A+ VERIFIED ORIGINAL STUDY CONTENT •
NUR 245 Exam 1: Health Assessment and
Promotion
NUR245 • MCPHS • Updated and Latest •
50 MCQ Health Assessment
QUESTIONS FORMAT SUBJECT
WHAT THIS COVERS
Interviewing, communication, and the comprehensive health history
Cultural competence and health-promotion frameworks
Techniques of inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation
Head-to-toe physical examination by body system
Documentation, SBAR, and risk-screening tools
ABOUT THIS ASSESSMENT
This original assessment evaluates applied knowledge of health assessment and health promotion across the
lifespan. Items emphasize interview technique, cultural and developmental considerations, examination
sequencing, normal versus abnormal findings, and age-appropriate screening. Each item is paired with a verified
answer and a concise rationale grounded in current nursing and interprofessional literature. Use this material to
refine clinical reasoning ahead of your course examination.
STUVIA ACTUAL EXAM
Original study content — not affiliated with any institution
,NUR 245 — HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM 1 A+ VERIFIED • STUVIA ACTUAL EXAM
SECTION I — Interviewing and the Comprehensive Health History
1. The nurse is preparing to interview a newly admitted adult patient. Which type of question is most
appropriate to begin the interview?
A. A closed-ended ("yes/no") question to establish baseline facts
B. An open-ended question that allows the patient to describe concerns in their own words
C. A leading question that suggests the expected answer
D. A "why" question that challenges the patient to justify behavior
CORRECT ANSWER: B — An open-ended question that allows the patient to describe concerns in their own
words
RATIONALE:
Open-ended questions ("What brings you in today?") encourage narrative responses and build rapport, allowing the nurse to
identify the patient’s priorities before focusing with closed-ended items. "Why" questions tend to sound accusatory and should
be avoided.
2. Which component belongs in the "history of present illness" (HPI) rather than in the past medical
history?
A. A list of current prescription medications
B. A description of the onset, location, duration, characteristics, aggravating/alleviating factors, and treatment
(OLDCARTS) of the chief complaint
C. The patient’s prior surgical procedures
D. The patient’s childhood immunization record
CORRECT ANSWER: B — A description of the onset, location, duration, characteristics,
aggravating/alleviating factors, and treatment (OLDCARTS) of the chief complaint
RATIONALE:
The HPI elaborates the chief complaint using a framework such as OLDCARTS (or PQRST). Prior surgeries, immunizations,
and chronic conditions are documented under past medical history.
3. During a health-history interview, the patient looks down and pauses after mentioning a recent loss. The
nurse remains silent for several seconds. This technique is best described as:
A. Confrontation
B. Facilitative silence
C. Reflection
D. Summarization
CORRECT ANSWER: B — Facilitative silence
RATIONALE:
Silence, used purposefully, gives the patient space to process emotion and continue at their own pace. It is a facilitative
technique distinct from reflection (paraphrasing back) or confrontation (pointing out a discrepancy).
NUR 245 Exam 1 • Original Study Content • 2026/2027 Page 2
, NUR 245 — HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM 1 A+ VERIFIED • STUVIA ACTUAL EXAM
4. When documenting a patient’s use of herbal supplements, the nurse understands that the primary
safety concern is:
A. Herbal products are regulated identically to prescription drugs by the FDA
B. Herbal products may interact with anticoagulants, antihypertensives, and many other medications
C. Patients rarely disclose herbal use unless directly asked about prescriptions
D. Herbal use is irrelevant to the medication reconciliation process
CORRECT ANSWER: B — Herbal products may interact with anticoagulants, antihypertensives, and many
other medications
RATIONALE:
Herbal supplements can have pharmacologically active constituents (e.g., St. John’s wort induces CYP3A4; garlic and ginkgo
affect coagulation). They are regulated as dietary supplements under DSHEA, not as drugs, so interactions must be screened
during medication reconciliation.
5. Which statement best reflects the principle of "nonverbal communication" during patient interviewing?
A. Nonverbal cues carry less meaning than the patient’s words
B. Eye contact, posture, and tone often communicate more than the verbal content alone
C. Crossed arms always indicate patient hostility
D. Nonverbal behavior should be ignored if verbal responses are clear
CORRECT ANSWER: B — Eye contact, posture, and tone often communicate more than the verbal content
alone
RATIONALE:
Research in communication suggests that a large share of emotional meaning is conveyed nonverbally. The nurse should
attend to congruence between verbal and nonverbal cues; incongruence often signals topics that warrant further exploration.
6. A nurse gathers the "review of systems" (ROS). The primary purpose of the ROS is to:
A. Establish a definitive medical diagnosis
B. Identify symptoms the patient may not have mentioned that could relate to the chief complaint or other systems
C. Replace the physical examination
D. Satisfy insurance documentation requirements only
CORRECT ANSWER: B — Identify symptoms the patient may not have mentioned that could relate to the chief
complaint or other systems
RATIONALE:
The ROS systematically surveys each body system for related or unrelated symptoms, uncovering issues the patient may not
connect to the chief complaint. It guides focused examination and identifies comorbidities, but it does not by itself establish a
diagnosis.
