NURS 5220 Advanced Health Assessment Exam 1
(Module 1, Chapters 1–8 Practice Exam Questions)
|Comprehensive Exam Study Guide with Actual
Exam Questions, Verified Correct Answers and
Detailed Rationales | Latest Update 2026/2027 |
Already Graded A+
Question 1
During an initial interview with your patient, you ask, “Can you describe that for
me?” Which statement best describes the question?
A. It is the most risky type of question because the patient can say anything.
B. The question is asking for specific information.
C. The patient has discretion about the extent of the answer.
D. The answer can lead the interviewer away from the purpose of the interview.
Answer: C
Rationale: The open-ended question gives the patient discretion about the extent
of an answer. This is an example of a question carefully formulated to elicit an
enhanced patient response. The answer can lead the interviewer away from the
purpose of the interview.
Question 2
Because an adolescent is often reluctant to talk during an interview, it is best to:
A. tell the patient that you must have straight answers to your questions.
B. ensure confidentiality regarding the information discussed.
C. inform the patient that adolescents have trouble expressing their feelings.
D. obtain the history from a parent or other family member.
Answer: B
Rationale: Adolescents may be reluctant to talk and have a clear need for
confidentiality. All adolescent patients should be given the opportunity to discuss
their concerns with you privately. It is wise to let parents or other caregivers know
pg. 1
,you will be asking them to step out of the room to provide this important
opportunity for the adolescent.
Question 3
For which age group is a functional assessment most critical?
A. Children
B. Adolescents
C. Adults
D. Older adults
Answer: D
Rationale: Functional assessment evaluates ability to achieve the basic activities
of daily living. This assessment should be made for all older adults and for any
person limited by disease or disability, acute or chronic. Older adults are more
likely to experience functional decline due to chronic illness, medications, and age-
related changes, making assessment of ADLs and IADLs essential for determining
independence and need for support services.
Question 4
Which of the following will best facilitate an interview with a deaf person?
A. Speaking loudly
B. Using gestures
C. Sitting or standing at eye level
D. Sitting to the side of the patient
Answer: C
Rationale: Persons with impaired hearing often read, write, sign, and/or read lips,
but you must speak slowly and enunciate each word clearly and in full view.
Sitting or standing at eye level allows for full view.
Question 5
Which of the following questions may lead to an inaccurate response?
A. “Where do you feel the pain?”
B. “How does this situation make you feel?”
pg. 2
,C. “What happened after you noticed your injury?”
D. “That was a horrible experience, wasn’t it?”
Answer: D
Rationale: Answer D is an example of a leading question. The leading question is
the most risky because it may limit the information provided to what the patient
thinks you want to know. Questions A, B, and C are examples of direct and open-
ended questions.
Question 6
Ms. Carol Turner, a 38-year-old woman, brings her 1-year-old son in for
healthcare. Which of the following requests made would be most appropriate at the
beginning of an interview?
A. “Mom, please place your son in your lap.”
B. “Carol, please place your son in your lap.”
C. “Ms. Turner, please place your son in your lap.”
D. “Sweetie, please place your son in your lap.”
Answer: C
Rationale: Answer C best displays courtesy and respect for the parent. Initially,
the examiner should address the patient or caregiver properly (e.g., as Mr., Miss,
Mrs., Ms., or the manner of address preferred by the patient) and repeat the
patient’s name at appropriate times. Do not use a surrogate term for a person’s
name; for example, when the patient is a child, do not address the parent as
“Mother” or “Father.”
Question 7
During an interview, a patient describes abdominal pain that often awakens him at
night. Which of the following is the best question to ask next?
A. “Constipation can cause abdominal pain.”
B. “Do you need a sleeping medication?”
C. “Pain is always worse at night, isn’t it?”
D. “Tell me what you mean by ‘often.’”
Answer: D
Rationale: Answer D is an example of clarifying or seeking additional information
pg. 3
, by using an open-ended question. Answers A, B, and C are examples of yes/no or
leading questions.
Question 8
When you repeat a patient’s answer, you are:
A. testing the patient’s knowledge.
B. teaching the patient new medical terms.
C. discouraging an emotional outburst.
D. encouraging more detail.
Answer: D
Rationale: When you repeat a patient’s answer, you are engaging in reflecting.
Reflecting encourages patients to provide more detail.
Question 9
While interviewing an angry patient, you start to become annoyed and begin to
dislike the patient. The best way to resolve this is to:
A. spend the least amount of time possible with the patient.
B. displace your annoyance toward the patient on an inanimate object.
C. ignore the feelings and remain neutral in your interactions.
D. express concern and explore the problem with the patient.
Answer: D
Rationale: When dealing with the angry patient, it is appropriate to confront or
acknowledge the anger and explore the potential issue. Answer D is the best
example in the scenario given.
Question 10
Which of the following behaviors is most important in establishing connection
with the patient?
