WGU D443 Health Assessment OA Exam – 250 Practice Questions with
Verified Answers & Rationales
Section 1: Health History & Interviewing Techniques (Questions 1–25)
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to conduct a health history interview with a patient
who speaks limited English. What is the most appropriate action?
A) Use a family member as interpreter to maintain comfort
B) Arrange for a certified medical interpreter
C) Speak slowly and loudly in English to ensure understanding
D) Rely on nonverbal communication and skip the verbal history
Answer B: Certified medical interpreter. A certified medical interpreter
ensures accurate, confidential communication and complies with legal
and ethical standards. Family members may filter information or breach
privacy.
Rationale: Legal and ethical standards require qualified medical
interpreters to ensure accurate communication and patient
confidentiality.
,Question 2
Which of the following is an example of subjective data obtained during
a health assessment?
A) The patient's blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg
B) The patient states, "I feel nauseous"
C) The patient's skin is warm and dry
D) The patient's heart rate is 88 bpm
Answer B: Patient states, "I feel nauseous." Subjective data consists of
information provided by the patient, such as symptoms and feelings.
Objective data is measurable and observable.
Rationale: Subjective data is reported by the patient; objective data is
measured or observed by the examiner.
Question 3
When conducting a health history for an older adult, what is an
important consideration for the nurse?
A) Speak loudly to ensure they can hear you
B) Allow extra time for the interview and be patient
C) Avoid asking about sensitive topics
D) Rush through the interview to avoid fatigue
Answer B: Allow extra time for the interview and be patient. Older
adults may require additional time to process questions and recall
information.
Rationale: Rushing can lead to incomplete answers; extra time respects
the patient's processing needs.
,Question 4
A patient's chief complaint should be documented in:
A) Medical terminology for accuracy
B) The nurse's paraphrased summary
C) The patient's own words
D) Abbreviated form for brevity
Answer C: The patient's own words. The chief complaint should be
documented using the patient's own words, in quotation marks.
Rationale: Using the patient's own words preserves the patient's
perspective and ensures accurate representation.
Question 5
The "PQRST" mnemonic is used to assess:
A) Vital signs
B) Pain characteristics
C) Past medical history
D) Respiratory status
Answer B: Pain characteristics. PQRST stands for
Provocation/Palliation, Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, and Timing.
Rationale: PQRST is a systematic approach to assessing pain
characteristics.
, Question 6
Which of the following is a "red flag" symptom requiring urgent
evaluation?
A) Mild headache after reading
B) Headache relieved by rest
C) Sudden, severe headache with no history of migraines
D) Headache with sinus congestion
Answer C: Sudden, severe headache with no history of migraines. A
sudden, severe "thunderclap" headache may indicate subarachnoid
hemorrhage or other serious intracranial pathology.
Rationale: Thunderclap headaches require immediate evaluation for
possible intracranial bleeding.
Question 7
During a health history, the nurse asks, "Tell me about your pain." This
is an example of:
A) A leading question
B) A closed-ended question
C) An open-ended question
D) A directive question
Answer C: An open-ended question. Open-ended questions encourage
the patient to provide detailed information in their own words.
Rationale: Open-ended questions facilitate comprehensive data
collection and patient-centered communication.
Verified Answers & Rationales
Section 1: Health History & Interviewing Techniques (Questions 1–25)
Question 1
A nurse is preparing to conduct a health history interview with a patient
who speaks limited English. What is the most appropriate action?
A) Use a family member as interpreter to maintain comfort
B) Arrange for a certified medical interpreter
C) Speak slowly and loudly in English to ensure understanding
D) Rely on nonverbal communication and skip the verbal history
Answer B: Certified medical interpreter. A certified medical interpreter
ensures accurate, confidential communication and complies with legal
and ethical standards. Family members may filter information or breach
privacy.
Rationale: Legal and ethical standards require qualified medical
interpreters to ensure accurate communication and patient
confidentiality.
,Question 2
Which of the following is an example of subjective data obtained during
a health assessment?
A) The patient's blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg
B) The patient states, "I feel nauseous"
C) The patient's skin is warm and dry
D) The patient's heart rate is 88 bpm
Answer B: Patient states, "I feel nauseous." Subjective data consists of
information provided by the patient, such as symptoms and feelings.
Objective data is measurable and observable.
Rationale: Subjective data is reported by the patient; objective data is
measured or observed by the examiner.
Question 3
When conducting a health history for an older adult, what is an
important consideration for the nurse?
A) Speak loudly to ensure they can hear you
B) Allow extra time for the interview and be patient
C) Avoid asking about sensitive topics
D) Rush through the interview to avoid fatigue
Answer B: Allow extra time for the interview and be patient. Older
adults may require additional time to process questions and recall
information.
Rationale: Rushing can lead to incomplete answers; extra time respects
the patient's processing needs.
,Question 4
A patient's chief complaint should be documented in:
A) Medical terminology for accuracy
B) The nurse's paraphrased summary
C) The patient's own words
D) Abbreviated form for brevity
Answer C: The patient's own words. The chief complaint should be
documented using the patient's own words, in quotation marks.
Rationale: Using the patient's own words preserves the patient's
perspective and ensures accurate representation.
Question 5
The "PQRST" mnemonic is used to assess:
A) Vital signs
B) Pain characteristics
C) Past medical history
D) Respiratory status
Answer B: Pain characteristics. PQRST stands for
Provocation/Palliation, Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, and Timing.
Rationale: PQRST is a systematic approach to assessing pain
characteristics.
, Question 6
Which of the following is a "red flag" symptom requiring urgent
evaluation?
A) Mild headache after reading
B) Headache relieved by rest
C) Sudden, severe headache with no history of migraines
D) Headache with sinus congestion
Answer C: Sudden, severe headache with no history of migraines. A
sudden, severe "thunderclap" headache may indicate subarachnoid
hemorrhage or other serious intracranial pathology.
Rationale: Thunderclap headaches require immediate evaluation for
possible intracranial bleeding.
Question 7
During a health history, the nurse asks, "Tell me about your pain." This
is an example of:
A) A leading question
B) A closed-ended question
C) An open-ended question
D) A directive question
Answer C: An open-ended question. Open-ended questions encourage
the patient to provide detailed information in their own words.
Rationale: Open-ended questions facilitate comprehensive data
collection and patient-centered communication.