NUR 245 Exam 1 • Original Study Content • 2026/2027 Page 3
NUR 245 Exam 1: Health Assessment and
Promotion
NUR245 • MCPHS • Updated and Latest •
50 MCQ Health Assessment
QUESTIONS FORMAT SUBJECT
WHAT THIS COVERS
Interviewing, communication, and the comprehensive health history
Cultural competence and health-promotion frameworks
Techniques of inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation
Head-to-toe physical examination by body system
Documentation, SBAR, and risk-screening tools
ABOUT THIS ASSESSMENT
This original assessment evaluates applied knowledge of health assessment and health promotion across the
lifespan. Items emphasize interview technique, cultural and developmental considerations, examination
sequencing, normal versus abnormal findings, and age-appropriate screening. Each item is paired with a verified
answer and a concise rationale grounded in current nursing and interprofessional literature. Use this material to
refine clinical reasoning ahead of your course examination.
STUVIA ACTUAL EXAM
Original study content — not affiliated with any institution
,NUR 245 — HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM 1 A+ VERIFIED • STUVIA ACTUAL EXAM
SECTION I — Interviewing and the Comprehensive Health History
1. The nurse is preparing to interview a newly admitted adult patient. Which type of question is most
appropriate to begin the interview?
A. A closed-ended ("yes/no") question to establish baseline facts
B. An open-ended question that allows the patient to describe concerns in their own words
C. A leading question that suggests the expected answer
D. A "why" question that challenges the patient to justify behavior
CORRECT ANSWER: B — An open-ended question that allows the patient to describe concerns in their own
words
RATIONALE:
Open-ended questions ("What brings you in today?") encourage narrative responses and build rapport, allowing the nurse to
identify the patient’s priorities before focusing with closed-ended items. "Why" questions tend to sound accusatory and should
be avoided.
2. Which component belongs in the "history of present illness" (HPI) rather than in the past medical
history?
A. A list of current prescription medications
B. A description of the onset, location, duration, characteristics, aggravating/alleviating factors, and treatment
(OLDCARTS) of the chief complaint
C. The patient’s prior surgical procedures
D. The patient’s childhood immunization record
CORRECT ANSWER: B — A description of the onset, location, duration, characteristics,
aggravating/alleviating factors, and treatment (OLDCARTS) of the chief complaint
RATIONALE:
The HPI elaborates the chief complaint using a framework such as OLDCARTS (or PQRST). Prior surgeries, immunizations,
and chronic conditions are documented under past medical history.
3. During a health-history interview, the patient looks down and pauses after mentioning a recent loss. The
nurse remains silent for several seconds. This technique is best described as:
A. Confrontation
B. Facilitative silence
C. Reflection
D. Summarization
CORRECT ANSWER: B — Facilitative silence
RATIONALE:
Silence, used purposefully, gives the patient space to process emotion and continue at their own pace. It is a facilitative
technique distinct from reflection (paraphrasing back) or confrontation (pointing out a discrepancy).
NUR 245 Exam 1 • Original Study Content • 2026/2027 Page 2
, NUR 245 — HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM 1 A+ VERIFIED • STUVIA ACTUAL EXAM
4. When documenting a patient’s use of herbal supplements, the nurse understands that the primary
safety concern is:
A. Herbal products are regulated identically to prescription drugs by the FDA
B. Herbal products may interact with anticoagulants, antihypertensives, and many other medications
C. Patients rarely disclose herbal use unless directly asked about prescriptions
D. Herbal use is irrelevant to the medication reconciliation process
CORRECT ANSWER: B — Herbal products may interact with anticoagulants, antihypertensives, and many
other medications
RATIONALE:
Herbal supplements can have pharmacologically active constituents (e.g., St. John’s wort induces CYP3A4; garlic and ginkgo
affect coagulation). They are regulated as dietary supplements under DSHEA, not as drugs, so interactions must be screened
during medication reconciliation.
5. Which statement best reflects the principle of "nonverbal communication" during patient interviewing?
A. Nonverbal cues carry less meaning than the patient’s words
B. Eye contact, posture, and tone often communicate more than the verbal content alone
C. Crossed arms always indicate patient hostility
D. Nonverbal behavior should be ignored if verbal responses are clear
CORRECT ANSWER: B — Eye contact, posture, and tone often communicate more than the verbal content
alone
RATIONALE:
Research in communication suggests that a large share of emotional meaning is conveyed nonverbally. The nurse should
attend to congruence between verbal and nonverbal cues; incongruence often signals topics that warrant further exploration.
6. A nurse gathers the "review of systems" (ROS). The primary purpose of the ROS is to:
A. Establish a definitive medical diagnosis
B. Identify symptoms the patient may not have mentioned that could relate to the chief complaint or other systems
C. Replace the physical examination
D. Satisfy insurance documentation requirements only
CORRECT ANSWER: B — Identify symptoms the patient may not have mentioned that could relate to the chief
complaint or other systems
RATIONALE:
The ROS systematically surveys each body system for related or unrelated symptoms, uncovering issues the patient may not
connect to the chief complaint. It guides focused examination and identifies comorbidities, but it does not by itself establish a
diagnosis.
NUR 245 Exam 1 • Original Study Content • 2026/2027 Page 3
