,NR 509 Advanced Physical Assessment
Exam Prep — Comprehensive Review +
Practice MCQs — Chamberlain College
of Nursing 2025/2026
1. A patient tells the nurse, “I have been feeling very anxious and my heart is racing.” These types of data are:
A. Objective
B. Reflective
C. Subjective
D. Introspective
Correct Answer: C. Subjective
Rationale: Subjective data are the patient’s verbal descriptions of feelings, perceptions, and symptoms that
cannot be independently verified by the examiner. “Feeling anxious” and “heart racing” are the patient’s own
reports. Objective data would include measurable findings such as heart rate on a monitor.
2. Which of the following is an example of objective data obtained during a physical assessment?
A. Patient’s report of nausea
B. Patient’s statement of feeling dizzy
C. 2.5 cm scar on the right lower forearm
D. Patient’s description of headache
Correct Answer: C. 2.5 cm scar on the right lower forearm
Rationale: Objective data are directly observable and measurable by the examiner. A scar can be visualized and
measured. Reports of nausea, dizziness, and headache are subjective data from the patient’s verbal report.
,3. The nursing process is a sequential method of problem-solving that includes which steps?
A. Assessment, treatment, planning, evaluation, discharge, and follow-up
B. Admission, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and discharge planning
C. Assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation
D. Admission, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, and discharge planning
Correct Answer: C. Assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation
Rationale: The nursing process consists of six steps: Assessment, Diagnosis, Outcome Identification, Planning,
Implementation, and Evaluation. This systematic approach guides clinical reasoning and is foundational to
advanced practice nursing.
4. What step of the nursing process includes data collection by health history, physical examination, and
interview?
A. Planning
B. Diagnosis
C. Evaluation
D. Assessment
Correct Answer: D. Assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the first and foundational step of the nursing process. It involves systematic data
collection through health history, physical examination, and patient interview. All subsequent steps depend on
accurate assessment data.
5. A nursing diagnosis is best described as:
A. A determination of the etiology of a disease
, B. A pattern of coping
C. An individual’s perception of health
D. A clinical judgment about individual, family, or community responses to actual or potential health problems
Correct Answer: D. A clinical judgment about individual, family, or community responses to actual or potential
health problems
Rationale: A nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment concerning human response to health conditions or life
processes. It guides the selection of nursing interventions. Medical diagnoses focus on disease pathology.
6. The nurse is using the OLDCARTS mnemonic to assess a patient’s symptom history. The “D” stands for:
A. Diagnosis
B. Duration
C. Discomfort
D. Dizziness
Correct Answer: B. Duration
Rationale: OLDCARTS stands for Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors,
Timing, and Severity. Duration refers to how long the symptom has been present, which is critical for
determining whether a condition is acute, subacute, or chronic.
7. When conducting a comprehensive health assessment using the biopsychosocial model, which area should
the nurse include that would NOT be covered in a traditional biomedical approach?
A. Cardiovascular review
B. Family history
C. Spiritual beliefs and practices
D. Medication list
Exam Prep — Comprehensive Review +
Practice MCQs — Chamberlain College
of Nursing 2025/2026
1. A patient tells the nurse, “I have been feeling very anxious and my heart is racing.” These types of data are:
A. Objective
B. Reflective
C. Subjective
D. Introspective
Correct Answer: C. Subjective
Rationale: Subjective data are the patient’s verbal descriptions of feelings, perceptions, and symptoms that
cannot be independently verified by the examiner. “Feeling anxious” and “heart racing” are the patient’s own
reports. Objective data would include measurable findings such as heart rate on a monitor.
2. Which of the following is an example of objective data obtained during a physical assessment?
A. Patient’s report of nausea
B. Patient’s statement of feeling dizzy
C. 2.5 cm scar on the right lower forearm
D. Patient’s description of headache
Correct Answer: C. 2.5 cm scar on the right lower forearm
Rationale: Objective data are directly observable and measurable by the examiner. A scar can be visualized and
measured. Reports of nausea, dizziness, and headache are subjective data from the patient’s verbal report.
,3. The nursing process is a sequential method of problem-solving that includes which steps?
A. Assessment, treatment, planning, evaluation, discharge, and follow-up
B. Admission, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and discharge planning
C. Assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation
D. Admission, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, and discharge planning
Correct Answer: C. Assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation
Rationale: The nursing process consists of six steps: Assessment, Diagnosis, Outcome Identification, Planning,
Implementation, and Evaluation. This systematic approach guides clinical reasoning and is foundational to
advanced practice nursing.
4. What step of the nursing process includes data collection by health history, physical examination, and
interview?
A. Planning
B. Diagnosis
C. Evaluation
D. Assessment
Correct Answer: D. Assessment
Rationale: Assessment is the first and foundational step of the nursing process. It involves systematic data
collection through health history, physical examination, and patient interview. All subsequent steps depend on
accurate assessment data.
5. A nursing diagnosis is best described as:
A. A determination of the etiology of a disease
, B. A pattern of coping
C. An individual’s perception of health
D. A clinical judgment about individual, family, or community responses to actual or potential health problems
Correct Answer: D. A clinical judgment about individual, family, or community responses to actual or potential
health problems
Rationale: A nursing diagnosis is a clinical judgment concerning human response to health conditions or life
processes. It guides the selection of nursing interventions. Medical diagnoses focus on disease pathology.
6. The nurse is using the OLDCARTS mnemonic to assess a patient’s symptom history. The “D” stands for:
A. Diagnosis
B. Duration
C. Discomfort
D. Dizziness
Correct Answer: B. Duration
Rationale: OLDCARTS stands for Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors,
Timing, and Severity. Duration refers to how long the symptom has been present, which is critical for
determining whether a condition is acute, subacute, or chronic.
7. When conducting a comprehensive health assessment using the biopsychosocial model, which area should
the nurse include that would NOT be covered in a traditional biomedical approach?
A. Cardiovascular review
B. Family history
C. Spiritual beliefs and practices
D. Medication list
