UT Arlington NURS 3315 Holistic Health Assessment Exam 2 (pdf) |
2026/2027 | Health Assessment Q&A | Nursing
1. A nurse is assessing a patient's skin and notes a lesion with an irregular
border, varying colors, and a diameter greater than 6 mm. Which condition
should the nurse suspect?
A) Actinic keratosis
B) Malignant melanoma
C) Seborrheic keratosis
D) Basal cell carcinoma
Correct Answer: Malignant melanoma
Rationale: The ABCDE mnemonic is used to assess for malignant melanoma:
Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter greater than 6 mm,
and Evolution or change over time. The lesion described exhibits several of
these warning signs.
2. A 28-year-old female patient reports hair loss and has very dry hair. She
has not been exposed to radiation or chemotherapy. Which condition should
the nurse assess for?
A) Hypoparathyroidism
B) Hepatitis
C) Hypothyroidism
D) Hyperthyroidism
Correct Answer: Hypothyroidism
Rationale: Hair loss combined with very dry hair can be indicative of
hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormones affect hair growth and texture, and
hypothyroidism commonly presents with these symptoms.
,3. The nurse is assessing a newborn's rooting reflex. What action should the
nurse perform?
A) Hit the surface near where the newborn is lying
B) Place a gloved finger in the newborn's mouth
C) Touch the ball of the newborn's foot
D) Touch the infant's lip or cheek with a gloved finger
Correct Answer: Touch the infant's lip or cheek with a gloved finger
Rationale: The rooting reflex is elicited by stroking the infant's lip or cheek,
which causes the infant to turn their head toward the side that was touched.
This reflex helps the newborn find the nipple for feeding.
4. During a routine head-to-toe assessment, the nurse notices redness on a
patient's elbow and heel areas. Which tool should the nurse use to determine
the potential risk for pressure injury?
A) Norton Scale
B) Braden Scale
C) Glasgow Coma Scale
D) Morse Fall Scale
Correct Answer: Braden Scale
Rationale: The Braden Scale is a widely used tool for assessing pressure
injury risk. It evaluates six subscales: sensory perception, moisture, activity,
mobility, nutrition, and friction/shear.
,5. A patient has pustules on his scalp that are getting worse and making it
hard for him to comb his hair. What is the most likely cause of this problem?
A) Tinea capitis
B) Seborrheic dermatitis
C) Psoriasis
D) Folliculitis
Correct Answer: Tinea capitis
Rationale: Tinea capitis is a fungal infection of the scalp that can present
with pustules, scaling, and hair loss. It is a common cause of scalp lesions
that worsen over time.
6. A stethoscope is used in the head and neck examination to assess:
A) Carotid pulses
B) Thyroid vascular sounds
C) Breath sounds
D) Heart sounds
Correct Answer: Thyroid vascular sounds
Rationale: During the head and neck examination, the stethoscope is used to
auscultate for thyroid vascular sounds (bruits), which may indicate
hyperthyroidism or other thyroid disorders.
7. A man complains of long-lasting headaches centered behind his eyes.
Which type of headache does this man most likely have?
A) Tension headache
B) Migraine headache
, C) Cluster headache
D) Sinus headache
Correct Answer: Sinus headache
Rationale: Pain centered behind the eyes, especially with a long-lasting
quality, is characteristic of sinus headaches. Sinusitis causes pressure and
pain in the frontal and maxillary sinus areas.
8. Many nurses use the mnemonic term PERRLA. Which of the following is
correct regarding PERRLA?
A) Pupils are equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation
B) Pupils are equal, round, responsive to light and accommodation
C) Pupils are equal, regular, reactive to light and accommodation
D) Pupils are even, round, reactive to light and accommodation
Correct Answer: Pupils are equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation
Rationale: PERRLA stands for Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light, and
Accommodation. This is a standard assessment of pupillary response.
