UT Arlington NURS 3315 Holistic Health Assessment Final Exam
(pdf) | 2026/2027 | Health Assessment Q&A | Nursing
1. What is the primary purpose of a holistic health assessment?
A) To identify all physical abnormalities
B) To determine a patient's health status, risk factors, and need for health
education as a basis for developing a nursing plan of care
C) To provide a legal document for the patient's medical record
D) To satisfy hospital accreditation requirements
Correct Answer: To determine a patient's health status, risk factors, and need
for health education as a basis for developing a nursing plan of care
Rationale: The purpose of a health assessment is to determine a patient's
health status, risk factors, and need for health education, which serves as
the foundation for developing a nursing plan of care. It goes beyond
identifying abnormalities to inform holistic, individualized care.
2. A nurse is performing a comprehensive health assessment. Which of the
following is the correct order of techniques for the general physical
examination?
A) Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
B) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
C) Inspection, auscultation, palpation, percussion
D) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Correct Answer: Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
Rationale: The general order for a physical examination is inspection,
palpation, percussion, and auscultation. However, for the abdomen, the
,order is modified to inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation to
avoid altering bowel sounds.
3. A patient reports feeling short of breath. This is an example of which type
of data?
A) Objective data
B) Subjective data
C) Primary data
D) Secondary data
Correct Answer: Subjective data
Rationale: Subjective data consists of symptoms and information provided by
the patient or family. The patient's report of feeling short of breath is a
symptom, making it subjective data.
4. The nurse notes that a patient's skin is jaundiced and their respirations are
labored. This is an example of:
A) Subjective data
B) Secondary data
C) Objective data
D) Historical data
Correct Answer: Objective data
Rationale: Objective data is obtained from direct observation and is
measurable. Jaundiced skin and labored respirations are findings the nurse
detects during the physical examination, making them objective data.
,5. Which of the following is a component of a complete health history?
A) Biographical data
B) Reason for seeking care
C) Present health history
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Rationale: A complete health history includes biographical data, reason for
seeking care, present health history, past health history, family history,
psychosocial history, and a review of systems.
6. The mnemonic PQRSTU is used to assess which aspect of a patient's
health?
A) Past medical history
B) A symptom such as pain
C) Family history
D) Psychosocial history
Correct Answer: A symptom such as pain
Rationale: The PQRSTU mnemonic (Provocation/Palliation, Quality,
Region/Radiation, Severity, Timing, and Understanding) is used to perform a
comprehensive assessment of a patient's symptom, such as pain or
shortness of breath.
7. When asking a patient about their family history, which of the following is
important to include?
A) Age and health status of immediate family members
, B) History of chronic diseases in the family
C) Genetic conditions present in the family
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Rationale: A thorough family history includes the age and health status of
immediate family members, history of chronic diseases, and any genetic
conditions present in the family.
8. A nurse is preparing to assess a patient's abdomen. In which order should
the nurse perform the assessment techniques?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
C) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D) Palpation, percussion, inspection, auscultation
Correct Answer: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: For the abdomen, the order is modified to inspection, auscultation,
percussion, and palpation to avoid altering bowel sounds before listening.
9. The 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
(pdf) | 2026/2027 | Health Assessment Q&A | Nursing
1. What is the primary purpose of a holistic health assessment?
A) To identify all physical abnormalities
B) To determine a patient's health status, risk factors, and need for health
education as a basis for developing a nursing plan of care
C) To provide a legal document for the patient's medical record
D) To satisfy hospital accreditation requirements
Correct Answer: To determine a patient's health status, risk factors, and need
for health education as a basis for developing a nursing plan of care
Rationale: The purpose of a health assessment is to determine a patient's
health status, risk factors, and need for health education, which serves as
the foundation for developing a nursing plan of care. It goes beyond
identifying abnormalities to inform holistic, individualized care.
2. A nurse is performing a comprehensive health assessment. Which of the
following is the correct order of techniques for the general physical
examination?
A) Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
B) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
C) Inspection, auscultation, palpation, percussion
D) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Correct Answer: Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
Rationale: The general order for a physical examination is inspection,
palpation, percussion, and auscultation. However, for the abdomen, the
,order is modified to inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation to
avoid altering bowel sounds.
3. A patient reports feeling short of breath. This is an example of which type
of data?
A) Objective data
B) Subjective data
C) Primary data
D) Secondary data
Correct Answer: Subjective data
Rationale: Subjective data consists of symptoms and information provided by
the patient or family. The patient's report of feeling short of breath is a
symptom, making it subjective data.
4. The nurse notes that a patient's skin is jaundiced and their respirations are
labored. This is an example of:
A) Subjective data
B) Secondary data
C) Objective data
D) Historical data
Correct Answer: Objective data
Rationale: Objective data is obtained from direct observation and is
measurable. Jaundiced skin and labored respirations are findings the nurse
detects during the physical examination, making them objective data.
,5. Which of the following is a component of a complete health history?
A) Biographical data
B) Reason for seeking care
C) Present health history
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Rationale: A complete health history includes biographical data, reason for
seeking care, present health history, past health history, family history,
psychosocial history, and a review of systems.
6. The mnemonic PQRSTU is used to assess which aspect of a patient's
health?
A) Past medical history
B) A symptom such as pain
C) Family history
D) Psychosocial history
Correct Answer: A symptom such as pain
Rationale: The PQRSTU mnemonic (Provocation/Palliation, Quality,
Region/Radiation, Severity, Timing, and Understanding) is used to perform a
comprehensive assessment of a patient's symptom, such as pain or
shortness of breath.
7. When asking a patient about their family history, which of the following is
important to include?
A) Age and health status of immediate family members
, B) History of chronic diseases in the family
C) Genetic conditions present in the family
D) All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Rationale: A thorough family history includes the age and health status of
immediate family members, history of chronic diseases, and any genetic
conditions present in the family.
8. A nurse is preparing to assess a patient's abdomen. In which order should
the nurse perform the assessment techniques?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
C) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D) Palpation, percussion, inspection, auscultation
Correct Answer: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: For the abdomen, the order is modified to inspection, auscultation,
percussion, and palpation to avoid altering bowel sounds before listening.
9. The 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
