WGU D443 HEALTH ASSESSMENT OA EXAM
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES GRADED A+ LATEST
1. During an initial health history, a patient states, “For the past three weeks, I have
felt unusually tired by the end of the day.” Which response by the nurse best
encourages the patient to elaborate on this symptom?
A. “Have you been sleeping less than 8 hours each night?”
B. “What have you noticed about your fatigue since it first began?”
C. “Is the fatigue caused by your work schedule?”
D. “Have you tried taking anything for the fatigue?”
Answer: B
Rationale: An open-ended question allows the patient to describe the symptom in
their own words and provides an opportunity to explore onset, progression,
context, and associated findings. The other options are more restrictive and
prematurely narrow the discussion.
2. A patient who speaks limited English arrives for a comprehensive assessment.
The patient's adult daughter offers to interpret because she is fluent in English.
Which action should the nurse take?
A. Use the daughter because she is familiar with the patient's medical history.
B. Ask the patient whether written questions would be easier.
C. Arrange for a qualified medical interpreter.
D. Continue the assessment using simple medical terminology.
Answer: C
Rationale: A qualified medical interpreter promotes accurate communication,
patient autonomy, confidentiality, and informed participation. Family members
should not routinely be relied upon for interpretation because important clinical
information may be omitted, altered, or misunderstood.
,3. A nurse is documenting findings obtained during a physical assessment. Which
finding is an example of objective data?
A. “Patient reports burning pain rated 7/10.”
B. “Patient states she feels short of breath.”
C. “Patient reports dizziness when standing.”
D. “Blood pressure is 154/92 mm Hg.”
Answer: D
Rationale: Objective data are observations or measurements obtained by the
healthcare professional, such as vital signs, physical examination findings, and
measured values. Pain, dizziness, and subjective descriptions of dyspnea are
reported by the patient and therefore are subjective data.
4. A patient reports abdominal discomfort that began yesterday after eating at a
restaurant. The nurse wants to obtain a structured description of the symptom.
Which information is most important to establish first?
A. Whether the patient has had a previous colonoscopy
B. The patient's usual dietary pattern
C. The onset and location of the discomfort
D. Whether the patient's parents had gastrointestinal disorders
Answer: C
Rationale: Establishing onset and location helps define the presenting problem
and guides subsequent questions regarding quality, severity, timing, aggravating
factors, and associated symptoms. A complete history eventually includes medical,
dietary, and family information, but the immediate concern should be characterized
first.
,5. A nurse prepares to obtain a blood pressure measurement from an adult patient
whose arm circumference is substantially larger than the standard cuff size. Which
consequence is most likely if the nurse uses a cuff that is too small?
A. Falsely low blood pressure
B. Falsely high blood pressure
C. Unchanged systolic pressure with increased pulse pressure
D. An unreliable pulse oximetry reading
Answer: B
Rationale: A cuff that is too small for the patient's arm can produce a falsely
elevated blood pressure measurement. Appropriate cuff size is essential for
accurate blood pressure assessment.
6. During a general survey, the nurse observes an older adult walking slowly into
the examination room. The patient pauses briefly before turning and uses the arm
of a chair for support. Which additional finding would be most important for the
nurse to assess?
A. Preferred sleeping position
B. Fall history and gait stability
C. Daily fluid intake
D. Frequency of bowel movements
Answer: B
Rationale: Slowed movement, difficulty turning, and reliance on furniture for
support can indicate impaired balance or increased fall risk. The nurse should
further assess gait, balance, mobility, assistive-device use, and history of falls.
, 7. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child who is frightened by the equipment.
Which approach is most appropriate?
A. Complete the most invasive portions of the assessment first.
B. Explain every maneuver using detailed adult terminology.
C. Allow the child to handle safe equipment before selected portions of the
examination.
D. Ask the parent to leave so the child will cooperate independently.
Answer: C
Rationale: Developmentally appropriate assessment techniques help reduce
anxiety and improve cooperation. Allowing the child to become familiar with safe
equipment can create trust and make the examination easier. The sequence should
also be adapted to the child's tolerance, generally reserving uncomfortable
procedures for later.
8. A nurse is preparing to assess a patient's lungs. Which technique should the
nurse use?
A. Auscultate immediately after percussion of the same area.
B. Compare corresponding areas of the right and left lungs.
C. Auscultate only the anterior chest because posterior sounds are less reliable.
D. Ask the patient to breathe rapidly through the mouth throughout the
examination.
Answer: B
Rationale: Respiratory findings are assessed systematically by comparing
symmetrical areas bilaterally. This helps the nurse identify differences in breath
sounds. Posterior assessment is especially important because substantial lung tissue
is located posteriorly.
