NR302 / NR-302 HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM 1 COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE (LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027): VERIFIED QUESTIONS,
ANSWERS, AND RATIONALES FOR CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF
NURSING
1. A nurse is preparing to conduct a health history interview with a
patient who is hard of hearing. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take to facilitate effective communication?
A. Speak in a loud, high-pitched voice.
B. Ensure the patient's face is well-lit and speak clearly.
C. Sit on the patient's side to avoid staring.
D. Use complex medical terminology to save time.
Answer: B
Rationale: For a patient who is hard of hearing, the nurse should ensure
good lighting so the patient can see facial expressions and lip-read, and
should speak clearly and slowly. Shouting or using high-pitched voices
can distort sound and make understanding more difficult. Sitting face-
to-face is crucial.
2. When assessing the skin of an older adult patient, the nurse notes a
loss of elasticity and moisture. Which of the following terms best
describes this age-related change?
A. Turgor.
B. Xerosis.
C. Ecchymosis.
D. Petechiae.
Answer: B
,Rationale: Xerosis is the medical term for dry skin, which is a common
age-related change due to decreased sebum production and decreased
hydration. Turgor refers to elasticity. Ecchymosis is bruising. Petechiae
are tiny hemorrhages.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient's pain using the PQRST method. What
does the "R" stand for in this mnemonic?
A. Relief.
B. Region.
C. Radiation.
D. Rate.
Answer: B
Rationale: In the PQRST pain assessment mnemonic, "R" stands for
Region (where the pain is located) and Radiation (does it move). While
Relief is part of the assessment, "Region" is the specific component of
the acronym. Note: Some variations use "R" for "Relief," but in the
standard Chamberlain curriculum, it often refers to Region/Radiation.
4. During a neurological assessment, the nurse asks the patient to
stick out their tongue. The tongue deviates to the left. This finding
indicates a dysfunction of which cranial nerve?
A. Cranial Nerve V (Trigeminal).
B. Cranial Nerve VII (Facial).
C. Cranial Nerve X (Vagus).
D. Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal).
Answer: D
Rationale: Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal) controls tongue movement. If
the tongue deviates to the side, it indicates weakness or atrophy on
that side, often pointing to a lesion on the same side as the deviation.
,5. A nurse is performing a physical assessment on a patient with
suspected meningitis. Which of the following findings should the
nurse expect?
A. Positive Brudzinski's sign.
B. Positive Phalen's sign.
C. Positive Tinel's sign.
D. Positive McMurray's sign.
Answer: A
Rationale: Brudzinski's sign (flexion of the hips and knees when the
neck is flexed) and Kernig's sign are classic indicators of meningeal
irritation, commonly seen in meningitis. Phalen's and Tinel's signs are
for carpal tunnel syndrome. McMurray's sign is for meniscal tears in the
knee.
6. When inspecting the abdomen, the nurse notes a bluish-purple
discoloration around the umbilicus. The nurse should document this
finding as which of the following?
A. Cullen's sign.
B. Grey Turner's sign.
C. Murphy's sign.
D. Rovsing's sign.
Answer: A
Rationale: Cullen's sign is a bluish-purple discoloration around the
umbilicus, often associated with acute pancreatitis or intra-abdominal
bleeding. Grey Turner's sign is bruising of the flanks. Murphy's sign is for
cholecystitis. Rovsing's sign is for appendicitis.
7. A nurse is assessing the cranial nerves of a patient. To test Cranial
Nerve VIII (Vestibularcochlear), which of the following actions should
the nurse take?
, A. Ask the patient to identify a scent.
B. Perform the whisper test.
C. Ask the patient to shrug their shoulders.
D. Check the patient's visual acuity.
Answer: B
Rationale: Cranial Nerve VIII is responsible for hearing and balance. The
whisper test is a simple screening tool for hearing acuity. Identifying
scents tests CN I. Shrugging shoulders tests CN XI. Visual acuity tests CN
II.
8. A patient presents with a blood pressure of 148/92 mmHg. The
nurse correctly categorizes this as which stage of hypertension
according to the American Heart Association guidelines?
A. Normal.
B. Elevated.
C. Stage 1 Hypertension.
D. Stage 2 Hypertension.
Answer: C
Rationale: According to AHA guidelines, Stage 1 Hypertension is defined
as a systolic pressure of 130-139 mmHg or a diastolic pressure of 80-89
mmHg. Wait, the question says 148/92. 148 is >140 and 92 is >90.
