PREMIUM NURSING STUDY BUNDLE
NURS 5220
COMPLETE EXAM BUNDLE
Exams 1, 2 & 3 | Midterm | Final
Advanced Health Assessment
Questions, Answers & Rationales
Compiled from the five supplied study documents
,Contents
Complete source PDFs preserved in the order shown below.
01 NURS 5220 Exam 1
27 source pages | Combined pages 3-29
02 NURS 5220 Exam 2
29 source pages | Combined pages 30-58
03 NURS 5220 Exam 3
34 source pages | Combined pages 59-92
04 NURS 5220 Midterm Exam
32 source pages | Combined pages 93-124
05 NURS 5220 Final Exam
27 source pages | Combined pages 125-151
Answers and rationales are reproduced as supplied; not independently verified.
,NURS 5220 Exam 1 (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Advanced Health
Assessment Q&A | Nursing
1. The comprehensive health history begins with which of the following components?
A) Past medical history
B) Chief complaint
C) Biographical data
D) Review of systems
Correct Answer: Biographical data
Rationale: Biographical data establishes the patient's identity, age, gender, and cultural context
before proceeding to the chief complaint and history of present illness. This foundational information
allows the advanced practice provider to tailor subsequent questioning appropriately. Past medical
history and review of systems are collected later in the interview process. Chief complaint follows
biographical data but does not initiate the encounter.
2. Which mnemonic is specifically designed for a comprehensive psychosocial assessment of
adolescents?
A) HEADSS
B) CAGE
C) OLDCARTS
D) PHQ-9
Correct Answer: HEADSS
Rationale: HEADSS addresses Home, Education/Employment, Activities, Drugs, Sexuality, and
Suicide/Depression, making it uniquely suited for adolescent psychosocial screening. CAGE screens for
alcohol use disorder in adults. OLDCARTS analyzes symptom characteristics. PHQ-9 assesses
depression severity. Only HEADSS provides the developmentally appropriate framework for
adolescent assessment.
3. During a health history, a patient states, "I feel like someone is watching me all the time."
What is the advanced practice provider's priority action?
A) Ask the patient to describe this feeling in more detail
B) Determine if the patient has a psychiatric diagnosis
C) Assess for safety and ask about thoughts of harming self or others
D) Document the statement and move to the next question
Correct Answer: Assess for safety and ask about thoughts of harming self or others
Rationale: Paranoia or suspiciousness may indicate underlying psychosis, delirium, or imminent safety
risk. The provider must first assess for danger to self or others before exploring content or gathering
diagnostic history. Immediate safety assessment takes precedence over detailed symptom
characterization. Documentation alone without safety evaluation represents a critical omission in
clinical care.
4. Which statement best describes the purpose of the OLDCARTS mnemonic?
A) It screens for alcohol and substance use disorders
B) It provides a structured framework for analyzing symptoms
, C) It assesses developmental milestones in children
D) It evaluates cultural beliefs about health and illness
Correct Answer: It provides a structured framework for analyzing symptoms
Rationale: OLDCARTS systematically evaluates Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating
factors, Relieving factors, Timing, and Severity. This comprehensive approach ensures no critical
dimension of a symptom is overlooked during history taking. It is not a screening tool for substance
use or developmental assessment. Cultural assessment requires separate, focused inquiry.
5. A 55-year-old man reports substernal chest pressure that occurs with exertion and resolves
with rest. This presentation is most consistent with which condition?
A) Pericarditis
B) Stable angina
C) Musculoskeletal pain
D) Gastroesophageal reflux
Correct Answer: Stable angina
Rationale: Stable angina classically presents as exertional chest discomfort relieved by rest or
nitroglycerin. This pattern reflects reversible myocardial ischemia due to coronary artery disease.
Pericarditis typically produces positional pain that worsens when supine. Musculoskeletal pain is
reproducible on palpation. GERD-related pain often correlates with meals and lacks exertional
provocation.
6. What is the most appropriate way to ask a patient about alcohol use during a health history?
A) "You don't drink alcohol, do you?"
B) "How many drinks do you have per week?"
C) "Do you ever drink alcohol?"
D) "On average, how many days per week do you drink alcohol, and how many drinks per
day?"
Correct Answer: "On average, how many days per week do you drink alcohol, and how many
drinks per day?"
Rationale: Specific, nonjudgmental, open-ended questions yield more accurate information about
alcohol consumption. Quantifying both frequency and quantity allows assessment of risky drinking
patterns. Yes/no questions invite minimization and provide insufficient data. Leading questions such
as "You don't drink, do you?" introduce bias and undermine therapeutic communication.
7. A patient describes a headache that feels "band-like" around the head. This characteristic is
most consistent with which type of headache?
A) Migraine
B) Cluster
C) Tension
D) Sinus
Correct Answer: Tension
Rationale: Tension headaches classically present with bilateral, band-like pressure or tightness
around the head. The pain is typically mild to moderate and not aggravated by routine physical
activity. Migraines are usually unilateral and pulsating with associated nausea or photophobia.
Cluster headaches produce severe unilateral orbital pain with autonomic symptoms.
