WGU D443 Health Assessment OA Practice Exam | 200
Questions with Verified Answers & Rationales |
Objective Assessment Prep | Western Governors
University
1. A nurse is preparing to conduct a health history interview with a patient who
speaks limited English. What is the most appropriate action to ensure accurate
communication?
• A) Speak slowly and loudly to the patient
• B) Ask the patient's family member to interpret
• C) Skip the verbal history and rely on the medical record
• D) Arrange for a certified medical interpreter
• Answer: D) Arrange for a certified medical interpreter. A certified medical
interpreter ensures accurate, confidential communication and complies
with legal and ethical standards. Family members may filter information,
omit details, or breach privacy .
2. During a health history interview, a patient states they have been
experiencing throbbing headaches for three weeks. Which type of data does this
information represent?
• A) Objective data
• B) Subjective data
• C) Secondary data
• D) Constant data
• Answer: B) Subjective data. Subjective data consists of information
provided by the patient, such as symptoms and feelings. Objective data is
measurable and observable, including vital signs and physical assessment
findings .
,3. A nurse is conducting a physical examination on a newly admitted patient.
Which technique should the nurse perform first during the standard abdominal
assessment?
• A) Palpation
• B) Percussion
• C) Auscultation
• D) Inspection
• Answer: D) Inspection. For abdominal assessment specifically, the correct
sequence is Inspection → Auscultation → Percussion → Palpation because
palpating or percussing first alters bowel sounds .
4. Which assessment technique should the nurse use first during a physical
examination?
• A) Palpation
• B) Percussion
• C) Auscultation
• D) Inspection
• Answer: D) Inspection. Inspection is the first assessment technique used in
a physical examination. It involves visual observation and should always
precede palpation, percussion, and auscultation .
5. While assessing a patient's thoracic expansion, the nurse places their hands
on the posterior chest wall with thumbs at the level of T9 or T10. What is the
nurse primarily evaluating?
• A) Fremitus intensity
• B) Lung density shifts
• C) Symmetrical chest movement
• D) Diaphragmatic excursion distance
, • Answer: C) Symmetrical chest movement. Assessing thoracic expansion
evaluates the symmetry of chest movement during respiration. The nurse's
hands move outward as the chest expands .
6. A nurse uses the goniometer during a musculoskeletal examination. What is
the primary purpose of this instrument?
• A) To test muscle strength against resistance
• B) To measure the precise degree of joint range of motion
• C) To evaluate bone density in the lower extremities
• D) To detect the presence of crepitus during movement
• Answer: B) To measure the precise degree of joint range of motion. A
goniometer is an instrument used to measure the angle of a joint and the
degree of flexion and extension .
7. During an assessment of a patient's skin, the nurse notes a flat, non-palpable
skin color change that is 0.7 cm in diameter. How should the nurse document
this finding?
• A) Papule
• B) Macule
• C) Plaque
• D) Nodule
• Answer: B) Macule. A macule is a flat, circumscribed area of color change
<1 cm (e.g., freckle, petechiae) .
8. An older adult patient is admitted with suspected dehydration. Where should
the nurse check for skin turgor to obtain the most accurate result?
• A) The back of the hand
• B) The forehead
• C) The forearm
• D) Over the sternum or clavicle
, • Answer: D) Over the sternum or clavicle. In older adults, skin turgor over
the sternum or clavicle is more accurate than over the hand or forearm due
to age-related loss of elasticity in peripheral skin .
9. Which percussion note does a nurse expect to hear when percussing over a
healthy, air-filled adult lung field?
• A) Tympany
• B) Hyperresonance
• C) Resonance
• D) Dullness
• Answer: C) Resonance. Resonance is the low-pitched, hollow sound heard
over healthy air-filled lung tissue. Dullness indicates fluid or solid tissue
(e.g., pneumonia, pleural effusion) .
10. A raised, circumscribed skin lesion containing serous fluid that measures 0.5
cm is documented as a:
• A) Papule
• B) Macule
• C) Pustule
• D) Vesicle
• Answer: D) Vesicle. A vesicle is elevated and filled with clear serous fluid. A
pustule contains purulent fluid .
