NURS 330 HEALTH ASSESSMENT FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE | NURS 330 FINAL
EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
2026/2027
Chief Concern - ANS ✔✔CC
Reason for seeking care
Pt's words, use quotes
History of Present Illness - ANS ✔✔HPI
Chronological account of cc and history
OLDCARTS
What is OLDCARTS? - ANS ✔✔O onset
L location
D duration
C character (describe)
A aggravating factors (what makes it worse)
R relief measures (what have they tried even if did not work)
T temporal factors (time of day, seasons, etc)
S severity (scale 1-10, describe if stabbing aching etc)
Past Medical History - ANS ✔✔PMH
Childhood illnesses
Immunizations
Adult Illnesses
Surgeries/injuries
Communicable diseases
Medications
Allergies
Disabilities
Family History - ANS ✔✔FH
includes health status and age of immediate family members
2 generations
hereditary disorders
Current Health Status - ANS ✔✔CHS
personal status
occupation
habits
characteristics of daily living
sexual practices
hobbies/interests
recent travel
health habits and check-ups
,Review of Systems - ANS ✔✔ROS
relationship of CC to other body systems, general overall health
complaints in each system and the related symptoms
Physical examination order - ANS ✔✔Inspection
Palpation
Percussion
Auscultation
ABDOMINAL / GI :
inspection
auscultation
percussion
palpation
Aspects of inspection - ANS ✔✔use all senses to observe throughout exam
provide privacy and dignity when able to
Aspects of palpation - ANS ✔✔touch, keep fingers together
light = up to 1 cm
deep = 1-4 cm
examine areas of pain last
palmar and finger pads= determine position, texture, size, consistency, fluid, crepitus, forms of masses or
structures
ulnar surface = evaluate vibrations
dorsal surface = assess temperature
Aspects of percussion - ANS ✔✔striking one object against another that produces vibrations and then
sound waves
helps determine density in torso and trunk
Direct vs indirect percussion - ANS ✔✔Direct= striking hand or finger directly on surface
Indirect= finger of one hand acts as the hammer and the finger of the other hand acts as the striking
surface
Tympanic - ANS ✔✔drumlike (gastric bubble)
Hyperresonance - ANS ✔✔booming sound (lungs of someone with emphysema)
Resonance - ANS ✔✔hollow, normal healthy lungs
Dull - ANS ✔✔thud (over liver and dense areas)
Flat - ANS ✔✔soft dull (over muscles)
Aspects of auscultation - ANS ✔✔listening for sounds produced by the body
, listen for symmetry
place on bare skin
Bell vs Diaphragm - ANS ✔✔Diaphragm: high-pitched sounds (lung, bowel, heart)
Bell: soft, low-pitched sounds (heart murmurs)
Functions of the skin - ANS ✔✔protection
barrier to fluid and electrolyte loss
wound repair
sensory organ
infection protection
temp regulation
vitamin D production
reservoir for blood (plays a role in BP)
indicator of emotions (flush / pale)
Epidermis - ANS ✔✔outermost layer
thin
no blood vessels
turnover every 3-4 weeks
responsible for skin color
waterproof due to keratin cells
Dermis - ANS ✔✔middle layer
composed of blood vessels
nerve fibers
hair follicles
sweat and sebaceous glands
collagen and elastin
Subcutaneous - ANS ✔✔adipose tissue = insulation
adheres to skin and underlying structures
contains mast cells = antihistamine response
Vellus hair - ANS ✔✔short, fine, faint hair that covers most of body
not palms of hands and soles of feet
Terminal hairs - ANS ✔✔coarser, thicker, conspicuous hair
scalp, eyebrows, etc
What determines hair color? - ANS ✔✔melanocytes in the hair shaft
What is the function of hair? - ANS ✔✔insulate, cushion, and protect
What causes variation in hair amount? - ANS ✔✔everyone has same # of follicles, but they are
stimulated differently among men and women
