,NSG 3160 Health Assessment Exam
Prep — Comprehensive Review +
Practice MCQs — Galen College of
Nursing 2025/2026
1. What is the primary purpose of a comprehensive health assessment?
A. Establish a medical diagnosis independently
B. Identify actual and potential health problems
C. Replace diagnostic testing
D. Determine insurance coverage
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Health assessment provides information needed to identify patient problems, establish priorities,
and develop individualized nursing care. Nurses do not independently establish medical diagnoses .
2. Which finding is subjective data?
A. Temperature of 38.2°C
B. Blood pressure of 150/90 mmHg
C. "I feel dizzy."
D. Respiratory rate of 24/min
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Subjective data are symptoms or experiences reported by the patient. "I feel dizzy" is the patient's
own description of their experience .
,3. Which is objective data?
A. "My chest hurts."
B. "I feel weak."
C. "I am nauseated."
D. Patient is visibly diaphoretic
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Observable findings obtained by the nurse are objective data. Diaphoresis can be directly observed
and verified .
4. Which component of the health history identifies the reason for the visit?
A. Review of systems
B. Chief concern/chief complaint
C. Past medical history
D. Family history
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The chief concern describes the primary reason the patient seeks care .
5. Which question is most appropriate for beginning an interview?
A. "You don't smoke, do you?"
B. "Why did you wait so long?"
C. "What brings you in today?"
D. "Is your pain a 7?"
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An open-ended question allows the patient to describe the primary concern in their own words .
6. Which question is closed-ended?
A. "Tell me about your pain."
B. "What concerns you most?"
C. "How has your health changed?"
D. "Did the pain begin yesterday?"
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Closed-ended questions generally elicit a brief, specific response .
7. Which response demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. "Don't worry about it."
B. "Why would you do that?"
C. "Tell me more about what you're experiencing."
D. "Everything will be fine."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This encourages the patient to provide additional information without judgment .
8. Which interviewing behavior should the nurse avoid?
A. Maintaining appropriate eye contact
Prep — Comprehensive Review +
Practice MCQs — Galen College of
Nursing 2025/2026
1. What is the primary purpose of a comprehensive health assessment?
A. Establish a medical diagnosis independently
B. Identify actual and potential health problems
C. Replace diagnostic testing
D. Determine insurance coverage
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Health assessment provides information needed to identify patient problems, establish priorities,
and develop individualized nursing care. Nurses do not independently establish medical diagnoses .
2. Which finding is subjective data?
A. Temperature of 38.2°C
B. Blood pressure of 150/90 mmHg
C. "I feel dizzy."
D. Respiratory rate of 24/min
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Subjective data are symptoms or experiences reported by the patient. "I feel dizzy" is the patient's
own description of their experience .
,3. Which is objective data?
A. "My chest hurts."
B. "I feel weak."
C. "I am nauseated."
D. Patient is visibly diaphoretic
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Observable findings obtained by the nurse are objective data. Diaphoresis can be directly observed
and verified .
4. Which component of the health history identifies the reason for the visit?
A. Review of systems
B. Chief concern/chief complaint
C. Past medical history
D. Family history
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The chief concern describes the primary reason the patient seeks care .
5. Which question is most appropriate for beginning an interview?
A. "You don't smoke, do you?"
B. "Why did you wait so long?"
C. "What brings you in today?"
D. "Is your pain a 7?"
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An open-ended question allows the patient to describe the primary concern in their own words .
6. Which question is closed-ended?
A. "Tell me about your pain."
B. "What concerns you most?"
C. "How has your health changed?"
D. "Did the pain begin yesterday?"
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Closed-ended questions generally elicit a brief, specific response .
7. Which response demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. "Don't worry about it."
B. "Why would you do that?"
C. "Tell me more about what you're experiencing."
D. "Everything will be fine."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This encourages the patient to provide additional information without judgment .
8. Which interviewing behavior should the nurse avoid?
A. Maintaining appropriate eye contact
