NR 509 ADVANCED PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT | UPDATED EXAM
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED SOLUTIONS 2026/2027
NR 509 Advanced Physical Assessment
Q1. What is the primary purpose of the health history in advanced
physical assessment? ANSWER To establish a database of subjective
information, identify health risks, and guide the physical examination.
Q2. What are the four types of health histories? ANSWER Complete
(comprehensive), focused (problem-centered), follow-up, and emergency.
Q3. What does the mnemonic OLD CARTS stand for in symptom
analysis? ANSWER Onset, Location, Duration, Character,
Aggravating/Alleviating factors, Radiation, Timing, Severity.
Q4. What is the difference between open-ended and closed-ended
questions? ANSWER Open-ended questions allow patients to respond in
their own words (e.g., "Tell me about your pain"); closed-ended questions
elicit specific yes/no or limited responses (e.g., "Is the pain sharp?").
Q5. What is the purpose of the review of systems (ROS)? ANSWER To
screen for symptoms in all body systems that the patient may not have
mentioned during the chief complaint or history of present illness.
Q6. What are the four categories of patient data? ANSWER Complete
database, focused or problem-centered database, follow-up database, and
emergency database.
Q7. What is the definition of a chief complaint (CC)? ANSWER The
main reason for the patient's visit, stated in the patient's own words.
Q8. What is the difference between signs and symptoms? ANSWER
Symptoms are subjective data reported by the patient; signs are objective
data observed by the clinician.
,Q9. What are the components of a complete health history? ANSWER
Biographic data, chief complaint, history of present illness, past health
history, family history, personal/social history, and review of systems.
Q10. What is the PQRST method used for? ANSWER Assessing pain:
Provocation/Palliation, Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, Timing.
Q11. What is active listening in patient interviewing? ANSWER Fully
concentrating on what the patient is saying, using verbal and nonverbal
cues to demonstrate attention and understanding.
Q12. What are facilitators in patient communication? ANSWER
Techniques that encourage the patient to continue speaking, such as
silence, reflection, clarification, and empathy.
Q13. What is the difference between empathy and sympathy?
ANSWER Empathy is understanding and sharing the patient's feelings;
sympathy is feeling pity or sorrow for the patient.
Q14. What is cultural competence in health assessment? ANSWER
The ability to understand, respect, and respond effectively to cultural
differences in health beliefs and practices.
Q15. What is the purpose of the family history? ANSWER To identify
genetic predispositions to disease, familial patterns of illness, and
environmental risk factors shared by family members.
Q16. What is a genogram? ANSWER A diagram that depicts family
relationships and medical history across generations using standardized
symbols.
Q17. What does the social history include? ANSWER Occupation,
education, lifestyle, habits (smoking, alcohol, drugs), sexual history, and
support systems.
Q18. What is the CAGE questionnaire used for? ANSWER Screening for
alcohol misuse: Have you felt the need to Cut down? Been Annoyed by
criticism? Felt Guilty? Needed an Eye-opener?
Q19. What is motivational interviewing? ANSWER A patient-centered
counseling style that helps patients explore and resolve ambivalence
about behavior change.
Q20. What is the teach-back method? ANSWER Asking patients to
explain information back in their own words to confirm understanding.
, SECTION 2: GENERAL SURVEY & VITAL SIGNS (Questions 21–50)
Q21. What is the general survey? ANSWER The overall impression of
the patient's physical appearance, body structure, mobility, behavior, and
vital signs obtained at first contact.
Q22. What are the five vital signs? ANSWER Temperature, pulse (heart
rate), respirations, blood pressure, and pain (the "fifth vital sign"). Oxygen
saturation is often included as the sixth.
Q23. What is the normal range for oral temperature in adults?
ANSWER 36.0°C to 37.5°C (96.8°F to 99.5°F). Average is 37°C (98.6°F).
Q24. What factors can affect body temperature? ANSWER Diurnal
variation (lowest in early morning, highest in late afternoon), exercise,
hormonal fluctuations, age, environment, and illness.
Q25. What is the difference between core and surface temperature?
ANSWER Core temperature reflects the body's internal organs; surface
temperature reflects the skin and is influenced by environmental factors.
Q26. What are the four routes for measuring temperature and which
is most accurate? ANSWER Oral, rectal, tympanic, and temporal artery.
Rectal is considered most accurate for core temperature.
Q27. What is the normal resting adult heart rate? ANSWER 60 to 100
beats per minute.
Q28. What is bradycardia? ANSWER A heart rate below 60 beats per
minute in an adult.
Q29. What is tachycardia? ANSWER A heart rate above 100 beats per
minute in an adult.
Q30. What are the characteristics assessed when palpating a pulse?
ANSWER Rate, rhythm, amplitude (strength), and elasticity of the vessel
wall.
Q31. What is the normal respiratory rate for an adult? ANSWER 12 to
20 breaths per minute.
Q32. What is Cheyne-Stokes respiration? ANSWER A pattern of
breathing characterized by gradual increase in depth and rate followed by
a decrease, with periods of apnea.
