Page 1 of 81
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION & HEALTH ASSESSMENT 9TH
EDITION BY CAROLYN JARVIS QUESTIONS 2026 ACTUAL EXAM
LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
Physical Examination & Health Assessment 9th Edition by Carolyn Jarvis – 250
Exam Questions with Rationales
UNIT 1: ASSESSMENT OF THE WHOLE PERSON
Chapter 1: Evidence-Based Assessment (Questions 1-25)
1. After completing an initial assessment of a patient, the nurse has charted that
his respirations are eupneic and his pulse is 58 beats per minute. These types of
data would be:
A) Subjective
B) Reflective
C) Objective
D) Introspective
Answer: C
Rationale: Objective data are observable and measurable findings obtained through
physical examination, such as vital signs, inspection, palpation, percussion, and
auscultation. Subjective data consist of information perceived only by the patient, such
as symptoms and feelings. Respiratory rate and pulse are measurable findings, making
them objective data .
2. When performing an evidence-based health assessment, the nurse recognizes
that subjective data includes which of the following?
A) Blood pressure measurement of 142/88 mmHg
B) Observation of labored breathing at 24 breaths per minute
, Page 2 of 81
C) Patient's statement of "crushing chest pain"
D) Palpation of an enlarged liver edge 3 cm below the costal margin
Answer: C
Rationale: Subjective data consists of information perceived only by the affected
person, such as symptoms, feelings, and perceptions. The patient's statement of chest
pain is subjective data. Blood pressure, labored breathing, and palpation of the liver
represent objective data—observable, measurable findings obtained through physical
examination .
3. A nurse is reviewing information about evidence-based practice (EBP). Which
statement best reflects EBP?
A) EBP relies on tradition for support of best practices
B) EBP integrates the best current research evidence with clinical expertise and patient
preferences
C) EBP eliminates the need for clinical judgment in patient care decisions
D) EBP standardizes all patient assessments regardless of individual variation
Answer: B
Rationale: Evidence-based practice involves integrating the best available research
evidence with clinical expertise and patient values/preferences. Option A is incorrect
because EBP does not rely solely on tradition. Option C is incorrect because clinical
judgment remains essential—evidence informs rather than replaces judgment. Option
D is incorrect because EBP emphasizes individualized care, not standardization .
4. A nurse is preparing to assess a new patient in the emergency department.
Which actions demonstrate the application of evidence-based assessment
principles? (Select all that apply)
A) Reviewing current literature on assessment techniques for the patient's presenting
complaint
B) Relying solely on assessment techniques learned in nursing school 10 years ago
C) Consulting clinical practice guidelines for the patient's age group
D) Considering the patient's cultural beliefs about health and illness
E) Using only the assessment tools available on the unit without evaluating their validity
Answer: A, C, D
Rationale: Evidence-based assessment requires staying current with literature (A), using
validated clinical guidelines (C), and incorporating patient preferences and cultural
, Page 3 of 81
considerations (D). Option B is incorrect because evidence-based practice requires
ongoing education and updates. Option E is incorrect because nurses must evaluate the
validity and reliability of assessment tools .
5. The nurse is conducting a class for new graduate nurses. During the teaching
session, the nurse should keep in mind that novice nurses, without a background of
skills and experience from which to draw, are more likely to make their decisions
using:
A) Intuition
B) A set of rules
C) Articles in journals
D) Advice from supervisors
Answer: B
Rationale: Novice nurses operate from a set of defined, structured rules because they
lack the experience to recognize patterns intuitively. Expert nurses, by contrast, learn to
attend to patterns of assessment data and act without consciously labeling them. This
is a key concept in Benner's Novice to Expert framework .
6. The patient's record, laboratory studies, objective data, and subjective data
combine to form the:
A) Data base
B) Admitting data
C) Financial statement
D) Discharge summary
Answer: A
Rationale: The database is the combination of subjective and objective data gathered
during the health history and physical examination, together with the patient's record
and laboratory studies. This database serves as the foundation for identifying patient
needs and planning care .
7. Which critical thinking skill helps the nurse see relationships among the data?
A) Validation
B) Clustering related cues
C) Identifying gaps in data
D) Distinguishing relevant from irrelevant
, Page 4 of 81
Answer: B
Rationale: Clustering related cues helps the nurse see relationships among the data by
organizing assessment findings into meaningful patterns. This skill supports diagnostic
reasoning and clinical decision-making .
8. When considering priority setting of problems, the nurse keeps in mind that
second-level priority problems include which of these aspects?
A) Low self-esteem
B) Lack of knowledge
C) Abnormal laboratory values
D) Severely abnormal vital signs
Answer: C
Rationale: Second-level priority problems are those that require prompt intervention to
forestall further deterioration. These include mental status changes, acute pain,
abnormal laboratory values, and risks to safety or security. First-level priority problems
are emergent and life-threatening (airway, breathing, circulation). Low self-esteem and
lack of knowledge are third-level priorities .
9. Which of these would be formulated by a nurse using diagnostic reasoning?
A) Nursing diagnosis
B) Medical diagnosis
C) Diagnostic hypothesis
D) Diagnostic assessment
Answer: C
Rationale: Diagnostic reasoning is the process of analyzing health data and drawing
conclusions to identify diagnoses. A diagnostic hypothesis is a tentative explanation for
cues that serves as a basis for further investigation. The nursing diagnosis is the final
conclusion of diagnostic reasoning .
10. The nursing process is a sequential method of problem solving that nurses use
and includes which steps?
