[NURS 5220 EXAM 1 (2026/2027) ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT – COMPLETE] QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+| 100% VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
Core Domains:
Comprehensive Health History Taking
Advanced Physical Examination Techniques
Clinical Reasoning and Differential Diagnosis
Diagnostic Test Selection and Interpretation
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Documentation and Communication in Advanced Practice
Cultural Competence and Patient-Centered Care
Legal, Ethical, and Professional Standards in Advanced Practice Nursing
Introduction
This comprehensive examination is designed to rigorously assess the advanced practice nursing student's mastery
of key concepts in health assessment. It evaluates the integration of foundational theory with applied clinical
knowledge, emphasizing critical thinking and clinical decision-making. The exam utilizes a multiple-choice and
scenario-based format to test the student's ability to synthesize patient data, perform differential diagnosis, and
develop appropriate management plans. Questions are structured to reflect real-world application, requiring the
student to prioritize data, recognize subtle clinical findings, and make safe, evidence-based decisions. Mastery of
these competencies is essential for providing high-quality, patient-centered care across the lifespan.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. A 72-year-old male patient presents with a complaint of progressive difficulty with his vision over the past
year. He reports that he has trouble reading and recognizing faces, and that straight lines often appear wavy.
What is the most likely diagnosis based on this presentation?
A. Diabetic retinopathy
B. Glaucoma
C. Cataracts
D. Age-related macular degeneration
🟢D
🔴 RATIONALE: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of vision loss in older adults. It
affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. Symptoms include a
gradual loss of central vision, difficulty reading and recognizing faces, and visual distortions such as straight
lines appearing wavy or bent. Diabetic retinopathy (A) is associated with diabetes and can cause vision loss but
doesn't typically present with wavy lines. Glaucoma (B) usually affects peripheral vision first, leading to tunnel
vision. Cataracts (C) cause a painless, progressive blurring of vision, often described as looking through a cloudy
lens, and are frequently associated with glare.
2. In the context of a comprehensive health assessment, which of the following subjective data points is
considered the most reliable indicator of a patient's functional health status?
A. Patient's reported ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs)
B. Patient's stated level of pain on a 0-10 scale
,C. Patient's family history of chronic illness
D. Patient's self-reported adherence to medication
🟢A
🔴 RATIONALE: While all subjective data points are valuable, the patient's self-reported ability to perform
activities of daily living (ADLs) is a key indicator of their functional health status. ADLs include basic self-care
tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and eating. The ability to perform these tasks provides a direct
assessment of a patient's physical and cognitive capacity to live independently and manage their daily life. Pain
scales (B), family history (C), and medication adherence (D) are important components of the health history but
are less direct measures of overall functional status.
3. During a cardiac examination, you auscultate a harsh, crescendo-decrescendo systolic ejection murmur at the
right upper sternal border. The murmur radiates to the carotid arteries. A carotid upstroke that is diminished
and delayed is noted. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Mitral valve prolapse
B. Aortic stenosis
C. Mitral regurgitation
D. Pulmonic stenosis
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: A harsh, crescendo-decrescendo systolic ejection murmur at the right upper sternal border (the
aortic area) that radiates to the carotids is the classic presentation of aortic stenosis. The diminished and
delayed carotid upstroke, known as pulsus parvus et tardus, is a hallmark sign of this condition. Mitral valve
prolapse (A) typically presents with a mid-systolic click and a late systolic murmur. Mitral regurgitation (C) is a
, holosystolic murmur best heard at the apex and radiates to the axilla. Pulmonic stenosis (D) is a systolic ejection
murmur best heard at the left upper sternal border.
4. A 45-year-old female patient reports she has been experiencing severe, unilateral headaches accompanied by
rhinorrhea and conjunctival injection. The pain is described as "stabbing" and occurs at the same time every
night for the past week. What is the most probable diagnosis?
A. Migraine headache
B. Tension headache
C. Cluster headache
D. Sinus headache
🟢C
🔴 RATIONALE: The presentation of severe, unilateral pain that is "stabbing" in nature, associated with
autonomic symptoms like rhinorrhea and conjunctival injection, and occurring at the same time daily (circadian
rhythm) is highly characteristic of a cluster headache. These are more common in males and are often described
as the most painful type of headache. Migraines (A) are often unilateral and throbbing, with associated nausea,
photophobia, and phonophobia, but not typically the autonomic features described. Tension headaches (B) are
bilateral, band-like, and mild to moderate. Sinus headaches (D) are usually accompanied by facial pressure and
purulent nasal discharge.
5. A patient has a known diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). During the physical exam,
which of the following chest shape findings is most consistent with this condition?