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED SOLUTIONS 2026/2027
NR 509 Advanced Physical Assessment
Q1. What is the primary purpose of the health history in advanced
physical assessment? ANSWER To establish a database of subjective
information, identify health risks, and guide the physical examination.
Q2. What are the four types of health histories? ANSWER Complete
(comprehensive), focused (problem-centered), follow-up, and emergency.
Q3. What does the mnemonic OLD CARTS stand for in symptom
analysis? ANSWER Onset, Location, Duration, Character,
Aggravating/Alleviating factors, Radiation, Timing, Severity.
Q4. What is the difference between open-ended and closed-ended
questions? ANSWER Open-ended questions allow patients to respond in
their own words (e.g., "Tell me about your pain"); closed-ended questions
elicit specific yes/no or limited responses (e.g., "Is the pain sharp?").
Q5. What is the purpose of the review of systems (ROS)? ANSWER To
screen for symptoms in all body systems that the patient may not have
mentioned during the chief complaint or history of present illness.
Q6. What are the four categories of patient data? ANSWER Complete
database, focused or problem-centered database, follow-up database, and
emergency database.
Q7. What is the definition of a chief complaint (CC)? ANSWER The
main reason for the patient's visit, stated in the patient's own words.
Q8. What is the difference between signs and symptoms? ANSWER
Symptoms are subjective data reported by the patient; signs are objective
data observed by the clinician.
,Q9. What are the components of a complete health history? ANSWER
Biographic data, chief complaint, history of present illness, past health
history, family history, personal/social history, and review of systems.
Q10. What is the PQRST method used for? ANSWER Assessing pain:
Provocation/Palliation, Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, Timing.
Q11. What is active listening in patient interviewing? ANSWER Fully
concentrating on what the patient is saying, using verbal and nonverbal
cues to demonstrate attention and understanding.
Q12. What are facilitators in patient communication? ANSWER
Techniques that encourage the patient to continue speaking, such as
silence, reflection, clarification, and empathy.
Q13. What is the difference between empathy and sympathy?
ANSWER Empathy is understanding and sharing the patient's feelings;
sympathy is feeling pity or sorrow for the patient.
Q14. What is cultural competence in health assessment? ANSWER
The ability to understand, respect, and respond effectively to cultural
differences in health beliefs and practices.
Q15. What is the purpose of the family history? ANSWER To identify
genetic predispositions to disease, familial patterns of illness, and
environmental risk factors shared by family members.
Q16. What is a genogram? ANSWER A diagram that depicts family
relationships and medical history across generations using standardized
symbols.
Q17. What does the social history include? ANSWER Occupation,
education, lifestyle, habits (smoking, alcohol, drugs), sexual history, and
support systems.
Q18. What is the CAGE questionnaire used for? ANSWER Screening for
alcohol misuse: Have you felt the need to Cut down? Been Annoyed by
criticism? Felt Guilty? Needed an Eye-opener?
Q19. What is motivational interviewing? ANSWER A patient-centered
counseling style that helps patients explore and resolve ambivalence
about behavior change.
Q20. What is the teach-back method? ANSWER Asking patients to
explain information back in their own words to confirm understanding.
, SECTION 2: GENERAL SURVEY & VITAL SIGNS (Questions 21–50)
Q21. What is the general survey? ANSWER The overall impression of
the patient's physical appearance, body structure, mobility, behavior, and
vital signs obtained at first contact.
Q22. What are the five vital signs? ANSWER Temperature, pulse (heart
rate), respirations, blood pressure, and pain (the "fifth vital sign"). Oxygen
saturation is often included as the sixth.
Q23. What is the normal range for oral temperature in adults?
ANSWER 36.0°C to 37.5°C (96.8°F to 99.5°F). Average is 37°C (98.6°F).
Q24. What factors can affect body temperature? ANSWER Diurnal
variation (lowest in early morning, highest in late afternoon), exercise,
hormonal fluctuations, age, environment, and illness.
Q25. What is the difference between core and surface temperature?
ANSWER Core temperature reflects the body's internal organs; surface
temperature reflects the skin and is influenced by environmental factors.
Q26. What are the four routes for measuring temperature and which
is most accurate? ANSWER Oral, rectal, tympanic, and temporal artery.
Rectal is considered most accurate for core temperature.
Q27. What is the normal resting adult heart rate? ANSWER 60 to 100
beats per minute.
Q28. What is bradycardia? ANSWER A heart rate below 60 beats per
minute in an adult.
Q29. What is tachycardia? ANSWER A heart rate above 100 beats per
minute in an adult.
Q30. What are the characteristics assessed when palpating a pulse?
ANSWER Rate, rhythm, amplitude (strength), and elasticity of the vessel
wall.
Q31. What is the normal respiratory rate for an adult? ANSWER 12 to
20 breaths per minute.
Q32. What is Cheyne-Stokes respiration? ANSWER A pattern of
breathing characterized by gradual increase in depth and rate followed by
a decrease, with periods of apnea.
