NUR 504 FINAL EXAM | NUR 504 FINAL EXAM STUDY GUIDE | NURSING
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
Which of the following is an example of subjective data that may be collected during a health
assessment?
a. Height and weight
b. A patient's recall of his or her past health conditions
c. Results from an abdominal CT scan
d. Complete blood count - b. A patient's recall of his or her past health conditions
1. Which of the following is true regarding the data taken in a health history?
a. Most health history data are objective and measurable.
b. Objective data are error-free, quantifiable data.
c. Subjective data, being inherently less accurate, are of less value than objective data.
d. A successful individualized plan of care must incorporate subjective data. - d. A successful
individualized plan of care must incorporate subjective data.
1. What do Coulehan and Block define as "listening to the total communication . . . and letting the
patient know that you are really hearing"?
a. Cultural competence
b. Patience
c. Empathy
d. Top-tier communication - c. Empathy
1. The provider is preparing to take a health history for a new patient. He takes the patient to a private
room and asks the patient to don a hospital gown. After stepping outside to give the patient sufficient
time to change, he then comes back in and asks permission to conduct the history. He sits next to the
patient at eye level, discreetly observes the patient for any sensory deficits, and asks the patient if he
may take brief notes of the conversation. During the conversation, he gives the patient time to answer
questions fully. He makes sure that his questions do not contain technical terms and quietly observes the
patient's nonverbal behaviors throughout. Which mistake did the provider make?
a. He should have allowed the patient to remain fully clothed in their own clothing for their comfort.
b. He should not have omitted technical terminology. Patients like having a chance to learn.
c. He should have seated - a. He should have allowed the patient to remain fully clothed in their own
clothing for their comfort.
1. Which of the following is true of both comprehensive and focused health histories?
a. They both include identifying data.
b. They both include a social history.
c. They both include a family history.
d. They are both conducted in emergency situations. - a. They both include identifying data.
1. In the mnemonic devise PQRST, which of the following includes describing the location of the
symptoms?
a. Precipitating factors
b. Quality
,c. Radiation
d. Severity - b. Quality
1. What is the current mnemonic device for taking a health history?
a. PQRST
b. CLIENT OUTCOMES
c. PRACTICE
d. GOOD MEDICINE - b. CLIENT OUTCOMES
1. When taking a PMI, which of the following is correct?
a. Do not take the statement "I'm allergic to. . . " at face value.
b. Ask the patient for a very brief summary of their current health.
c. If a patient states that they have been vaccinated with BCG, make sure to administer a PPD test.
d. CAM documentation is no longer a requirement. - a. Do not take the statement "I'm allergic to. . . " at
face value.
1. Which of the following is a first-degree relative to the patient who has experienced premature onset
of CVD?
a. Sister at 62
b. Cousin at 62
c. Aunt at 59
d. Grandfather at 44 - a. Sister at 62
1. Recording the patient's occupation falls under which category?
a. PHI
b. FH
c. SH
d. ROS - c. SH
1. A focused ROS:
a. involves a wider range and shallower level of questions than a comprehensive ROS.
b. includes questions directed toward the systems most likely to be involved in the patient's symptoms.
c. includes questions seeking significant positives to narrow down the body systems affected.
d. covers all body systems. - b. includes questions directed toward the systems most likely to be involved
in the patient's symptoms.
1. A patient comes to the clinic complaining of repeated headaches and lightheadedness. As the provider
takes a health history, he or she should:
a. perform a comprehensive ROS.
b. skip the social history in order to focus on the current issue.
c. focus her interest and questions on the patient's neurologic system.
d. spend a good deal of time assessing the reliability of the information she is getting. - c. focus her
interest and questions on the patient's neurologic system.
A patient's recall of his or her current health needs and past health is subject to error and is also a critical
component in the caregiving process? - True
,Ethnocentrism, belief in the superiority of one's own beliefs and values, is a major barrier to establishing
effective patient-provider relationships? - True
A 58-year-old man at risk of diabetes, with a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet, is unwilling to follow
his provider's recommendations to modify his routine. Because he has not yet experienced the negative
health consequences of his actions, he cannot be classified as resistant? - False
1. When taking a patient's chief complaint, rephrase the stated reason using standard medical
terminology for clarity. - False
Family history should include both parents and grandparents, if information is known. - True
Social history includes a detailed diet history, best performed as a record of food and beverage intake by
the patient for a typical week, that includes things like use of salt and oil in food preparation and
methods of cooking - True
1. What are the two main general considerations of physical examinations listed in the text?
a. Preparation and sequence
b. Medical and financial
c. Patient interaction and scope
d. Inspection and palpation - c. Patient interaction and scope
1. The physician has begun her first physical examination on a new patient who has come to the clinic for
a well-patient visit. Which of the following is true?
a. The first thing the physician will do as part of the physical examination is perform the history.
b. This will likely be a head-to-toe examination.
c. As a first exam, this will likely be brief and focused.
d. The patient, on his first visit, will likely be disoriented and unaware of the physician's tone and
expressions. - b. This will likely be a head-to-toe examination.