A. Documenting data from the history using direct patient quotes
B. Phrasing questions so that they are clear and explicit
C. Avoiding the trap of giving advice during an interview
D. Listening intently while observing nonverbal cues
pg. 4
(Module 1, Chapters 1–8 Practice Exam Questions)
|Comprehensive Exam Study Guide with Actual
Exam Questions, Verified Correct Answers and
Detailed Rationales | Latest Update 2026/2027 |
Already Graded A+
Question 1
During an initial interview with your patient, you ask, “Can you describe that for
me?” Which statement best describes the question?
A. It is the most risky type of question because the patient can say anything.
B. The question is asking for specific information.
C. The patient has discretion about the extent of the answer.
D. The answer can lead the interviewer away from the purpose of the interview.
Answer: C
Rationale: The open-ended question gives the patient discretion about the extent
of an answer. This is an example of a question carefully formulated to elicit an
enhanced patient response. The answer can lead the interviewer away from the
purpose of the interview.
Question 2
Because an adolescent is often reluctant to talk during an interview, it is best to:
A. tell the patient that you must have straight answers to your questions.
B. ensure confidentiality regarding the information discussed.
C. inform the patient that adolescents have trouble expressing their feelings.
D. obtain the history from a parent or other family member.
Answer: B
Rationale: Adolescents may be reluctant to talk and have a clear need for
confidentiality. All adolescent patients should be given the opportunity to discuss
their concerns with you privately. It is wise to let parents or other caregivers know
pg. 1
,you will be asking them to step out of the room to provide this important
opportunity for the adolescent.
Question 3
For which age group is a functional assessment most critical?
A. Children
B. Adolescents
C. Adults
D. Older adults
Answer: D
Rationale: Functional assessment evaluates ability to achieve the basic activities
of daily living. This assessment should be made for all older adults and for any
person limited by disease or disability, acute or chronic. Older adults are more
likely to experience functional decline due to chronic illness, medications, and age-
related changes, making assessment of ADLs and IADLs essential for determining
independence and need for support services.
Question 4
Which of the following will best facilitate an interview with a deaf person?
A. Speaking loudly
B. Using gestures
C. Sitting or standing at eye level
D. Sitting to the side of the patient
Answer: C
Rationale: Persons with impaired hearing often read, write, sign, and/or read lips,
but you must speak slowly and enunciate each word clearly and in full view.
Sitting or standing at eye level allows for full view.
Question 5
Which of the following questions may lead to an inaccurate response?
A. “Where do you feel the pain?”
B. “How does this situation make you feel?”
pg. 2
,C. “What happened after you noticed your injury?”
D. “That was a horrible experience, wasn’t it?”
Answer: D
Rationale: Answer D is an example of a leading question. The leading question is
the most risky because it may limit the information provided to what the patient
thinks you want to know. Questions A, B, and C are examples of direct and open-
ended questions.
Question 6
Ms. Carol Turner, a 38-year-old woman, brings her 1-year-old son in for
healthcare. Which of the following requests made would be most appropriate at the
beginning of an interview?
A. “Mom, please place your son in your lap.”
B. “Carol, please place your son in your lap.”
C. “Ms. Turner, please place your son in your lap.”
D. “Sweetie, please place your son in your lap.”
Answer: C
Rationale: Answer C best displays courtesy and respect for the parent. Initially,
the examiner should address the patient or caregiver properly (e.g., as Mr., Miss,
Mrs., Ms., or the manner of address preferred by the patient) and repeat the
patient’s name at appropriate times. Do not use a surrogate term for a person’s
name; for example, when the patient is a child, do not address the parent as
“Mother” or “Father.”
Question 7
During an interview, a patient describes abdominal pain that often awakens him at
night. Which of the following is the best question to ask next?
A. “Constipation can cause abdominal pain.”
B. “Do you need a sleeping medication?”
C. “Pain is always worse at night, isn’t it?”
D. “Tell me what you mean by ‘often.’”
Answer: D
Rationale: Answer D is an example of clarifying or seeking additional information
pg. 3
, by using an open-ended question. Answers A, B, and C are examples of yes/no or
leading questions.
Question 8
When you repeat a patient’s answer, you are:
A. testing the patient’s knowledge.
B. teaching the patient new medical terms.
C. discouraging an emotional outburst.
D. encouraging more detail.
Answer: D
Rationale: When you repeat a patient’s answer, you are engaging in reflecting.
Reflecting encourages patients to provide more detail.
Question 9
While interviewing an angry patient, you start to become annoyed and begin to
dislike the patient. The best way to resolve this is to:
A. spend the least amount of time possible with the patient.
B. displace your annoyance toward the patient on an inanimate object.
C. ignore the feelings and remain neutral in your interactions.
D. express concern and explore the problem with the patient.
Answer: D
Rationale: When dealing with the angry patient, it is appropriate to confront or
acknowledge the anger and explore the potential issue. Answer D is the best
example in the scenario given.
Question 10
Which of the following behaviors is most important in establishing connection
with the patient?
A. Documenting data from the history using direct patient quotes
B. Phrasing questions so that they are clear and explicit
C. Avoiding the trap of giving advice during an interview
D. Listening intently while observing nonverbal cues
pg. 4