9. When using the ophthalmoscope, it is best to:
A) Use your left eye to examine the patient's right eye
B) Use your right eye to examine the patient's right eye, and vice versa
C) Use your dominant eye regardless of which eye is being examined
D) Use both eyes simultaneously
2026/2027 | Health Assessment Q&A | Nursing
1. A nurse is assessing a patient's skin and notes a lesion with an irregular
border, varying colors, and a diameter greater than 6 mm. Which condition
should the nurse suspect?
A) Actinic keratosis
B) Malignant melanoma
C) Seborrheic keratosis
D) Basal cell carcinoma
Correct Answer: Malignant melanoma
Rationale: The ABCDE mnemonic is used to assess for malignant melanoma:
Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter greater than 6 mm,
and Evolution or change over time. The lesion described exhibits several of
these warning signs.
2. A 28-year-old female patient reports hair loss and has very dry hair. She
has not been exposed to radiation or chemotherapy. Which condition should
the nurse assess for?
A) Hypoparathyroidism
B) Hepatitis
C) Hypothyroidism
D) Hyperthyroidism
Correct Answer: Hypothyroidism
Rationale: Hair loss combined with very dry hair can be indicative of
hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormones affect hair growth and texture, and
hypothyroidism commonly presents with these symptoms.
,3. The nurse is assessing a newborn's rooting reflex. What action should the
nurse perform?
A) Hit the surface near where the newborn is lying
B) Place a gloved finger in the newborn's mouth
C) Touch the ball of the newborn's foot
D) Touch the infant's lip or cheek with a gloved finger
Correct Answer: Touch the infant's lip or cheek with a gloved finger
Rationale: The rooting reflex is elicited by stroking the infant's lip or cheek,
which causes the infant to turn their head toward the side that was touched.
This reflex helps the newborn find the nipple for feeding.
4. During a routine head-to-toe assessment, the nurse notices redness on a
patient's elbow and heel areas. Which tool should the nurse use to determine
the potential risk for pressure injury?
A) Norton Scale
B) Braden Scale
C) Glasgow Coma Scale
D) Morse Fall Scale
Correct Answer: Braden Scale
Rationale: The Braden Scale is a widely used tool for assessing pressure
injury risk. It evaluates six subscales: sensory perception, moisture, activity,
mobility, nutrition, and friction/shear.
,5. A patient has pustules on his scalp that are getting worse and making it
hard for him to comb his hair. What is the most likely cause of this problem?
A) Tinea capitis
B) Seborrheic dermatitis
C) Psoriasis
D) Folliculitis
Correct Answer: Tinea capitis
Rationale: Tinea capitis is a fungal infection of the scalp that can present
with pustules, scaling, and hair loss. It is a common cause of scalp lesions
that worsen over time.
6. A stethoscope is used in the head and neck examination to assess:
A) Carotid pulses
B) Thyroid vascular sounds
C) Breath sounds
D) Heart sounds
Correct Answer: Thyroid vascular sounds
Rationale: During the head and neck examination, the stethoscope is used to
auscultate for thyroid vascular sounds (bruits), which may indicate
hyperthyroidism or other thyroid disorders.
7. A man complains of long-lasting headaches centered behind his eyes.
Which type of headache does this man most likely have?
A) Tension headache
B) Migraine headache
, C) Cluster headache
D) Sinus headache
Correct Answer: Sinus headache
Rationale: Pain centered behind the eyes, especially with a long-lasting
quality, is characteristic of sinus headaches. Sinusitis causes pressure and
pain in the frontal and maxillary sinus areas.
8. Many nurses use the mnemonic term PERRLA. Which of the following is
correct regarding PERRLA?
A) Pupils are equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation
B) Pupils are equal, round, responsive to light and accommodation
C) Pupils are equal, regular, reactive to light and accommodation
D) Pupils are even, round, reactive to light and accommodation
Correct Answer: Pupils are equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation
Rationale: PERRLA stands for Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light, and
Accommodation. This is a standard assessment of pupillary response.
9. When using the ophthalmoscope, it is best to:
A) Use your left eye to examine the patient's right eye
B) Use your right eye to examine the patient's right eye, and vice versa
C) Use your dominant eye regardless of which eye is being examined
D) Use both eyes simultaneously
