue complex, or one body system.
4. A patient reports dizziness upon standing. The nurse suspects orthostatic hypotension.
What is the correct systolic drop that defines orthostatic hypotension?
• A) ≥ 5 mmHg
• B) ≥ 10 mmHg
• C) ≥ 15 mmHg
• D) ≥ 20 mmHg
Answer: D) ≥ 20 mmHg
Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension refers to a drop in systolic pressure of ≥20 mmHg or
diastolic pressure ≥10 mmHg after changing to a standing position.
Communication & Interviewing
5. Which distance is considered the "intimate zone" for patient interaction?
• A) 1.5 to 4 feet
• B) 4 to 12 feet
• C) 0 to 1.5 feet
• D) 12+ feet
Answer: C) 0 to 1.5 feet
*Rationale: The intimate zone is 0-1.5 feet and is best for assessing breath and other body odors.
Personal distance is 1.5-4 feet, social distance is 4-12 feet, and public distance is 12+ feet.*
6. During an interview, which question is an example of an open-ended question?
• A) "When did your pain start?"
• B) "What brings you to the hospital today?"
• C) "Are you having chest pain?"
• D) "Did you take your medication this morning?"
,Answer: B) "What brings you to the hospital today?"
Rationale: Open-ended questions get narrative information and allow the patient to tell their
story. Closed or direct questions ask for specific information and are used in emergency
situations.
7. When interviewing a patient suspected of intimate partner violence (IPV), what should
the nurse do first?
• A) Document the bruises
• B) Ask the partner to stay for support
• C) Ask the partner to step out of the room
• D) Call social services immediately
Answer: C) Ask the partner to step out of the room
Rationale: To properly interview a patient with suspected IPV/abuse, the partner must step out
of the room. This is the same for suspected child abuse—separate the child from the abuser.
8. When documenting IPV/abuse with visible bruises, what is the best method?
• A) Written description only
• B) Picture documentation
• C) Verbal report only
• D) Incident report only
Answer: B) Picture documentation
Rationale: Picture documentation is the recommended method for documenting IPV/abuse with
visible bruises. Health effects of violence do not need to be visualized to be considered
truthful/legitimate.
Cultural Concepts
9. A patient from an Asian culture describes health in terms of yin and yang balance. This
is an example of which health belief system?
• A) Biomedical and scientific
• B) Naturalistic and holistic
, • C) Magico-religious
• D) Folk medicine
Answer: B) Naturalistic and holistic
Rationale: The naturalistic and holistic belief system views health as balance between opposing
forces. Some Asians believe in the yin/yang theory where health exists when all aspects are in
perfect balance. Foods are classified as hot and cold and transformed into yin and yang energy.
10. Which concept refers to the process of adopting the culture and behavior of the
majority culture while dropping previous traditions?
• A) Acculturation
• B) Assimilation
• C) Acculturative stress
• D) Ethnicity
Answer: B) Assimilation
Rationale: Assimilation is when an immigrant takes on the characteristics of the dominant
culture, dropping previous traditions and dressing like peers. Acculturation is the process of
adopting the culture and behavior of the majority culture.
11. A patient states they have been seeing a folk healer. What is the nurse's best response?
• A) Tell the patient they should only see a physician
• B) Act shocked and confused
• C) Ask about their experience, how long they've used the healer, and what relief it
provides
• D) Document but do not discuss further
Answer: C) Ask about their experience, how long they've used the healer, and what relief it
provides
Rationale: Never act shocked or confused when a patient states they have seen a folk healer. Ask
the patient about their experience, how long they've been using the healer, and what type of
relief it provides so you can correctly assess.
Physical Assessment Techniques
Nursing Process & Assessment
1. A nurse is assessing a new patient with multiple chronic illnesses for the first time.
Which type of database should the nurse collect?
• A) Episodic database
• B) Emergency database
• C) Complete total health database
• D) Follow-up database
Answer: C) Complete total health database
Rationale: A complete total health database is performed on new patients to establish a baseline
and measure all future changes. The complete health history and full physical examination yields
first diagnoses.
2. A patient comes to the emergency department after an overdose. What type of
assessment should be performed first?
