Nursing 354 Patient Assessment Exam
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A
Instant Download Pdf
1. A nurse begins a comprehensive assessment of a newly admitted adult
client. Which action should the nurse perform first?
A. Obtain the client's family history
B. Measure the client's height and weight
C. Establish the client's chief concern and reason for seeking care
D. Perform a complete neurological examination
Answer: C. Establish the client's chief concern and reason for seeking care
Rationale: The chief concern provides the starting point for understanding why
the client is seeking care and helps guide the remainder of the assessment.
2. Which assessment technique involves using the hands to determine the
characteristics of body structures?
A. Inspection
B. Auscultation
C. Percussion
D. Palpation
**Answer: D. Palpation
,Rationale: Palpation uses the hands and fingers to assess characteristics such as
tenderness, temperature, texture, masses, and pulses.
3. Which assessment technique should generally be performed first during a
physical examination?
A. Palpation
B. Inspection
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
**Answer: B. Inspection
Rationale: Inspection is systematic visual observation and is generally the first
physical assessment technique performed.
4. A nurse is assessing a client's respiratory system. Which finding requires the
most immediate attention?
A. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths/minute
B. Symmetrical chest expansion
C. Oxygen saturation of 97%
D. New onset of severe respiratory distress
**Answer: D. New onset of severe respiratory distress
Rationale: Acute respiratory distress can indicate compromised oxygenation and
requires immediate assessment and intervention.
5. Which question is most appropriate when assessing a client's chief
complaint?
A. "You do not have chest pain, correct?"
B. "Why did you wait so long to seek care?"
,C. "Can you tell me what brought you in today?"
D. "Your pain started yesterday, didn't it?"
**Answer: C. "Can you tell me what brought you in today?"
Rationale: An open-ended question encourages the client to describe the
primary concern in their own words without leading or influencing the response.
6. A nurse is assessing pain using the PQRST method. What does the "P"
represent?
A. Pattern
B. Provocation or palliation
C. Perception
D. Priority
**Answer: B. Provocation or palliation
Rationale: PQRST assesses Provocation/Palliation, Quality, Region/Radiation,
Severity, and Timing.
7. A client reports abdominal pain. Which question best assesses the quality of
the pain?
A. "Where does it hurt?"
B. "When did the pain begin?"
C. "How severe is the pain?"
D. "How would you describe the pain?"
**Answer: D. "How would you describe the pain?"
Rationale: Quality describes the nature of pain, such as sharp, dull, burning,
cramping, pressure, or aching.
8. Which finding is considered an objective assessment finding?
, A. "I feel dizzy."
B. "My pain is severe."
C. Blood pressure of 150/92 millimeters of mercury
D. "I feel short of breath."
**Answer: C. Blood pressure of 150/92 millimeters of mercury
Rationale: Objective data are measurable or observable findings obtained
through examination, measurement, or diagnostic testing.
9. Which finding represents subjective data?
A. Temperature of 38.2°C
B. Heart rate of 110 beats/minute
C. Oxygen saturation of 94%
D. "I feel nauseated."
**Answer: D. "I feel nauseated."
Rationale: Subjective data are symptoms or perceptions reported by the client
and cannot be directly measured by the nurse.
10.Before measuring a client's blood pressure, which action is most
appropriate?
A. Have the client stand for five minutes
B. Use a cuff that is smaller than the client's arm
C. Allow the client to rest quietly before measurement
D. Place the cuff over thick clothing
**Answer: C. Allow the client to rest quietly before measurement
Rationale: Resting before measurement helps reduce factors that can
temporarily elevate blood pressure and improves measurement accuracy.
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A
Instant Download Pdf
1. A nurse begins a comprehensive assessment of a newly admitted adult
client. Which action should the nurse perform first?
A. Obtain the client's family history
B. Measure the client's height and weight
C. Establish the client's chief concern and reason for seeking care
D. Perform a complete neurological examination
Answer: C. Establish the client's chief concern and reason for seeking care
Rationale: The chief concern provides the starting point for understanding why
the client is seeking care and helps guide the remainder of the assessment.
2. Which assessment technique involves using the hands to determine the
characteristics of body structures?
A. Inspection
B. Auscultation
C. Percussion
D. Palpation
**Answer: D. Palpation
,Rationale: Palpation uses the hands and fingers to assess characteristics such as
tenderness, temperature, texture, masses, and pulses.
3. Which assessment technique should generally be performed first during a
physical examination?
A. Palpation
B. Inspection
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
**Answer: B. Inspection
Rationale: Inspection is systematic visual observation and is generally the first
physical assessment technique performed.
4. A nurse is assessing a client's respiratory system. Which finding requires the
most immediate attention?
A. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths/minute
B. Symmetrical chest expansion
C. Oxygen saturation of 97%
D. New onset of severe respiratory distress
**Answer: D. New onset of severe respiratory distress
Rationale: Acute respiratory distress can indicate compromised oxygenation and
requires immediate assessment and intervention.
5. Which question is most appropriate when assessing a client's chief
complaint?
A. "You do not have chest pain, correct?"
B. "Why did you wait so long to seek care?"
,C. "Can you tell me what brought you in today?"
D. "Your pain started yesterday, didn't it?"
**Answer: C. "Can you tell me what brought you in today?"
Rationale: An open-ended question encourages the client to describe the
primary concern in their own words without leading or influencing the response.
6. A nurse is assessing pain using the PQRST method. What does the "P"
represent?
A. Pattern
B. Provocation or palliation
C. Perception
D. Priority
**Answer: B. Provocation or palliation
Rationale: PQRST assesses Provocation/Palliation, Quality, Region/Radiation,
Severity, and Timing.
7. A client reports abdominal pain. Which question best assesses the quality of
the pain?
A. "Where does it hurt?"
B. "When did the pain begin?"
C. "How severe is the pain?"
D. "How would you describe the pain?"
**Answer: D. "How would you describe the pain?"
Rationale: Quality describes the nature of pain, such as sharp, dull, burning,
cramping, pressure, or aching.
8. Which finding is considered an objective assessment finding?
, A. "I feel dizzy."
B. "My pain is severe."
C. Blood pressure of 150/92 millimeters of mercury
D. "I feel short of breath."
**Answer: C. Blood pressure of 150/92 millimeters of mercury
Rationale: Objective data are measurable or observable findings obtained
through examination, measurement, or diagnostic testing.
9. Which finding represents subjective data?
A. Temperature of 38.2°C
B. Heart rate of 110 beats/minute
C. Oxygen saturation of 94%
D. "I feel nauseated."
**Answer: D. "I feel nauseated."
Rationale: Subjective data are symptoms or perceptions reported by the client
and cannot be directly measured by the nurse.
10.Before measuring a client's blood pressure, which action is most
appropriate?
A. Have the client stand for five minutes
B. Use a cuff that is smaller than the client's arm
C. Allow the client to rest quietly before measurement
D. Place the cuff over thick clothing
**Answer: C. Allow the client to rest quietly before measurement
Rationale: Resting before measurement helps reduce factors that can
temporarily elevate blood pressure and improves measurement accuracy.
