1|Page
NURS 5220 ADVANCED HEALTH
ASSESSMENT
## 2026-2027 PRACTICE QUESTION BANK |
275+ QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES
# SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT
## Questions 1-30
### HEALTH HISTORY & INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES
#### (Questions 1-10)
### Question 1
**Cognitive Level:** Remembering
The comprehensive health history begins with which of the following components?
A) Past medical history
B) Chief complaint
C) Biographical data
D) Review of systems
---
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**Correct Answer: C) Biographical data**
**Rationale for Correct Answer:** The comprehensive health history begins with biographical
data, which includes the patient's name, age, gender, race, occupation, and referral source. This
information establishes the patient's identity and context before proceeding to the chief
complaint and history of present illness.
**Rationale for Incorrect Answers:**
- **A) Past medical history:** Past medical history is collected later in the health history after
the history of present illness and review of systems.
- **B) Chief complaint:** The chief complaint is the reason for the visit but is documented after
biographical data and is typically recorded in the patient's own words.
- **D) Review of systems:** The review of systems is a systematic inquiry about symptoms in
each body system, conducted near the end of the comprehensive health history.
---
### Question 2
**Cognitive Level:** Applying
A 55-year-old male patient presents with chest pain. The nurse practitioner uses the PQRST
mnemonic to assess the pain. Which of the following correctly represents the "R" in PQRST?
A) Radiation—does the pain radiate to other areas?
B) Relief—what relieves the pain?
C) Rating—rate the pain on a 0-10 scale
D) Rhythm—is the pain constant or intermittent?
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**Correct Answer: A) Radiation—does the pain radiate to other areas?**
**Rationale for Correct Answer:** The PQRST mnemonic is used for pain assessment:
**P**rovocation/Palliation (what provokes or relieves the pain), **Q**uality (describe the
pain), **R**egion/Radiation (where is the pain and does it radiate), **S**everity (rate the pain),
and **T**iming (when did it start, is it constant or intermittent). The "R" specifically addresses
region and radiation.
**Rationale for Incorrect Answers:**
- **B) Relief—what relieves the pain?** This is part of "P" (provocation/palliation), not "R."
- **C) Rating—rate the pain on a 0-10 scale:** This is the "S" (severity) component.
- **D) Rhythm—is the pain constant or intermittent?** This is part of "T" (timing).
---
### Question 3
**Cognitive Level:** Understanding
A nurse practitioner is interviewing a 17-year-old patient. The practitioner asks questions about
sexual activity, substance use, and mental health. This interview technique is best described as:
A) HEADSS assessment
B) CAGE questionnaire
C) OLDCARTS assessment
D) PHQ-9 screening
---
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**Correct Answer: A) HEADSS assessment**
**Rationale for Correct Answer:** HEADSS is a screening tool used for adolescents that
addresses: **H**ome, **E**ducation/Employment, **A**ctivities, **D**rugs, **S**exuality,
and **S**uicide/Depression. It is designed to be a comprehensive psychosocial assessment for
adolescents in a non-judgmental manner.
**Rationale for Incorrect Answers:**
- **B) CAGE questionnaire:** The CAGE questionnaire is a screening tool for alcohol use
disorder (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener).
- **C) OLDCARTS assessment:** OLDCARTS is used for symptom analysis: **O**nset,
**L**ocation, **D**uration, **C**haracter, **A**ggravating factors, **R**elieving factors,
**T**iming, and **S**everity.
- **D) PHQ-9 screening:** The PHQ-9 is a screening tool for depression, not a comprehensive
adolescent psychosocial assessment.
---
### Question 4
**Cognitive Level:** Analyzing
A 68-year-old patient with a history of hypertension presents for a routine examination. The
patient reports feeling well but has difficulty recalling recent events. The nurse practitioner
suspects cognitive impairment. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial screening
tool?
A) Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
B) Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
C) Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
NURS 5220 ADVANCED HEALTH
ASSESSMENT
## 2026-2027 PRACTICE QUESTION BANK |
275+ QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES
# SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT
## Questions 1-30
### HEALTH HISTORY & INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES
#### (Questions 1-10)
### Question 1
**Cognitive Level:** Remembering
The comprehensive health history begins with which of the following components?
A) Past medical history
B) Chief complaint
C) Biographical data
D) Review of systems
---
,2|Page
**Correct Answer: C) Biographical data**
**Rationale for Correct Answer:** The comprehensive health history begins with biographical
data, which includes the patient's name, age, gender, race, occupation, and referral source. This
information establishes the patient's identity and context before proceeding to the chief
complaint and history of present illness.
**Rationale for Incorrect Answers:**
- **A) Past medical history:** Past medical history is collected later in the health history after
the history of present illness and review of systems.
- **B) Chief complaint:** The chief complaint is the reason for the visit but is documented after
biographical data and is typically recorded in the patient's own words.
- **D) Review of systems:** The review of systems is a systematic inquiry about symptoms in
each body system, conducted near the end of the comprehensive health history.
---
### Question 2
**Cognitive Level:** Applying
A 55-year-old male patient presents with chest pain. The nurse practitioner uses the PQRST
mnemonic to assess the pain. Which of the following correctly represents the "R" in PQRST?
A) Radiation—does the pain radiate to other areas?
B) Relief—what relieves the pain?
C) Rating—rate the pain on a 0-10 scale
D) Rhythm—is the pain constant or intermittent?
,3|Page
**Correct Answer: A) Radiation—does the pain radiate to other areas?**
**Rationale for Correct Answer:** The PQRST mnemonic is used for pain assessment:
**P**rovocation/Palliation (what provokes or relieves the pain), **Q**uality (describe the
pain), **R**egion/Radiation (where is the pain and does it radiate), **S**everity (rate the pain),
and **T**iming (when did it start, is it constant or intermittent). The "R" specifically addresses
region and radiation.
**Rationale for Incorrect Answers:**
- **B) Relief—what relieves the pain?** This is part of "P" (provocation/palliation), not "R."
- **C) Rating—rate the pain on a 0-10 scale:** This is the "S" (severity) component.
- **D) Rhythm—is the pain constant or intermittent?** This is part of "T" (timing).
---
### Question 3
**Cognitive Level:** Understanding
A nurse practitioner is interviewing a 17-year-old patient. The practitioner asks questions about
sexual activity, substance use, and mental health. This interview technique is best described as:
A) HEADSS assessment
B) CAGE questionnaire
C) OLDCARTS assessment
D) PHQ-9 screening
---
, 4|Page
**Correct Answer: A) HEADSS assessment**
**Rationale for Correct Answer:** HEADSS is a screening tool used for adolescents that
addresses: **H**ome, **E**ducation/Employment, **A**ctivities, **D**rugs, **S**exuality,
and **S**uicide/Depression. It is designed to be a comprehensive psychosocial assessment for
adolescents in a non-judgmental manner.
**Rationale for Incorrect Answers:**
- **B) CAGE questionnaire:** The CAGE questionnaire is a screening tool for alcohol use
disorder (Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener).
- **C) OLDCARTS assessment:** OLDCARTS is used for symptom analysis: **O**nset,
**L**ocation, **D**uration, **C**haracter, **A**ggravating factors, **R**elieving factors,
**T**iming, and **S**everity.
- **D) PHQ-9 screening:** The PHQ-9 is a screening tool for depression, not a comprehensive
adolescent psychosocial assessment.
---
### Question 4
**Cognitive Level:** Analyzing
A 68-year-old patient with a history of hypertension presents for a routine examination. The
patient reports feeling well but has difficulty recalling recent events. The nurse practitioner
suspects cognitive impairment. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial screening
tool?
A) Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
B) Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
C) Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
