Maryville NURS 612 Exam Practice Test
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
Section 1: Health History & Interview Techniques (Questions 1-20)
1. Which of the following will best facilitate the interview when obtaining a
history for a deaf patient who can read lips?
A. Speaking very loudly
B. Speaking slowly
C. Using hand gestures exclusively
D. Writing all questions down
Answer: B. Speaking slowly
Rationale: Speaking slowly allows the patient who reads lips to better
distinguish words and follow the conversation. Speaking loudly does not help
lip-reading, and shouting can distort lip movements. While writing may be
needed at times, speaking slowly is the most effective primary strategy .
2. During a history, the patient indicates he has an uncle and a brother with
sickle cell disease. Which of the following is an appropriate method to
document this information?
A. Include it in the past medical history
B. Include it in the family history
C. Include it in the social history
D. Include it in the review of systems
Answer: B. Include it in the family history
,Rationale: Genetic conditions such as sickle cell disease must be documented in
the family history section of the health record, as they indicate a hereditary
pattern that may affect the patient's risk profile .
3. Which approach is recommended at the onset of an interview?
A. Start with direct, closed-ended questions
B. Begin with the review of systems
C. Use an open-ended approach; let the patient explain the problem or reason
for the visit
D. Focus immediately on the chief complaint with specific questions
Answer: C. Use an open-ended approach; let the patient explain the problem or
reason for the visit
Rationale: Open-ended questions at the beginning of an interview allow the
patient to tell their story in their own words, establishing rapport and ensuring
that the practitioner understands the patient's priorities and concerns before
moving to more specific questions .
4. Which of the following questions may lead to an inaccurate patient response?
A. "Can you describe the pain you are experiencing?"
B. "What brings you in today?"
C. "That was a horrible experience, wasn't it?"
D. "When did your symptoms begin?"
Answer: C. "That was a horrible experience, wasn't it?"
Rationale: This is a leading question that suggests the expected answer and may
pressure the patient to agree rather than provide an accurate account. Leading
questions can introduce bias and compromise the reliability of the history .
5. Repeating a patient's answer is an attempt to:
,A. Fill awkward silence during the interview
B. Confirm an accurate understanding
C. Demonstrate authority
D. Speed up the interview process
Answer: B. Confirm an accurate understanding
Rationale: Repeating or paraphrasing a patient's response is a therapeutic
communication technique that validates understanding, clarifies information,
and ensures the practitioner has accurately interpreted the patient's meaning .
6. During an interview, your patient admits to feeling worthless and having a
sleep disturbance for the past 3 weeks. These are clues that warrant the
exploration of:
A. Nutritional status
B. Risk for suicide
C. Medication side effects
D. Family history of depression
Answer: B. Risk for suicide
Rationale: Feelings of worthlessness combined with sleep disturbances are
significant warning signs for depression and suicidal ideation. The practitioner
must assess for suicidal thoughts and risk factors .
7. Direct questions are designed to:
A. Establish rapport with the patient
B. Obtain or clarify specific details about an answer
C. Allow the patient to tell their story freely
D. Assess the patient's emotional state
Answer: B. Obtain or clarify specific details about an answer
Rationale: Direct or closed-ended questions are used to gather specific
information, clarify details, and confirm understanding after open-ended
questions have established the broader context .
, 8. Interviewers should identify and assess their own feelings, such as hostility
and prejudice, in order to:
A. Share them with the patient to build rapport
B. Reduce communication barriers
C. Eliminate all emotional responses
D. Focus solely on physical symptoms
Answer: B. Reduce communication barriers
Rationale: Self-awareness of personal feelings and biases helps prevent these
factors from interfering with the patient-provider relationship and ensures
objective, patient-centered care .
9. During an interview, a patient describes abdominal pain that often awakens
him at night. Which of the following responses by the interviewer would
facilitate the interviewing process?
A. "That must be terrible for you."
B. "Tell me what you mean by often."
C. "Have you seen a doctor about this?"
D. "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
Answer: B. "Tell me what you mean by often."
Rationale: This open-ended follow-up question clarifies the patient's description
without imposing assumptions, facilitating more detailed and accurate
information gathering .