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES GRADED A+ LATEST
1. During an initial health history, a patient states, “For the past three weeks, I have
felt unusually tired by the end of the day.” Which response by the nurse best
encourages the patient to elaborate on this symptom?
A. “Have you been sleeping less than 8 hours each night?”
B. “What have you noticed about your fatigue since it first began?”
C. “Is the fatigue caused by your work schedule?”
D. “Have you tried taking anything for the fatigue?”
Answer: B
Rationale: An open-ended question allows the patient to describe the symptom in
their own words and provides an opportunity to explore onset, progression,
context, and associated findings. The other options are more restrictive and
prematurely narrow the discussion.
2. A patient who speaks limited English arrives for a comprehensive assessment.
The patient's adult daughter offers to interpret because she is fluent in English.
Which action should the nurse take?
A. Use the daughter because she is familiar with the patient's medical history.
B. Ask the patient whether written questions would be easier.
C. Arrange for a qualified medical interpreter.
D. Continue the assessment using simple medical terminology.
Answer: C
Rationale: A qualified medical interpreter promotes accurate communication,
patient autonomy, confidentiality, and informed participation. Family members
should not routinely be relied upon for interpretation because important clinical
information may be omitted, altered, or misunderstood.
,3. A nurse is documenting findings obtained during a physical assessment. Which
finding is an example of objective data?
A. “Patient reports burning pain rated 7/10.”
B. “Patient states she feels short of breath.”
C. “Patient reports dizziness when standing.”
D. “Blood pressure is 154/92 mm Hg.”
Answer: D
Rationale: Objective data are observations or measurements obtained by the
healthcare professional, such as vital signs, physical examination findings, and
measured values. Pain, dizziness, and subjective descriptions of dyspnea are
reported by the patient and therefore are subjective data.
4. A patient reports abdominal discomfort that began yesterday after eating at a
restaurant. The nurse wants to obtain a structured description of the symptom.
Which information is most important to establish first?
A. Whether the patient has had a previous colonoscopy
B. The patient's usual dietary pattern
C. The onset and location of the discomfort
D. Whether the patient's parents had gastrointestinal disorders
Answer: C
Rationale: Establishing onset and location helps define the presenting problem
and guides subsequent questions regarding quality, severity, timing, aggravating
factors, and associated symptoms. A complete history eventually includes medical,
dietary, and family information, but the immediate concern should be characterized
first.
,5. A nurse prepares to obtain a blood pressure measurement from an adult patient
whose arm circumference is substantially larger than the standard cuff size. Which
consequence is most likely if the nurse uses a cuff that is too small?
A. Falsely low blood pressure
B. Falsely high blood pressure
C. Unchanged systolic pressure with increased pulse pressure
D. An unreliable pulse oximetry reading
Answer: B
Rationale: A cuff that is too small for the patient's arm can produce a falsely
elevated blood pressure measurement. Appropriate cuff size is essential for
accurate blood pressure assessment.
6. During a general survey, the nurse observes an older adult walking slowly into
the examination room. The patient pauses briefly before turning and uses the arm
of a chair for support. Which additional finding would be most important for the
nurse to assess?
A. Preferred sleeping position
B. Fall history and gait stability
C. Daily fluid intake
D. Frequency of bowel movements
Answer: B
Rationale: Slowed movement, difficulty turning, and reliance on furniture for
support can indicate impaired balance or increased fall risk. The nurse should
further assess gait, balance, mobility, assistive-device use, and history of falls.
, 7. A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child who is frightened by the equipment.
Which approach is most appropriate?
A. Complete the most invasive portions of the assessment first.
B. Explain every maneuver using detailed adult terminology.
C. Allow the child to handle safe equipment before selected portions of the
examination.
D. Ask the parent to leave so the child will cooperate independently.
Answer: C
Rationale: Developmentally appropriate assessment techniques help reduce
anxiety and improve cooperation. Allowing the child to become familiar with safe
equipment can create trust and make the examination easier. The sequence should
also be adapted to the child's tolerance, generally reserving uncomfortable
procedures for later.
8. A nurse is preparing to assess a patient's lungs. Which technique should the
nurse use?
A. Auscultate immediately after percussion of the same area.
B. Compare corresponding areas of the right and left lungs.
C. Auscultate only the anterior chest because posterior sounds are less reliable.
D. Ask the patient to breathe rapidly through the mouth throughout the
examination.
Answer: B
Rationale: Respiratory findings are assessed systematically by comparing
symmetrical areas bilaterally. This helps the nurse identify differences in breath
sounds. Posterior assessment is especially important because substantial lung tissue
is located posteriorly.
