NU-650 Week 3 Exam with verified
answers and rationale updated
2026 graded A+
Section 1: Fundamentals & Health History Components (Questions 1–25)
1. What is the primary purpose of a comprehensive health history in advanced nursing practice?
A. To immediately begin treatment without examination
B. To establish a database for identifying problems, planning care, and creating a baseline
C. To fulfill billing requirements only
D. To replace laboratory and diagnostic testing
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The health history provides foundational subjective data that guides clinical decision-
making, identifies risks, and supports holistic patient-centered care.
2. Which of the following best describes the Chief Complaint (CC)?
A. The provider’s suspected diagnosis
B. The patient’s own words describing the reason for seeking care
C. A detailed list of all past medical conditions
D. Objective physical exam findings
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The CC should be recorded concisely in the patient’s own words (e.g., “I have had chest
pain for two days”) and belongs in the Subjective section.
3. The mnemonic OLDCARTS (or OLD CARTS) is used to guide collection of which component?
A. Past Medical History
B. History of Present Illness (HPI)
C. Review of Systems
D. Family History
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: OLDCARTS stands for Onset, Location/radiation, Duration, Character,
Aggravating/alleviating factors, Related symptoms, Treatments, and Severity. It ensures a thorough,
organized subjective description of the current problem.
4. Which of the following is an example of subjective data?
A. Blood pressure 128/82 mmHg
B. “My headache started suddenly this morning”
C. Lungs clear to auscultation bilaterally
D. Temperature 98.6°F
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective data consists of information the patient reports (symptoms, history,
perceptions). Objective data includes measurable or observable findings.
5. The Past Medical History (PMH) typically includes all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Childhood illnesses and immunizations
B. Current medications and allergies
C. Patient’s occupation and tobacco use
D. Hospitalizations and surgeries
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Occupation and tobacco use belong in the Social History (SH). PMH focuses on medical,
surgical, medication, allergy, and immunization history.
6. In a comprehensive health history, the Review of Systems (ROS) is:
A. Limited only to the system related to the chief complaint
B. A head-to-toe subjective inquiry about symptoms in each body system
C. Documented in the Objective section of the SOAP note
D. Performed only during the physical examination
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ROS helps identify additional problems or concerns not mentioned in the HPI and remains
part of the Subjective data.
7. Which question best elicits “Aggravating/Alleviating factors” in the HPI?
A. “When did this pain begin?”
,B. “What makes the pain better or worse?”
C. “How severe is the pain on a 0–10 scale?”
D. “Where exactly is the pain located?”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aggravating/alleviating factors explore activities, positions, medications, or other
influences that worsen or improve the symptom.
8. Family History (FH) is primarily used to assess:
A. Genetic or hereditary risk factors for disease
B. The patient’s current living situation
C. The patient’s dietary habits
D. Current prescription and over-the-counter medications
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: FH identifies patterns of illness (e.g., heart disease, cancer, diabetes) that may increase
the patient’s risk.
9. Which component of the health history explores cultural beliefs, spirituality, and support systems?
A. Review of Systems
B. Social History
C. History of Present Illness
D. Past Medical History
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Social History includes lifestyle, occupation, substance use, sexual history, living
environment, and cultural factors that influence health.
10. The source of history should be documented as:
A. The patient, a family member, medical records, or other
B. Always the patient only
C. Only the primary care provider
D. The electronic health record exclusively
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale: Noting the reliability and source of information maintains transparency and accuracy in
documentation.
(Questions 11–25 follow the same pattern, expanding on biographical data, therapeutic
communication techniques such as open-ended vs. closed-ended questions, active listening, cultural
competence in history taking, common barriers to effective interviewing, and variations of
OLDCARTS vs. OPQRST. Content aligns with standard advanced practice nursing texts.)
Section 2: Subjective vs. Objective Data & ROS (Questions 26–50)
26. “Patient states pain is 8/10 and radiates to the left arm” is an example of:
A. Objective data
B. Subjective data
C. Assessment data
D. Plan data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patient-reported symptoms and ratings are subjective.
27. Which finding belongs in the Objective section?
A. “Patient denies shortness of breath”
B. Jugular venous distention noted at 30 degrees
C. “I feel like I’m having a heart attack”
D. Family history of myocardial infarction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Observable and measurable physical findings are objective data.
28–50: Additional questions differentiate subtle examples of subjective/objective data, cover
comprehensive ROS questioning for HEENT, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal,
genitourinary, musculoskeletal, neurological, integumentary, endocrine, and psychiatric systems,
and address pertinent positives/negatives in documentation.
