NU 673 Midterm Exam Actual Exam 2026/2027 – Complete
Exam-Style Questions with Detailed Rationales
Clinical Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning
1.
A 52-year-old patient reports progressive fatigue, unintentional weight
loss, and persistent night sweats. Which finding should most strongly
increase concern for a serious underlying condition?
A. Fatigue after exercise
B. Occasional headache
C. Unintentional weight loss
D. Mild thirst
Answer: C. Unintentional weight loss
Rationale: Unintentional weight loss is a constitutional red flag that can
accompany malignancy, chronic infection, endocrine disease, and other
systemic disorders. When combined with night sweats and fatigue, it
warrants further evaluation.
2.
During a health history, which question best assesses the patient's chief
concern?
A. "What medications do you take?"
B. "What brings you in today?"
C. "Have you ever been hospitalized?"
D. "Does anyone in your family have diabetes?"
Answer: B. "What brings you in today?"
,Rationale: The chief concern should initially be elicited using the
patient's own description of why they are seeking care. Additional
questions then clarify the history of the present illness.
3.
Which component of the history focuses on the timing and progression
of the current symptom?
A. Family history
B. Review of systems
C. History of present illness
D. Social history
Answer: C. History of present illness
Rationale: The HPI characterizes the current problem, including onset,
location, duration, characteristics, aggravating/relieving factors,
associated symptoms, and progression.
4.
A patient reports chest discomfort. Which question best evaluates the
quality of the pain?
A. "When did it begin?"
B. "Does it radiate?"
C. "What does the pain feel like?"
D. "What makes it better?"
Answer: C. "What does the pain feel like?"
Rationale: Quality describes the patient's perception of the symptom,
such as pressure, burning, stabbing, aching, or crushing.
,5.
Which finding is considered a normal adult resting respiratory rate?
A. 6 breaths/min
B. 12–20 breaths/min
C. 24–30 breaths/min
D. 35 breaths/min
Answer: B. 12–20 breaths/min
Rationale: A typical resting adult respiratory rate is approximately 12–
20 breaths per minute.
6.
Which blood pressure reading is most concerning?
A. 118/72 mmHg
B. 124/78 mmHg
C. 138/84 mmHg
D. 190/112 mmHg
Answer: D. 190/112 mmHg
Rationale: A blood pressure of 190/112 mmHg is severely elevated. The
clinician should promptly assess for symptoms or evidence of acute
target-organ injury.
7.
Which examination technique should generally be performed first
when assessing the abdomen?
, A. Palpation
B. Percussion
C. Auscultation
D. Deep palpation
Answer: C. Auscultation
Rationale: The abdomen is typically examined in the sequence
inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation. Palpation before
auscultation may alter bowel sounds.
8.
Which assessment finding is most consistent with dehydration?
A. Moist mucous membranes
B. Orthostatic hypotension
C. Bounding pulse
D. Peripheral edema
Answer: B. Orthostatic hypotension
Rationale: Volume depletion can produce orthostatic blood-pressure
changes, tachycardia, dry mucous membranes, decreased urine output,
and other findings.
9.
Which symptom is most characteristic of vertigo?
A. Lightheadedness when standing
B. Sensation that the room is spinning
C. Generalized weakness
D. Blurred vision only
Exam-Style Questions with Detailed Rationales
Clinical Assessment & Diagnostic Reasoning
1.
A 52-year-old patient reports progressive fatigue, unintentional weight
loss, and persistent night sweats. Which finding should most strongly
increase concern for a serious underlying condition?
A. Fatigue after exercise
B. Occasional headache
C. Unintentional weight loss
D. Mild thirst
Answer: C. Unintentional weight loss
Rationale: Unintentional weight loss is a constitutional red flag that can
accompany malignancy, chronic infection, endocrine disease, and other
systemic disorders. When combined with night sweats and fatigue, it
warrants further evaluation.
2.
During a health history, which question best assesses the patient's chief
concern?
A. "What medications do you take?"
B. "What brings you in today?"
C. "Have you ever been hospitalized?"
D. "Does anyone in your family have diabetes?"
Answer: B. "What brings you in today?"
,Rationale: The chief concern should initially be elicited using the
patient's own description of why they are seeking care. Additional
questions then clarify the history of the present illness.
3.
Which component of the history focuses on the timing and progression
of the current symptom?
A. Family history
B. Review of systems
C. History of present illness
D. Social history
Answer: C. History of present illness
Rationale: The HPI characterizes the current problem, including onset,
location, duration, characteristics, aggravating/relieving factors,
associated symptoms, and progression.
4.
A patient reports chest discomfort. Which question best evaluates the
quality of the pain?
A. "When did it begin?"
B. "Does it radiate?"
C. "What does the pain feel like?"
D. "What makes it better?"
Answer: C. "What does the pain feel like?"
Rationale: Quality describes the patient's perception of the symptom,
such as pressure, burning, stabbing, aching, or crushing.
,5.
Which finding is considered a normal adult resting respiratory rate?
A. 6 breaths/min
B. 12–20 breaths/min
C. 24–30 breaths/min
D. 35 breaths/min
Answer: B. 12–20 breaths/min
Rationale: A typical resting adult respiratory rate is approximately 12–
20 breaths per minute.
6.
Which blood pressure reading is most concerning?
A. 118/72 mmHg
B. 124/78 mmHg
C. 138/84 mmHg
D. 190/112 mmHg
Answer: D. 190/112 mmHg
Rationale: A blood pressure of 190/112 mmHg is severely elevated. The
clinician should promptly assess for symptoms or evidence of acute
target-organ injury.
7.
Which examination technique should generally be performed first
when assessing the abdomen?
, A. Palpation
B. Percussion
C. Auscultation
D. Deep palpation
Answer: C. Auscultation
Rationale: The abdomen is typically examined in the sequence
inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation. Palpation before
auscultation may alter bowel sounds.
8.
Which assessment finding is most consistent with dehydration?
A. Moist mucous membranes
B. Orthostatic hypotension
C. Bounding pulse
D. Peripheral edema
Answer: B. Orthostatic hypotension
Rationale: Volume depletion can produce orthostatic blood-pressure
changes, tachycardia, dry mucous membranes, decreased urine output,
and other findings.
9.
Which symptom is most characteristic of vertigo?
A. Lightheadedness when standing
B. Sensation that the room is spinning
C. Generalized weakness
D. Blurred vision only
