,NUR 2092 Exam 1 | Health Assessment (2026) Actual Q&A PDF |
Rasmussen College
1. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of a comprehensive health
assessment?
A) To establish a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship
B) To establish a baseline database against which all future changes can be measured
C) To provide a legal record of the patient's hospital stay
D) To satisfy institutional requirements for patient admissions
Correct Answer: To establish a baseline database against which all future changes can be
measured
Rationale: A comprehensive health assessment's main purpose is to collect a complete
health history and perform a full physical examination to establish a baseline of the
patient's current health status. This comprehensive database is then used as a reference
point to measure any future changes in the patient's condition. While other options are
aspects of the assessment process, they are not the primary purpose.
2. During an interview, the nurse asks, "Can you tell me more about the pain you are
experiencing?" This is an example of which type of question?
A) A closed-ended question
B) A leading question
C) An open-ended question
D) A biased question
Correct Answer: An open-ended question
,Rationale: Open-ended questions are designed to encourage the patient to provide a
detailed narrative and express their feelings or concerns in their own words. They typically
begin with phrases like "Tell me about..." or "How does...". This technique is essential for
gathering broad information and building rapport during the health history interview.
3. Which physical assessment technique involves using the sense of touch to assess a
patient's skin temperature, texture, and moisture?
A) Inspection
B) Palpation
C) Percussion
D) Auscultation
Correct Answer: Palpation
Rationale: Palpation is the technique of using the hands to touch and feel specific body
characteristics such as organ size, skin texture, temperature, and moisture. Different parts
of the hand are used for specific assessments; for example, the dorsal surface is best for
assessing temperature. It is typically performed after inspection to gather deeper clinical
information.
4. When assessing a patient's radial pulse with a regular rhythm, what is the standard
procedure for an adult?
A) Count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4
B) Count for 30 seconds and multiply by 2
C) Count for 60 seconds
D) Count for 10 seconds and multiply by 6
Correct Answer: Count for 30 seconds and multiply by 2
, Rationale: For a patient with a regular heart rhythm, it is standard clinical practice to count
the pulse for 30 seconds and then multiply by two to calculate the beats per minute. This
method balances efficiency with clinical precision. However, if the rhythm is irregular, the
nurse must count for a full 60 seconds to ensure accuracy.
5. A nurse enters a patient's room and finds them struggling to breathe. What is the
priority action?
A) Perform a focused respiratory assessment
B) Check the patient's identification band
C) Complete a full head-to-toe assessment
D) Review the patient's medical history
Correct Answer: Perform a focused respiratory assessment
Rationale: In an emergency situation, the priority is to address the immediate life-
threatening concern. This requires a focused assessment on the affected system, in this
case, the respiratory system. The ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) take precedence
over non-urgent data collection like history review or a full head-to-toe assessment.
6. According to the nursing process, what is the correct order of the five steps?
A) Assessment, Planning, Diagnosis, Implementation, Evaluation
B) Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
C) Diagnosis, Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
D) Assessment, Diagnosis, Implementation, Planning, Evaluation
Correct Answer: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
Rationale: The nursing process is a systematic, problem-solving framework used to guide
nursing practice. Its five steps are performed in a specific order: Assessment (collecting
Rasmussen College
1. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of a comprehensive health
assessment?
A) To establish a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship
B) To establish a baseline database against which all future changes can be measured
C) To provide a legal record of the patient's hospital stay
D) To satisfy institutional requirements for patient admissions
Correct Answer: To establish a baseline database against which all future changes can be
measured
Rationale: A comprehensive health assessment's main purpose is to collect a complete
health history and perform a full physical examination to establish a baseline of the
patient's current health status. This comprehensive database is then used as a reference
point to measure any future changes in the patient's condition. While other options are
aspects of the assessment process, they are not the primary purpose.
2. During an interview, the nurse asks, "Can you tell me more about the pain you are
experiencing?" This is an example of which type of question?
A) A closed-ended question
B) A leading question
C) An open-ended question
D) A biased question
Correct Answer: An open-ended question
,Rationale: Open-ended questions are designed to encourage the patient to provide a
detailed narrative and express their feelings or concerns in their own words. They typically
begin with phrases like "Tell me about..." or "How does...". This technique is essential for
gathering broad information and building rapport during the health history interview.
3. Which physical assessment technique involves using the sense of touch to assess a
patient's skin temperature, texture, and moisture?
A) Inspection
B) Palpation
C) Percussion
D) Auscultation
Correct Answer: Palpation
Rationale: Palpation is the technique of using the hands to touch and feel specific body
characteristics such as organ size, skin texture, temperature, and moisture. Different parts
of the hand are used for specific assessments; for example, the dorsal surface is best for
assessing temperature. It is typically performed after inspection to gather deeper clinical
information.
4. When assessing a patient's radial pulse with a regular rhythm, what is the standard
procedure for an adult?
A) Count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4
B) Count for 30 seconds and multiply by 2
C) Count for 60 seconds
D) Count for 10 seconds and multiply by 6
Correct Answer: Count for 30 seconds and multiply by 2
, Rationale: For a patient with a regular heart rhythm, it is standard clinical practice to count
the pulse for 30 seconds and then multiply by two to calculate the beats per minute. This
method balances efficiency with clinical precision. However, if the rhythm is irregular, the
nurse must count for a full 60 seconds to ensure accuracy.
5. A nurse enters a patient's room and finds them struggling to breathe. What is the
priority action?
A) Perform a focused respiratory assessment
B) Check the patient's identification band
C) Complete a full head-to-toe assessment
D) Review the patient's medical history
Correct Answer: Perform a focused respiratory assessment
Rationale: In an emergency situation, the priority is to address the immediate life-
threatening concern. This requires a focused assessment on the affected system, in this
case, the respiratory system. The ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) take precedence
over non-urgent data collection like history review or a full head-to-toe assessment.
6. According to the nursing process, what is the correct order of the five steps?
A) Assessment, Planning, Diagnosis, Implementation, Evaluation
B) Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
C) Diagnosis, Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
D) Assessment, Diagnosis, Implementation, Planning, Evaluation
Correct Answer: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
Rationale: The nursing process is a systematic, problem-solving framework used to guide
nursing practice. Its five steps are performed in a specific order: Assessment (collecting