A) Assessment, treatment, planning, evaluation, discharge, and follow-up
B) Admission, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and discharge planning
C) Admission, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, and discharge planning
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION & HEALTH ASSESSMENT 9TH
EDITION BY CAROLYN JARVIS QUESTIONS 2026 ACTUAL EXAM
LATEST VERSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026 EDITION
Physical Examination & Health Assessment 9th Edition by Carolyn Jarvis – 250
Exam Questions with Rationales
UNIT 1: ASSESSMENT OF THE WHOLE PERSON
Chapter 1: Evidence-Based Assessment (Questions 1-25)
1. After completing an initial assessment of a patient, the nurse has charted that
his respirations are eupneic and his pulse is 58 beats per minute. These types of
data would be:
A) Subjective
B) Reflective
C) Objective
D) Introspective
Answer: C
Rationale: Objective data are observable and measurable findings obtained through
physical examination, such as vital signs, inspection, palpation, percussion, and
auscultation. Subjective data consist of information perceived only by the patient, such
as symptoms and feelings. Respiratory rate and pulse are measurable findings, making
them objective data .
2. When performing an evidence-based health assessment, the nurse recognizes
that subjective data includes which of the following?
A) Blood pressure measurement of 142/88 mmHg
B) Observation of labored breathing at 24 breaths per minute
, Page 2 of 81
C) Patient's statement of "crushing chest pain"
D) Palpation of an enlarged liver edge 3 cm below the costal margin
Answer: C
Rationale: Subjective data consists of information perceived only by the affected
person, such as symptoms, feelings, and perceptions. The patient's statement of chest
pain is subjective data. Blood pressure, labored breathing, and palpation of the liver
represent objective data—observable, measurable findings obtained through physical
examination .
3. A nurse is reviewing information about evidence-based practice (EBP). Which
statement best reflects EBP?
A) EBP relies on tradition for support of best practices
B) EBP integrates the best current research evidence with clinical expertise and patient
preferences
C) EBP eliminates the need for clinical judgment in patient care decisions
D) EBP standardizes all patient assessments regardless of individual variation
Answer: B
Rationale: Evidence-based practice involves integrating the best available research
evidence with clinical expertise and patient values/preferences. Option A is incorrect
because EBP does not rely solely on tradition. Option C is incorrect because clinical
judgment remains essential—evidence informs rather than replaces judgment. Option
D is incorrect because EBP emphasizes individualized care, not standardization .
4. A nurse is preparing to assess a new patient in the emergency department.
Which actions demonstrate the application of evidence-based assessment
principles? (Select all that apply)
A) Reviewing current literature on assessment techniques for the patient's presenting
complaint
B) Relying solely on assessment techniques learned in nursing school 10 years ago
C) Consulting clinical practice guidelines for the patient's age group
D) Considering the patient's cultural beliefs about health and illness
E) Using only the assessment tools available on the unit without evaluating their validity
Answer: A, C, D
Rationale: Evidence-based assessment requires staying current with literature (A), using
validated clinical guidelines (C), and incorporating patient preferences and cultural
, Page 3 of 81
considerations (D). Option B is incorrect because evidence-based practice requires
ongoing education and updates. Option E is incorrect because nurses must evaluate the
validity and reliability of assessment tools .
5. The nurse is conducting a class for new graduate nurses. During the teaching
session, the nurse should keep in mind that novice nurses, without a background of
skills and experience from which to draw, are more likely to make their decisions
using:
A) Intuition
B) A set of rules
C) Articles in journals
D) Advice from supervisors
Answer: B
Rationale: Novice nurses operate from a set of defined, structured rules because they
lack the experience to recognize patterns intuitively. Expert nurses, by contrast, learn to
attend to patterns of assessment data and act without consciously labeling them. This
is a key concept in Benner's Novice to Expert framework .
6. The patient's record, laboratory studies, objective data, and subjective data
combine to form the:
A) Data base
B) Admitting data
C) Financial statement
D) Discharge summary
Answer: A
Rationale: The database is the combination of subjective and objective data gathered
during the health history and physical examination, together with the patient's record
and laboratory studies. This database serves as the foundation for identifying patient
needs and planning care .
7. Which critical thinking skill helps the nurse see relationships among the data?
A) Validation
B) Clustering related cues
C) Identifying gaps in data
D) Distinguishing relevant from irrelevant
, Page 4 of 81
Answer: B
Rationale: Clustering related cues helps the nurse see relationships among the data by
organizing assessment findings into meaningful patterns. This skill supports diagnostic
reasoning and clinical decision-making .
8. When considering priority setting of problems, the nurse keeps in mind that
second-level priority problems include which of these aspects?
A) Low self-esteem
B) Lack of knowledge
C) Abnormal laboratory values
D) Severely abnormal vital signs
Answer: C
Rationale: Second-level priority problems are those that require prompt intervention to
forestall further deterioration. These include mental status changes, acute pain,
abnormal laboratory values, and risks to safety or security. First-level priority problems
are emergent and life-threatening (airway, breathing, circulation). Low self-esteem and
lack of knowledge are third-level priorities .
9. Which of these would be formulated by a nurse using diagnostic reasoning?
A) Nursing diagnosis
B) Medical diagnosis
C) Diagnostic hypothesis
D) Diagnostic assessment
Answer: C
Rationale: Diagnostic reasoning is the process of analyzing health data and drawing
conclusions to identify diagnoses. A diagnostic hypothesis is a tentative explanation for
cues that serves as a basis for further investigation. The nursing diagnosis is the final
conclusion of diagnostic reasoning .
10. The nursing process is a sequential method of problem solving that nurses use
and includes which steps?
A) Assessment, treatment, planning, evaluation, discharge, and follow-up
B) Admission, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and discharge planning
C) Admission, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, and discharge planning