1. The physician records a sound as "tympanic." The physician has just performed which assessment
technique?
a. Palpation
b. Auscultation
c. Percussion
d. Compression - c. Percussion
1. A physician is listening to a patient's heart, but something has negatively impacted the sound. Which
of the following has most likely caused this?
a. Indirect rather than direct percussion
b. A double-lumen stethoscope
c. Lack of palpation
d. Loose-fitting ear tips - d. Loose-fitting ear tips
1. Which of the following is included on the list of basic equipment needed for a physical examination?
a. Syringe
b. Measuring tape
c. Occult blood testing materials
, d. Culture media - b. Measuring tape
1. What does a physician use the Weber and/or Rinne tests for?
a. Assessing the lungs
b. Performing an abdominal fluid wave text
c. Testing hearing
d. Observing posture and balance - c. Testing hearing
1. The red reflex is a test of:
a. the abdomen.
b. the spine.
c. the eyes.
d. the mouth. - c. the eyes.
1. If the physician is evaluating thoracic expansion, percussing the kidneys, and inspecting the skin for
lesions, the patient is in which position?
a. Patient seated and facing examiner
b. Patient seated and facing away from examiner with back exposed
c. Patient standing
d. Patient supine with chest exposed - b. Patient seated and facing away from examiner with back
exposed
1. Which position is only performed on female patients?
a. Reclining 45 degrees
b. Lithotomy position
c. Leaning forward reaching for toes
d. Supine with abdomen exposed - b. Lithotomy position
1. Which part of the body of a neonate should be studied first?
a. Abdomen
b. Chest
c. Hands and feet
d. Head - d. Head
1. Which of the following assessments is specific to the geriatric patient?
a. Functional
b. General
c. Physical
d. Developmental - a. Functional
A functional assessment includes which of the following components?
a. Abdominal assessment
b. Visual assessment
c. Assessment of flaccidity, tension, and spasticity
d. Assessment of mental status and mood impairment - d. Assessment of mental status and mood
impairment
The history should be performed separately from the physical examination - False
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
Which of the following is an example of subjective data that may be collected during a health
assessment?
a. Height and weight
b. A patient's recall of his or her past health conditions
c. Results from an abdominal CT scan
d. Complete blood count - b. A patient's recall of his or her past health conditions
1. Which of the following is true regarding the data taken in a health history?
a. Most health history data are objective and measurable.
b. Objective data are error-free, quantifiable data.
c. Subjective data, being inherently less accurate, are of less value than objective data.
d. A successful individualized plan of care must incorporate subjective data. - d. A successful
individualized plan of care must incorporate subjective data.
1. What do Coulehan and Block define as "listening to the total communication . . . and letting the
patient know that you are really hearing"?
a. Cultural competence
b. Patience
c. Empathy
d. Top-tier communication - c. Empathy
1. The provider is preparing to take a health history for a new patient. He takes the patient to a private
room and asks the patient to don a hospital gown. After stepping outside to give the patient sufficient
time to change, he then comes back in and asks permission to conduct the history. He sits next to the
patient at eye level, discreetly observes the patient for any sensory deficits, and asks the patient if he
may take brief notes of the conversation. During the conversation, he gives the patient time to answer
questions fully. He makes sure that his questions do not contain technical terms and quietly observes the
patient's nonverbal behaviors throughout. Which mistake did the provider make?
a. He should have allowed the patient to remain fully clothed in their own clothing for their comfort.
b. He should not have omitted technical terminology. Patients like having a chance to learn.
c. He should have seated - a. He should have allowed the patient to remain fully clothed in their own
clothing for their comfort.
1. Which of the following is true of both comprehensive and focused health histories?
a. They both include identifying data.
b. They both include a social history.
c. They both include a family history.
d. They are both conducted in emergency situations. - a. They both include identifying data.
1. In the mnemonic devise PQRST, which of the following includes describing the location of the
symptoms?
a. Precipitating factors
b. Quality
,c. Radiation
d. Severity - b. Quality
1. What is the current mnemonic device for taking a health history?
a. PQRST
b. CLIENT OUTCOMES
c. PRACTICE
d. GOOD MEDICINE - b. CLIENT OUTCOMES
1. When taking a PMI, which of the following is correct?
a. Do not take the statement "I'm allergic to. . . " at face value.
b. Ask the patient for a very brief summary of their current health.
c. If a patient states that they have been vaccinated with BCG, make sure to administer a PPD test.
d. CAM documentation is no longer a requirement. - a. Do not take the statement "I'm allergic to. . . " at
face value.