11. The nurse is assessing an older adult client's pupils and notes a cloudy ring
around the edge of the iris. The client denies any vision changes. This finding is
most consistent with:
• A) Cataract
• B) Arcus senilis
• C) Glaucoma
• D) Macular degeneration
Questions with Verified Answers & Rationales |
Objective Assessment Prep | Western Governors
University
1. A nurse is preparing to conduct a health history interview with a patient who
speaks limited English. What is the most appropriate action to ensure accurate
communication?
• A) Speak slowly and loudly to the patient
• B) Ask the patient's family member to interpret
• C) Skip the verbal history and rely on the medical record
• D) Arrange for a certified medical interpreter
• Answer: D) Arrange for a certified medical interpreter. A certified medical
interpreter ensures accurate, confidential communication and complies
with legal and ethical standards. Family members may filter information,
omit details, or breach privacy .
2. During a health history interview, a patient states they have been
experiencing throbbing headaches for three weeks. Which type of data does this
information represent?
• A) Objective data
• B) Subjective data
• C) Secondary data
• D) Constant data
• Answer: B) Subjective data. Subjective data consists of information
provided by the patient, such as symptoms and feelings. Objective data is
measurable and observable, including vital signs and physical assessment
findings .
,3. A nurse is conducting a physical examination on a newly admitted patient.
Which technique should the nurse perform first during the standard abdominal
assessment?
• A) Palpation
• B) Percussion
• C) Auscultation
• D) Inspection
• Answer: D) Inspection. For abdominal assessment specifically, the correct
sequence is Inspection → Auscultation → Percussion → Palpation because
palpating or percussing first alters bowel sounds .
4. Which assessment technique should the nurse use first during a physical
examination?
• A) Palpation
• B) Percussion
• C) Auscultation
• D) Inspection
• Answer: D) Inspection. Inspection is the first assessment technique used in
a physical examination. It involves visual observation and should always
precede palpation, percussion, and auscultation .
5. While assessing a patient's thoracic expansion, the nurse places their hands
on the posterior chest wall with thumbs at the level of T9 or T10. What is the
nurse primarily evaluating?
• A) Fremitus intensity
• B) Lung density shifts
• C) Symmetrical chest movement
• D) Diaphragmatic excursion distance
, • Answer: C) Symmetrical chest movement. Assessing thoracic expansion
evaluates the symmetry of chest movement during respiration. The nurse's
hands move outward as the chest expands .
6. A nurse uses the goniometer during a musculoskeletal examination. What is
the primary purpose of this instrument?
• A) To test muscle strength against resistance
• B) To measure the precise degree of joint range of motion
• C) To evaluate bone density in the lower extremities
• D) To detect the presence of crepitus during movement
• Answer: B) To measure the precise degree of joint range of motion. A
goniometer is an instrument used to measure the angle of a joint and the
degree of flexion and extension .
7. During an assessment of a patient's skin, the nurse notes a flat, non-palpable
skin color change that is 0.7 cm in diameter. How should the nurse document
this finding?
• A) Papule
• B) Macule
• C) Plaque
• D) Nodule
• Answer: B) Macule. A macule is a flat, circumscribed area of color change
<1 cm (e.g., freckle, petechiae) .
8. An older adult patient is admitted with suspected dehydration. Where should
the nurse check for skin turgor to obtain the most accurate result?
• A) The back of the hand
• B) The forehead
• C) The forearm
• D) Over the sternum or clavicle
, • Answer: D) Over the sternum or clavicle. In older adults, skin turgor over
the sternum or clavicle is more accurate than over the hand or forearm due
to age-related loss of elasticity in peripheral skin .
9. Which percussion note does a nurse expect to hear when percussing over a
healthy, air-filled adult lung field?
• A) Tympany
• B) Hyperresonance
• C) Resonance
• D) Dullness
• Answer: C) Resonance. Resonance is the low-pitched, hollow sound heard
over healthy air-filled lung tissue. Dullness indicates fluid or solid tissue
(e.g., pneumonia, pleural effusion) .
10. A raised, circumscribed skin lesion containing serous fluid that measures 0.5
cm is documented as a:
• A) Papule
• B) Macule
• C) Pustule
• D) Vesicle
• Answer: D) Vesicle. A vesicle is elevated and filled with clear serous fluid. A
pustule contains purulent fluid .
11. The nurse is assessing an older adult client's pupils and notes a cloudy ring
around the edge of the iris. The client denies any vision changes. This finding is
most consistent with:
• A) Cataract
• B) Arcus senilis
• C) Glaucoma
• D) Macular degeneration