A. Pectus excavatum
B. Pectus carinatum
ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+| 100% VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
Core Domains:
Comprehensive Health History Taking
Advanced Physical Examination Techniques
Clinical Reasoning and Differential Diagnosis
Diagnostic Test Selection and Interpretation
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Documentation and Communication in Advanced Practice
Cultural Competence and Patient-Centered Care
Legal, Ethical, and Professional Standards in Advanced Practice Nursing
Introduction
This comprehensive examination is designed to rigorously assess the advanced practice nursing student's mastery
of key concepts in health assessment. It evaluates the integration of foundational theory with applied clinical
knowledge, emphasizing critical thinking and clinical decision-making. The exam utilizes a multiple-choice and
scenario-based format to test the student's ability to synthesize patient data, perform differential diagnosis, and
develop appropriate management plans. Questions are structured to reflect real-world application, requiring the
student to prioritize data, recognize subtle clinical findings, and make safe, evidence-based decisions. Mastery of
these competencies is essential for providing high-quality, patient-centered care across the lifespan.
,SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–100
1. A 72-year-old male patient presents with a complaint of progressive difficulty with his vision over the past
year. He reports that he has trouble reading and recognizing faces, and that straight lines often appear wavy.
What is the most likely diagnosis based on this presentation?
A. Diabetic retinopathy
B. Glaucoma
C. Cataracts
D. Age-related macular degeneration
🟢D
🔴 RATIONALE: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common cause of vision loss in older adults. It
affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision. Symptoms include a
gradual loss of central vision, difficulty reading and recognizing faces, and visual distortions such as straight
lines appearing wavy or bent. Diabetic retinopathy (A) is associated with diabetes and can cause vision loss but
doesn't typically present with wavy lines. Glaucoma (B) usually affects peripheral vision first, leading to tunnel
vision. Cataracts (C) cause a painless, progressive blurring of vision, often described as looking through a cloudy
lens, and are frequently associated with glare.
2. In the context of a comprehensive health assessment, which of the following subjective data points is
considered the most reliable indicator of a patient's functional health status?
A. Patient's reported ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs)
B. Patient's stated level of pain on a 0-10 scale
,C. Patient's family history of chronic illness
D. Patient's self-reported adherence to medication
🟢A
🔴 RATIONALE: While all subjective data points are valuable, the patient's self-reported ability to perform
activities of daily living (ADLs) is a key indicator of their functional health status. ADLs include basic self-care
tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and eating. The ability to perform these tasks provides a direct
assessment of a patient's physical and cognitive capacity to live independently and manage their daily life. Pain
scales (B), family history (C), and medication adherence (D) are important components of the health history but
are less direct measures of overall functional status.
3. During a cardiac examination, you auscultate a harsh, crescendo-decrescendo systolic ejection murmur at the
right upper sternal border. The murmur radiates to the carotid arteries. A carotid upstroke that is diminished
and delayed is noted. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Mitral valve prolapse
B. Aortic stenosis
C. Mitral regurgitation
D. Pulmonic stenosis
🟢B
🔴 RATIONALE: A harsh, crescendo-decrescendo systolic ejection murmur at the right upper sternal border (the
aortic area) that radiates to the carotids is the classic presentation of aortic stenosis. The diminished and
delayed carotid upstroke, known as pulsus parvus et tardus, is a hallmark sign of this condition. Mitral valve
prolapse (A) typically presents with a mid-systolic click and a late systolic murmur. Mitral regurgitation (C) is a
, holosystolic murmur best heard at the apex and radiates to the axilla. Pulmonic stenosis (D) is a systolic ejection
murmur best heard at the left upper sternal border.
4. A 45-year-old female patient reports she has been experiencing severe, unilateral headaches accompanied by
rhinorrhea and conjunctival injection. The pain is described as "stabbing" and occurs at the same time every
night for the past week. What is the most probable diagnosis?
A. Migraine headache
B. Tension headache
C. Cluster headache
D. Sinus headache
🟢C
🔴 RATIONALE: The presentation of severe, unilateral pain that is "stabbing" in nature, associated with
autonomic symptoms like rhinorrhea and conjunctival injection, and occurring at the same time daily (circadian
rhythm) is highly characteristic of a cluster headache. These are more common in males and are often described
as the most painful type of headache. Migraines (A) are often unilateral and throbbing, with associated nausea,
photophobia, and phonophobia, but not typically the autonomic features described. Tension headaches (B) are
bilateral, band-like, and mild to moderate. Sinus headaches (D) are usually accompanied by facial pressure and
purulent nasal discharge.
5. A patient has a known diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). During the physical exam,
which of the following chest shape findings is most consistent with this condition?
A. Pectus excavatum
B. Pectus carinatum