1. Which of the following is a first-degree relative to the patient who has experienced premature onset
of CVD?
a. Sister at 62
b. Cousin at 62
c. Aunt at 59
d. Grandfather at 44 - a. Sister at 62
1. Recording the patient's occupation falls under which category?
a. PHI
b. FH
c. SH
d. ROS - c. SH
1. A focused ROS:
a. involves a wider range and shallower level of questions than a comprehensive ROS.
b. includes questions directed toward the systems most likely to be involved in the patient's symptoms.
c. includes questions seeking significant positives to narrow down the body systems affected.
d. covers all body systems. - b. includes questions directed toward the systems most likely to be involved
in the patient's symptoms.
1. A patient comes to the clinic complaining of repeated headaches and lightheadedness. As the provider
takes a health history, he or she should:
a. perform a comprehensive ROS.
b. skip the social history in order to focus on the current issue.
c. focus her interest and questions on the patient's neurologic system.
d. spend a good deal of time assessing the reliability of the information she is getting. - c. focus her
interest and questions on the patient's neurologic system.
A patient's recall of his or her current health needs and past health is subject to error and is also a critical
component in the caregiving process? - True
,Ethnocentrism, belief in the superiority of one's own beliefs and values, is a major barrier to establishing
effective patient-provider relationships? - True
A 58-year-old man at risk of diabetes, with a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet, is unwilling to follow
his provider's recommendations to modify his routine. Because he has not yet experienced the negative
health consequences of his actions, he cannot be classified as resistant? - False
1. When taking a patient's chief complaint, rephrase the stated reason using standard medical
terminology for clarity. - False
Family history should include both parents and grandparents, if information is known. - True
Social history includes a detailed diet history, best performed as a record of food and beverage intake by
the patient for a typical week, that includes things like use of salt and oil in food preparation and
methods of cooking - True
1. What are the two main general considerations of physical examinations listed in the text?
a. Preparation and sequence
b. Medical and financial
c. Patient interaction and scope
d. Inspection and palpation - c. Patient interaction and scope
1. The physician has begun her first physical examination on a new patient who has come to the clinic for
a well-patient visit. Which of the following is true?
a. The first thing the physician will do as part of the physical examination is perform the history.
b. This will likely be a head-to-toe examination.
c. As a first exam, this will likely be brief and focused.
d. The patient, on his first visit, will likely be disoriented and unaware of the physician's tone and
expressions. - b. This will likely be a head-to-toe examination.
1. The physician records a sound as "tympanic." The physician has just performed which assessment
technique?
a. Palpation
b. Auscultation
c. Percussion
d. Compression - c. Percussion
1. A physician is listening to a patient's heart, but something has negatively impacted the sound. Which
of the following has most likely caused this?
a. Indirect rather than direct percussion
b. A double-lumen stethoscope
c. Lack of palpation
d. Loose-fitting ear tips - d. Loose-fitting ear tips
1. Which of the following is included on the list of basic equipment needed for a physical examination?
a. Syringe
b. Measuring tape
c. Occult blood testing materials
, d. Culture media - b. Measuring tape
1. What does a physician use the Weber and/or Rinne tests for?
a. Assessing the lungs
b. Performing an abdominal fluid wave text
c. Testing hearing
d. Observing posture and balance - c. Testing hearing
1. The red reflex is a test of:
a. the abdomen.
b. the spine.
c. the eyes.
d. the mouth. - c. the eyes.
1. If the physician is evaluating thoracic expansion, percussing the kidneys, and inspecting the skin for
lesions, the patient is in which position?
a. Patient seated and facing examiner
b. Patient seated and facing away from examiner with back exposed
c. Patient standing
d. Patient supine with chest exposed - b. Patient seated and facing away from examiner with back
exposed
1. Which position is only performed on female patients?
a. Reclining 45 degrees
b. Lithotomy position
c. Leaning forward reaching for toes
d. Supine with abdomen exposed - b. Lithotomy position
1. Which part of the body of a neonate should be studied first?
a. Abdomen
b. Chest
c. Hands and feet
d. Head - d. Head
1. Which of the following assessments is specific to the geriatric patient?
a. Functional
b. General
c. Physical
d. Developmental - a. Functional
A functional assessment includes which of the following components?
a. Abdominal assessment
b. Visual assessment
c. Assessment of flaccidity, tension, and spasticity
d. Assessment of mental status and mood impairment - d. Assessment of mental status and mood
impairment
The history should be performed separately from the physical examination - False