NURS 5220
COMPLETE EXAM BUNDLE
Exams 1, 2 & 3 | Midterm | Final
Advanced Health Assessment
Questions, Answers & Rationales
Compiled from the five supplied study documents
,Contents
Complete source PDFs preserved in the order shown below.
01 NURS 5220 Exam 1
27 source pages | Combined pages 3-29
02 NURS 5220 Exam 2
29 source pages | Combined pages 30-58
03 NURS 5220 Exam 3
34 source pages | Combined pages 59-92
04 NURS 5220 Midterm Exam
32 source pages | Combined pages 93-124
05 NURS 5220 Final Exam
27 source pages | Combined pages 125-151
Answers and rationales are reproduced as supplied; not independently verified.
,NURS 5220 Exam 1 (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Advanced Health
Assessment Q&A | Nursing
1. The comprehensive health history begins with which of the following components?
A) Past medical history
B) Chief complaint
C) Biographical data
D) Review of systems
Correct Answer: Biographical data
Rationale: Biographical data establishes the patient's identity, age, gender, and cultural context
before proceeding to the chief complaint and history of present illness. This foundational information
allows the advanced practice provider to tailor subsequent questioning appropriately. Past medical
history and review of systems are collected later in the interview process. Chief complaint follows
biographical data but does not initiate the encounter.
2. Which mnemonic is specifically designed for a comprehensive psychosocial assessment of
adolescents?
A) HEADSS
B) CAGE
C) OLDCARTS
D) PHQ-9
Correct Answer: HEADSS
Rationale: HEADSS addresses Home, Education/Employment, Activities, Drugs, Sexuality, and
Suicide/Depression, making it uniquely suited for adolescent psychosocial screening. CAGE screens for
alcohol use disorder in adults. OLDCARTS analyzes symptom characteristics. PHQ-9 assesses
depression severity. Only HEADSS provides the developmentally appropriate framework for
adolescent assessment.
3. During a health history, a patient states, "I feel like someone is watching me all the time."
What is the advanced practice provider's priority action?
A) Ask the patient to describe this feeling in more detail
B) Determine if the patient has a psychiatric diagnosis
C) Assess for safety and ask about thoughts of harming self or others
D) Document the statement and move to the next question
Correct Answer: Assess for safety and ask about thoughts of harming self or others
Rationale: Paranoia or suspiciousness may indicate underlying psychosis, delirium, or imminent safety
risk. The provider must first assess for danger to self or others before exploring content or gathering
diagnostic history. Immediate safety assessment takes precedence over detailed symptom
characterization. Documentation alone without safety evaluation represents a critical omission in
clinical care.
4. Which statement best describes the purpose of the OLDCARTS mnemonic?
A) It screens for alcohol and substance use disorders
B) It provides a structured framework for analyzing symptoms
, C) It assesses developmental milestones in children
D) It evaluates cultural beliefs about health and illness
Correct Answer: It provides a structured framework for analyzing symptoms
Rationale: OLDCARTS systematically evaluates Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating
factors, Relieving factors, Timing, and Severity. This comprehensive approach ensures no critical
dimension of a symptom is overlooked during history taking. It is not a screening tool for substance
use or developmental assessment. Cultural assessment requires separate, focused inquiry.
5. A 55-year-old man reports substernal chest pressure that occurs with exertion and resolves
with rest. This presentation is most consistent with which condition?
A) Pericarditis
B) Stable angina
C) Musculoskeletal pain
D) Gastroesophageal reflux
Correct Answer: Stable angina
Rationale: Stable angina classically presents as exertional chest discomfort relieved by rest or
nitroglycerin. This pattern reflects reversible myocardial ischemia due to coronary artery disease.
Pericarditis typically produces positional pain that worsens when supine. Musculoskeletal pain is
reproducible on palpation. GERD-related pain often correlates with meals and lacks exertional
provocation.
6. What is the most appropriate way to ask a patient about alcohol use during a health history?
A) "You don't drink alcohol, do you?"
B) "How many drinks do you have per week?"
C) "Do you ever drink alcohol?"
D) "On average, how many days per week do you drink alcohol, and how many drinks per
day?"
Correct Answer: "On average, how many days per week do you drink alcohol, and how many
drinks per day?"
Rationale: Specific, nonjudgmental, open-ended questions yield more accurate information about
alcohol consumption. Quantifying both frequency and quantity allows assessment of risky drinking
patterns. Yes/no questions invite minimization and provide insufficient data. Leading questions such
as "You don't drink, do you?" introduce bias and undermine therapeutic communication.
7. A patient describes a headache that feels "band-like" around the head. This characteristic is
most consistent with which type of headache?
A) Migraine
B) Cluster
C) Tension
D) Sinus
Correct Answer: Tension
Rationale: Tension headaches classically present with bilateral, band-like pressure or tightness
around the head. The pain is typically mild to moderate and not aggravated by routine physical
activity. Migraines are usually unilateral and pulsating with associated nausea or photophobia.
Cluster headaches produce severe unilateral orbital pain with autonomic symptoms.
