WGU D443 Health Assessment OA Practice Exam
(Questions & Answers) QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR.pdf
Master your WGU D443 Health Assessment Objective Assessment (OA) with this
comprehensive practice exam bank. Designed to mirror the structure, depth, and clinical
reasoning tested on the official WGU OA, this study guide covers every essential system and
patient population—including cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, abdominal,
musculoskeletal, pediatric, and geriatric health assessment techniques.
Use these clear, rationales-backed practice questions to evaluate your readiness, master high-
yield assessment maneuvers (like Murphy’s sign, McMurray test, and cranial nerve evaluations),
and pass your exam on the first attempt!
1. Fundamentals & Physical Exam Order
Q1: Which assessment technique should the nurse always perform first when
evaluating an adult patient's abdomen?
A) Palpation
B) Percussion
C) Auscultation
D) Inspection
Correct Answer: D) Inspection
,Rationale: Inspection always comes first. For abdominal assessment specifically, the
correct sequence is Inspection → Auscultation → Percussion → Palpation because
palpating or percussing first alters bowel sounds.
2. Vital Signs & Measurements
Q2: A nurse takes a patient's blood pressure using a cuff where the bladder width is
only 20% of the arm circumference. What effect will this have on the reading?
A) Falsely low reading
B) Falsely high reading
C) No impact on reading
D) Unreliable pulse pressure only
Correct Answer: B) Falsely high reading
Rationale: A cuff that is too narrow (undercuffing) produces a falsely high blood pressure
reading. The cuff bladder width should equal ~40% of arm circumference. A cuff that is too
wide leads to a falsely low reading.
3. Integumentary System
,Q3: During a general assessment of a patient with dark skin tones, where should the
nurse inspect to best identify cyanosis?
A) Palms and soles of feet
B) Buccal mucosa and conjunctivae
C) Forearms and upper chest
D) Sclera and nail beds
Correct Answer: B) Buccal mucosa and conjunctivae
Rationale: In dark-skinned individuals, cyanosis is best detected by inspecting mucous
membranes (buccal mucosa, lips) and conjunctivae. Sclera is primarily inspected for
jaundice (elevated bilirubin).
4. Cranial Nerves
Q4: The nurse asks a patient to shrug their shoulders against resistance and turn
their head side to side. Which cranial nerve is being tested?
A) Cranial Nerve V (Trigeminal)
B) Cranial Nerve VII (Facial)
, C) Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory)
D) Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal)
Correct Answer: C) Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory)
Rationale: CN XI controls the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles. Shrugging
against resistance and rotating the head evaluates motor strength for this nerve.
+1
5. Cranial Nerves (Extraocular Movements)
Q5: The nurse assesses the six cardinal fields of gaze. Which group of cranial nerves
is evaluated by this test?
A) CN II, III, and IV
B) CN III, IV, and VI
C) CN V, VII, and VIII
D) CN IX, X, and XII
Correct Answer: B) CN III, IV, and VI
(Questions & Answers) QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE THIS
YEAR.pdf
Master your WGU D443 Health Assessment Objective Assessment (OA) with this
comprehensive practice exam bank. Designed to mirror the structure, depth, and clinical
reasoning tested on the official WGU OA, this study guide covers every essential system and
patient population—including cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, abdominal,
musculoskeletal, pediatric, and geriatric health assessment techniques.
Use these clear, rationales-backed practice questions to evaluate your readiness, master high-
yield assessment maneuvers (like Murphy’s sign, McMurray test, and cranial nerve evaluations),
and pass your exam on the first attempt!
1. Fundamentals & Physical Exam Order
Q1: Which assessment technique should the nurse always perform first when
evaluating an adult patient's abdomen?
A) Palpation
B) Percussion
C) Auscultation
D) Inspection
Correct Answer: D) Inspection
,Rationale: Inspection always comes first. For abdominal assessment specifically, the
correct sequence is Inspection → Auscultation → Percussion → Palpation because
palpating or percussing first alters bowel sounds.
2. Vital Signs & Measurements
Q2: A nurse takes a patient's blood pressure using a cuff where the bladder width is
only 20% of the arm circumference. What effect will this have on the reading?
A) Falsely low reading
B) Falsely high reading
C) No impact on reading
D) Unreliable pulse pressure only
Correct Answer: B) Falsely high reading
Rationale: A cuff that is too narrow (undercuffing) produces a falsely high blood pressure
reading. The cuff bladder width should equal ~40% of arm circumference. A cuff that is too
wide leads to a falsely low reading.
3. Integumentary System
,Q3: During a general assessment of a patient with dark skin tones, where should the
nurse inspect to best identify cyanosis?
A) Palms and soles of feet
B) Buccal mucosa and conjunctivae
C) Forearms and upper chest
D) Sclera and nail beds
Correct Answer: B) Buccal mucosa and conjunctivae
Rationale: In dark-skinned individuals, cyanosis is best detected by inspecting mucous
membranes (buccal mucosa, lips) and conjunctivae. Sclera is primarily inspected for
jaundice (elevated bilirubin).
4. Cranial Nerves
Q4: The nurse asks a patient to shrug their shoulders against resistance and turn
their head side to side. Which cranial nerve is being tested?
A) Cranial Nerve V (Trigeminal)
B) Cranial Nerve VII (Facial)
, C) Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory)
D) Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal)
Correct Answer: C) Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory)
Rationale: CN XI controls the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles. Shrugging
against resistance and rotating the head evaluates motor strength for this nerve.
+1
5. Cranial Nerves (Extraocular Movements)
Q5: The nurse assesses the six cardinal fields of gaze. Which group of cranial nerves
is evaluated by this test?
A) CN II, III, and IV
B) CN III, IV, and VI
C) CN V, VII, and VIII
D) CN IX, X, and XII
Correct Answer: B) CN III, IV, and VI