What is the part of the nail we see? - ANS ✔✔composed of dead cells
EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
2026/2027
Chief Concern - ANS ✔✔CC
Reason for seeking care
Pt's words, use quotes
History of Present Illness - ANS ✔✔HPI
Chronological account of cc and history
OLDCARTS
What is OLDCARTS? - ANS ✔✔O onset
L location
D duration
C character (describe)
A aggravating factors (what makes it worse)
R relief measures (what have they tried even if did not work)
T temporal factors (time of day, seasons, etc)
S severity (scale 1-10, describe if stabbing aching etc)
Past Medical History - ANS ✔✔PMH
Childhood illnesses
Immunizations
Adult Illnesses
Surgeries/injuries
Communicable diseases
Medications
Allergies
Disabilities
Family History - ANS ✔✔FH
includes health status and age of immediate family members
2 generations
hereditary disorders
Current Health Status - ANS ✔✔CHS
personal status
occupation
habits
characteristics of daily living
sexual practices
hobbies/interests
recent travel
health habits and check-ups
,Review of Systems - ANS ✔✔ROS
relationship of CC to other body systems, general overall health
complaints in each system and the related symptoms
Physical examination order - ANS ✔✔Inspection
Palpation
Percussion
Auscultation
ABDOMINAL / GI :
inspection
auscultation
percussion
palpation
Aspects of inspection - ANS ✔✔use all senses to observe throughout exam
provide privacy and dignity when able to
Aspects of palpation - ANS ✔✔touch, keep fingers together
light = up to 1 cm
deep = 1-4 cm
examine areas of pain last
palmar and finger pads= determine position, texture, size, consistency, fluid, crepitus, forms of masses or
structures
ulnar surface = evaluate vibrations
dorsal surface = assess temperature
Aspects of percussion - ANS ✔✔striking one object against another that produces vibrations and then
sound waves
helps determine density in torso and trunk
Direct vs indirect percussion - ANS ✔✔Direct= striking hand or finger directly on surface
Indirect= finger of one hand acts as the hammer and the finger of the other hand acts as the striking
surface
Tympanic - ANS ✔✔drumlike (gastric bubble)
Hyperresonance - ANS ✔✔booming sound (lungs of someone with emphysema)
Resonance - ANS ✔✔hollow, normal healthy lungs
Dull - ANS ✔✔thud (over liver and dense areas)
Flat - ANS ✔✔soft dull (over muscles)
Aspects of auscultation - ANS ✔✔listening for sounds produced by the body
, listen for symmetry
place on bare skin
Bell vs Diaphragm - ANS ✔✔Diaphragm: high-pitched sounds (lung, bowel, heart)
Bell: soft, low-pitched sounds (heart murmurs)
Functions of the skin - ANS ✔✔protection
barrier to fluid and electrolyte loss
wound repair
sensory organ
infection protection
temp regulation
vitamin D production
reservoir for blood (plays a role in BP)
indicator of emotions (flush / pale)
Epidermis - ANS ✔✔outermost layer
thin
no blood vessels
turnover every 3-4 weeks
responsible for skin color
waterproof due to keratin cells
Dermis - ANS ✔✔middle layer
composed of blood vessels
nerve fibers
hair follicles
sweat and sebaceous glands
collagen and elastin
Subcutaneous - ANS ✔✔adipose tissue = insulation
adheres to skin and underlying structures
contains mast cells = antihistamine response
Vellus hair - ANS ✔✔short, fine, faint hair that covers most of body
not palms of hands and soles of feet
Terminal hairs - ANS ✔✔coarser, thicker, conspicuous hair
scalp, eyebrows, etc
What determines hair color? - ANS ✔✔melanocytes in the hair shaft
What is the function of hair? - ANS ✔✔insulate, cushion, and protect
What causes variation in hair amount? - ANS ✔✔everyone has same # of follicles, but they are
stimulated differently among men and women
What is the part of the nail we see? - ANS ✔✔composed of dead cells