Section 3: SOAP Note Structure & Best Practices (Questions 51–75)
51. In a SOAP note, the “S” section includes:
A. All patient-reported information (CC, HPI, PMH, FH, SH, ROS)
answers and rationale updated
2026 graded A+
Section 1: Fundamentals & Health History Components (Questions 1–25)
1. What is the primary purpose of a comprehensive health history in advanced nursing practice?
A. To immediately begin treatment without examination
B. To establish a database for identifying problems, planning care, and creating a baseline
C. To fulfill billing requirements only
D. To replace laboratory and diagnostic testing
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The health history provides foundational subjective data that guides clinical decision-
making, identifies risks, and supports holistic patient-centered care.
2. Which of the following best describes the Chief Complaint (CC)?
A. The provider’s suspected diagnosis
B. The patient’s own words describing the reason for seeking care
C. A detailed list of all past medical conditions
D. Objective physical exam findings
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The CC should be recorded concisely in the patient’s own words (e.g., “I have had chest
pain for two days”) and belongs in the Subjective section.
3. The mnemonic OLDCARTS (or OLD CARTS) is used to guide collection of which component?
A. Past Medical History
B. History of Present Illness (HPI)
C. Review of Systems
D. Family History
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: OLDCARTS stands for Onset, Location/radiation, Duration, Character,
Aggravating/alleviating factors, Related symptoms, Treatments, and Severity. It ensures a thorough,
organized subjective description of the current problem.
4. Which of the following is an example of subjective data?
A. Blood pressure 128/82 mmHg
B. “My headache started suddenly this morning”
C. Lungs clear to auscultation bilaterally
D. Temperature 98.6°F
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective data consists of information the patient reports (symptoms, history,
perceptions). Objective data includes measurable or observable findings.
5. The Past Medical History (PMH) typically includes all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Childhood illnesses and immunizations
B. Current medications and allergies
C. Patient’s occupation and tobacco use
D. Hospitalizations and surgeries
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Occupation and tobacco use belong in the Social History (SH). PMH focuses on medical,
surgical, medication, allergy, and immunization history.
6. In a comprehensive health history, the Review of Systems (ROS) is:
A. Limited only to the system related to the chief complaint
B. A head-to-toe subjective inquiry about symptoms in each body system
C. Documented in the Objective section of the SOAP note
D. Performed only during the physical examination
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ROS helps identify additional problems or concerns not mentioned in the HPI and remains
part of the Subjective data.
7. Which question best elicits “Aggravating/Alleviating factors” in the HPI?
A. “When did this pain begin?”
,B. “What makes the pain better or worse?”
C. “How severe is the pain on a 0–10 scale?”
D. “Where exactly is the pain located?”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aggravating/alleviating factors explore activities, positions, medications, or other
influences that worsen or improve the symptom.
8. Family History (FH) is primarily used to assess:
A. Genetic or hereditary risk factors for disease
B. The patient’s current living situation
C. The patient’s dietary habits
D. Current prescription and over-the-counter medications
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: FH identifies patterns of illness (e.g., heart disease, cancer, diabetes) that may increase
the patient’s risk.
9. Which component of the health history explores cultural beliefs, spirituality, and support systems?
A. Review of Systems
B. Social History
C. History of Present Illness
D. Past Medical History
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Social History includes lifestyle, occupation, substance use, sexual history, living
environment, and cultural factors that influence health.
10. The source of history should be documented as:
A. The patient, a family member, medical records, or other
B. Always the patient only
C. Only the primary care provider
D. The electronic health record exclusively
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale: Noting the reliability and source of information maintains transparency and accuracy in
documentation.
(Questions 11–25 follow the same pattern, expanding on biographical data, therapeutic
communication techniques such as open-ended vs. closed-ended questions, active listening, cultural
competence in history taking, common barriers to effective interviewing, and variations of
OLDCARTS vs. OPQRST. Content aligns with standard advanced practice nursing texts.)
Section 2: Subjective vs. Objective Data & ROS (Questions 26–50)
26. “Patient states pain is 8/10 and radiates to the left arm” is an example of:
A. Objective data
B. Subjective data
C. Assessment data
D. Plan data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patient-reported symptoms and ratings are subjective.
27. Which finding belongs in the Objective section?
A. “Patient denies shortness of breath”
B. Jugular venous distention noted at 30 degrees
C. “I feel like I’m having a heart attack”
D. Family history of myocardial infarction
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Observable and measurable physical findings are objective data.
28–50: Additional questions differentiate subtle examples of subjective/objective data, cover
comprehensive ROS questioning for HEENT, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal,
genitourinary, musculoskeletal, neurological, integumentary, endocrine, and psychiatric systems,
and address pertinent positives/negatives in documentation.
Section 3: SOAP Note Structure & Best Practices (Questions 51–75)
51. In a SOAP note, the “S” section includes:
A. All patient-reported information (CC, HPI, PMH, FH, SH, ROS)