• A) Complete health database
• B) Episodic database
• C) Follow-up database
• D) Emergency database
Answer: D) Emergency database
Rationale: In emergency situations, urgent or rapid collection of crucial information is needed.
Ask closed-ended questions until the patient is stabilized, then a complete database can be
performed.
3. A patient presents with a short-term problem involving one body system. Which type of
database is appropriate?
• A) Complete total health database
• B) Episodic or problem-centered database
• C) Emergency database
• D) Follow-up database
,Answer: B) Episodic or problem-centered database
Rationale: An episodic or problem-centered database collects a "mini" database for limited or
short-term problems involving one problem, one cue complex, or one body system.
4. A patient reports dizziness upon standing. The nurse suspects orthostatic hypotension.
What is the correct systolic drop that defines orthostatic hypotension?
• A) ≥ 5 mmHg
• B) ≥ 10 mmHg
• C) ≥ 15 mmHg
• D) ≥ 20 mmHg
Answer: D) ≥ 20 mmHg
Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension refers to a drop in systolic pressure of ≥20 mmHg or
diastolic pressure ≥10 mmHg after changing to a standing position.
Communication & Interviewing
5. Which distance is considered the "intimate zone" for patient interaction?
• A) 1.5 to 4 feet
• B) 4 to 12 feet
• C) 0 to 1.5 feet
• D) 12+ feet
Answer: C) 0 to 1.5 feet
*Rationale: The intimate zone is 0-1.5 feet and is best for assessing breath and other body odors.
Personal distance is 1.5-4 feet, social distance is 4-12 feet, and public distance is 12+ feet.*
6. During an interview, which question is an example of an open-ended question?
• A) "When did your pain start?"
• B) "What brings you to the hospital today?"
• C) "Are you having chest pain?"
• D) "Did you take your medication this morning?"
,Answer: B) "What brings you to the hospital today?"
Rationale: Open-ended questions get narrative information and allow the patient to tell their
story. Closed or direct questions ask for specific information and are used in emergency
situations.
7. When interviewing a patient suspected of intimate partner violence (IPV), what should
the nurse do first?
• A) Document the bruises
• B) Ask the partner to stay for support
• C) Ask the partner to step out of the room
• D) Call social services immediately
Answer: C) Ask the partner to step out of the room
Rationale: To properly interview a patient with suspected IPV/abuse, the partner must step out
of the room. This is the same for suspected child abuse—separate the child from the abuser.
8. When documenting IPV/abuse with visible bruises, what is the best method?
• A) Written description only
• B) Picture documentation
• C) Verbal report only
• D) Incident report only
Answer: B) Picture documentation
Rationale: Picture documentation is the recommended method for documenting IPV/abuse with
visible bruises. Health effects of violence do not need to be visualized to be considered
truthful/legitimate.
Cultural Concepts
9. A patient from an Asian culture describes health in terms of yin and yang balance. This
is an example of which health belief system?
• A) Biomedical and scientific
• B) Naturalistic and holistic
, • C) Magico-religious
• D) Folk medicine
Answer: B) Naturalistic and holistic
Rationale: The naturalistic and holistic belief system views health as balance between opposing
forces. Some Asians believe in the yin/yang theory where health exists when all aspects are in
perfect balance. Foods are classified as hot and cold and transformed into yin and yang energy.
10. Which concept refers to the process of adopting the culture and behavior of the
majority culture while dropping previous traditions?
• A) Acculturation
• B) Assimilation
• C) Acculturative stress
• D) Ethnicity
Answer: B) Assimilation
Rationale: Assimilation is when an immigrant takes on the characteristics of the dominant
culture, dropping previous traditions and dressing like peers. Acculturation is the process of
adopting the culture and behavior of the majority culture.
11. A patient states they have been seeing a folk healer. What is the nurse's best response?
• A) Tell the patient they should only see a physician
• B) Act shocked and confused
• C) Ask about their experience, how long they've used the healer, and what relief it
provides
• D) Document but do not discuss further
Answer: C) Ask about their experience, how long they've used the healer, and what relief it
provides
Rationale: Never act shocked or confused when a patient states they have seen a folk healer. Ask
the patient about their experience, how long they've been using the healer, and what type of
relief it provides so you can correctly assess.
Physical Assessment Techniques
