Questions & Answers (WPU) | Complete 600-Q Test Bank with NGN-
Style Case Scenarios & Rationales | William Paterson University
2026/2027 Edition
,NUR 6001 Exam 1 – 100 Practice Questions
SECTION 1: HEALTH HISTORY & INTERVIEWING (Questions 1–25)
1. A nurse practitioner is beginning a comprehensive health interview with a new patient.
Which opening statement is most appropriate?
A) "What is your date of birth and insurance information?"
B) "Tell me what concerns brought you in today."
C) "Do you have any medical problems I should know about?"
D) "Why are you here today?"
Answer: B.
Rationale: An open-ended question allows the patient to express concerns in their own words,
establishing rapport and providing the most comprehensive information. Closed-ended
questions are reserved for later to clarify specific details.
2. A nurse is preparing to conduct a health history interview. What is the most appropriate
first step?
A) Ask about the chief complaint
B) Review the client's medical records
C) Establish rapport and introduce yourself
D) Obtain the client's family history
Answer: C.
Rationale: Establishing rapport and introducing yourself builds trust and creates a comfortable
environment for the client to share information. Reviewing records may occur before or after,
but building rapport is the priority.
3. A nurse is interviewing a client and asks, "What brings you to the clinic today?" This is an
example of which type of question?
A) Closed-ended question
B) Open-ended question
,C) Leading question
D) Direct question
Answer: B.
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage the client to provide detailed information and
express concerns in their own words. Closed-ended questions elicit yes/no answers, leading
questions suggest a desired answer, and direct questions are specific and focused.
4. A patient reports that their pain has been affecting their sleep. Which response by the NP
best demonstrates empathetic communication?
A) "You should try taking a sleep aid."
B) "It sounds like this pain has been affecting your sleep."
C) "Pain often disrupts sleep in older adults."
D) "Have you tried using a different pillow?"
Answer: B.
Rationale: Reflective listening validates the patient's experience and demonstrates empathy. It
shows the NP is actively listening and understanding the patient's perspective.
5. A patient reports a history of smoking 1 pack per day for 30 years. The nurse practitioner
documents the pack-year history as:
A) 15 pack-years
B) 30 pack-years
C) 60 pack-years
D) 10 pack-years
Answer: B.
Rationale: Pack-years are calculated by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by the
number of years smoked. 1 pack/day × 30 years = 30 pack-years.
6. When assessing a patient's mental status, which of the following is the most appropriate
screening tool for cognitive impairment?
A) PHQ-9
, B) Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
C) GAD-7
D) AUDIT
Answer: B.
Rationale: The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a brief screening tool for cognitive
impairment that assesses orientation, registration, attention, calculation, recall, and language.
7. What is the purpose of the "Review of Systems" (ROS) in the health history?
A) To assess the patient's mental status
B) To provide a comprehensive physical examination
C) To systematically evaluate each body system for current symptoms
D) To document the patient's medications
Answer: C.
Rationale: The ROS is a comprehensive, systematic review of each body system to identify
current symptoms, problems, or concerns that the patient may not have mentioned. It is
performed after the chief complaint and history of present illness.
8. A nurse is conducting a health history interview with a client who is visually impaired.
Which of the following actions is most appropriate?
A) Speak loudly and use exaggerated gestures
B) Identify yourself and explain everything you are doing
C) Avoid touching the patient to prevent startling them
D) Use medical jargon to be precise
Answer: B.
Rationale: When interviewing a visually impaired patient, you should identify yourself, explain
what you are doing, and use a normal tone of voice. Touch may be used to communicate your
presence and actions, but it should be explained first.
9. Which of the following is the most reliable indicator of pain?
A) The client's vital signs