Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales Instant
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Short Introduction
Prepare for the NURS 190 PA Midterm Exam at West Coast University (WCU) with this
comprehensive 250-question original practice exam. The review combines foundational
nursing knowledge, health assessment concepts, clinical reasoning, patient communication, and
system-focused assessment questions with correct answers and rationales.
Summarized High-Yield Coverage
Health Assessment Fundamentals
Patient Interviewing & Therapeutic Communication
Chief Complaint & History of Present Illness
OLDCARTS Symptom Assessment
Past Medical, Surgical, Family & Social History
Medication & Supplement History
Subjective vs. Objective Data
General Survey & Patient Appearance
Vital Signs & Accurate Measurements
Physical Examination Techniques
Inspection, Palpation, Percussion & Auscultation
Head, Face & Neck Assessment
HEENT Assessment
Eye & Visual Assessment
Ear & Hearing Assessment
Oral & Throat Examination
Cranial Nerve Assessment
Skin, Hair & Nail Assessment
Skin Lesions & ABCDE Assessment
Lymph Node & Thyroid Assessment
Cardiovascular Assessment
Heart Sounds & Murmurs
Peripheral Pulses & Perfusion
Edema & Peripheral Vascular Assessment
Arterial vs. Venous Findings
Chest Pain & Palpitations
Heart Failure Symptoms
Respiratory Assessment
Breath Sounds & Adventitious Sounds
Respiratory Effort & Oxygenation
, Cough & Sputum Assessment
Respiratory Risk Factors
Abdominal Assessment
Abdominal Pain & GI Symptoms
Bowel & Elimination Assessment
Musculoskeletal Assessment
Joint & Muscle Assessment
Range of Motion & Strength
Neurological Assessment
Mental Status & Orientation
Sensory & Coordination Testing
Gait & Balance Assessment
Syncope & Dizziness
Clinical Reasoning & Differential Diagnosis
Recognition of Abnormal Findings
Patient Safety & Assessment Priorities
ABC Prioritization
Objective Clinical Documentation
Patient-Centered Assessment
Cultural & Communication Considerations
Health Literacy & Teach-Back
Clinical Decision-Making
Section 1–: Health Assessment Fundamentals
Question 1
Which approach should the nurse use when beginning a comprehensive health
history with an adult patient who presents for a routine examination?
A. Begin with a detailed review of every body system
B. Ask only about the patient's current medications
C. Establish rapport, explain the purpose of the interview, and begin with an
open-ended question
D. Immediately begin collecting objective physical examination findings
Answer: C
,Rationale: Establishing rapport and allowing the patient to describe concerns in
their own words promotes communication and provides a broad starting point for
the health history.
Question 2
Which statement best describes the primary purpose of obtaining a patient's chief
complaint during a comprehensive health assessment?
A. To establish the patient's final medical diagnosis
B. To identify the main reason the patient is seeking healthcare
C. To document all previous surgical procedures
D. To determine which laboratory tests should automatically be ordered
Answer: B
Rationale: The chief complaint identifies the patient's primary reason for seeking
care and provides direction for the subsequent history and assessment.
Question 3
When documenting a patient's chief complaint, which approach provides the most
accurate representation of the patient's concern?
A. Replace the patient's description with a medical diagnosis
B. Summarize only the symptoms that appear clinically significant
, C. Record the nurse's interpretation of what caused the problem
D. Document the patient's own words when practical, using quotation marks
Answer: D
Rationale: The chief complaint should accurately reflect the patient's reason for
seeking care, preferably using the patient's own terminology.
Question 4
Which question would best encourage a patient to provide a broad description of
the problem that brought them to the clinic?
A. “Can you tell me what brought you in today?”
B. “Does the pain occur every morning?”
C. “Is your pain caused by eating?”
D. “Have you taken acetaminophen for this problem?”
Answer: A
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage patients to describe their concerns
without prematurely limiting the information they provide.
Question 5
During an interview, the patient begins discussing a symptom that is unrelated to
the original concern. What is the most appropriate response?