10. The best approach to taking the health history is to:
A. Complete the history before conducting the examination
B. Start with an open-ended question
C. Focus exclusively on the chief complaint
D. Start with the review of systems
Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
Section 1: Health History & Interview Techniques (Questions 1-20)
1. Which of the following will best facilitate the interview when obtaining a
history for a deaf patient who can read lips?
A. Speaking very loudly
B. Speaking slowly
C. Using hand gestures exclusively
D. Writing all questions down
Answer: B. Speaking slowly
Rationale: Speaking slowly allows the patient who reads lips to better
distinguish words and follow the conversation. Speaking loudly does not help
lip-reading, and shouting can distort lip movements. While writing may be
needed at times, speaking slowly is the most effective primary strategy .
2. During a history, the patient indicates he has an uncle and a brother with
sickle cell disease. Which of the following is an appropriate method to
document this information?
A. Include it in the past medical history
B. Include it in the family history
C. Include it in the social history
D. Include it in the review of systems
Answer: B. Include it in the family history
,Rationale: Genetic conditions such as sickle cell disease must be documented in
the family history section of the health record, as they indicate a hereditary
pattern that may affect the patient's risk profile .
3. Which approach is recommended at the onset of an interview?
A. Start with direct, closed-ended questions
B. Begin with the review of systems
C. Use an open-ended approach; let the patient explain the problem or reason
for the visit
D. Focus immediately on the chief complaint with specific questions
Answer: C. Use an open-ended approach; let the patient explain the problem or
reason for the visit
Rationale: Open-ended questions at the beginning of an interview allow the
patient to tell their story in their own words, establishing rapport and ensuring
that the practitioner understands the patient's priorities and concerns before
moving to more specific questions .
4. Which of the following questions may lead to an inaccurate patient response?
A. "Can you describe the pain you are experiencing?"
B. "What brings you in today?"
C. "That was a horrible experience, wasn't it?"
D. "When did your symptoms begin?"
Answer: C. "That was a horrible experience, wasn't it?"
Rationale: This is a leading question that suggests the expected answer and may
pressure the patient to agree rather than provide an accurate account. Leading
questions can introduce bias and compromise the reliability of the history .
5. Repeating a patient's answer is an attempt to:
,A. Fill awkward silence during the interview
B. Confirm an accurate understanding
C. Demonstrate authority
D. Speed up the interview process
Answer: B. Confirm an accurate understanding
Rationale: Repeating or paraphrasing a patient's response is a therapeutic
communication technique that validates understanding, clarifies information,
and ensures the practitioner has accurately interpreted the patient's meaning .
6. During an interview, your patient admits to feeling worthless and having a
sleep disturbance for the past 3 weeks. These are clues that warrant the
exploration of:
A. Nutritional status
B. Risk for suicide
C. Medication side effects
D. Family history of depression
Answer: B. Risk for suicide
Rationale: Feelings of worthlessness combined with sleep disturbances are
significant warning signs for depression and suicidal ideation. The practitioner
must assess for suicidal thoughts and risk factors .
7. Direct questions are designed to:
A. Establish rapport with the patient
B. Obtain or clarify specific details about an answer
C. Allow the patient to tell their story freely
D. Assess the patient's emotional state
Answer: B. Obtain or clarify specific details about an answer
Rationale: Direct or closed-ended questions are used to gather specific
information, clarify details, and confirm understanding after open-ended
questions have established the broader context .
, 8. Interviewers should identify and assess their own feelings, such as hostility
and prejudice, in order to:
A. Share them with the patient to build rapport
B. Reduce communication barriers
C. Eliminate all emotional responses
D. Focus solely on physical symptoms
Answer: B. Reduce communication barriers
Rationale: Self-awareness of personal feelings and biases helps prevent these
factors from interfering with the patient-provider relationship and ensures
objective, patient-centered care .
9. During an interview, a patient describes abdominal pain that often awakens
him at night. Which of the following responses by the interviewer would
facilitate the interviewing process?
A. "That must be terrible for you."
B. "Tell me what you mean by often."
C. "Have you seen a doctor about this?"
D. "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
Answer: B. "Tell me what you mean by often."
Rationale: This open-ended follow-up question clarifies the patient's description
without imposing assumptions, facilitating more detailed and accurate
information gathering .
10. The best approach to taking the health history is to:
A. Complete the history before conducting the examination
B. Start with an open-ended question
C. Focus exclusively on the chief complaint
D. Start with the review of systems