According to older JNC 7 guidelines, this is Stage 1. According to 2017
ACC/AHA guidelines, this is Stage 2. Given the context of nursing exams,
148/92 is generally Stage 2 Hypertension (Systolic ≥140 or Diastolic
≥90). Correction: Stage 2 is Systolic ≥140 or Diastolic ≥90. Stage 1 is 130-
139/80-89. Therefore, 148/92 is Stage 2. Answer: D.
9. Which of the following is the correct technique for using a
stethoscope to auscultate the lungs?
A. Place the diaphragm firmly on the skin.
STUDY GUIDE (LATEST UPDATE 2026/2027): VERIFIED QUESTIONS,
ANSWERS, AND RATIONALES FOR CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF
NURSING
1. A nurse is preparing to conduct a health history interview with a
patient who is hard of hearing. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take to facilitate effective communication?
A. Speak in a loud, high-pitched voice.
B. Ensure the patient's face is well-lit and speak clearly.
C. Sit on the patient's side to avoid staring.
D. Use complex medical terminology to save time.
Answer: B
Rationale: For a patient who is hard of hearing, the nurse should ensure
good lighting so the patient can see facial expressions and lip-read, and
should speak clearly and slowly. Shouting or using high-pitched voices
can distort sound and make understanding more difficult. Sitting face-
to-face is crucial.
2. When assessing the skin of an older adult patient, the nurse notes a
loss of elasticity and moisture. Which of the following terms best
describes this age-related change?
A. Turgor.
B. Xerosis.
C. Ecchymosis.
D. Petechiae.
Answer: B
,Rationale: Xerosis is the medical term for dry skin, which is a common
age-related change due to decreased sebum production and decreased
hydration. Turgor refers to elasticity. Ecchymosis is bruising. Petechiae
are tiny hemorrhages.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient's pain using the PQRST method. What
does the "R" stand for in this mnemonic?
A. Relief.
B. Region.
C. Radiation.
D. Rate.
Answer: B
Rationale: In the PQRST pain assessment mnemonic, "R" stands for
Region (where the pain is located) and Radiation (does it move). While
Relief is part of the assessment, "Region" is the specific component of
the acronym. Note: Some variations use "R" for "Relief," but in the
standard Chamberlain curriculum, it often refers to Region/Radiation.
4. During a neurological assessment, the nurse asks the patient to
stick out their tongue. The tongue deviates to the left. This finding
indicates a dysfunction of which cranial nerve?
A. Cranial Nerve V (Trigeminal).
B. Cranial Nerve VII (Facial).
C. Cranial Nerve X (Vagus).
D. Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal).
Answer: D
Rationale: Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal) controls tongue movement. If
the tongue deviates to the side, it indicates weakness or atrophy on
that side, often pointing to a lesion on the same side as the deviation.
,5. A nurse is performing a physical assessment on a patient with
suspected meningitis. Which of the following findings should the
nurse expect?
A. Positive Brudzinski's sign.
B. Positive Phalen's sign.
C. Positive Tinel's sign.
D. Positive McMurray's sign.
Answer: A
Rationale: Brudzinski's sign (flexion of the hips and knees when the
neck is flexed) and Kernig's sign are classic indicators of meningeal
irritation, commonly seen in meningitis. Phalen's and Tinel's signs are
for carpal tunnel syndrome. McMurray's sign is for meniscal tears in the
knee.
6. When inspecting the abdomen, the nurse notes a bluish-purple
discoloration around the umbilicus. The nurse should document this
finding as which of the following?
A. Cullen's sign.
B. Grey Turner's sign.
C. Murphy's sign.
D. Rovsing's sign.
Answer: A
Rationale: Cullen's sign is a bluish-purple discoloration around the
umbilicus, often associated with acute pancreatitis or intra-abdominal
bleeding. Grey Turner's sign is bruising of the flanks. Murphy's sign is for
cholecystitis. Rovsing's sign is for appendicitis.
7. A nurse is assessing the cranial nerves of a patient. To test Cranial
Nerve VIII (Vestibularcochlear), which of the following actions should
the nurse take?
, A. Ask the patient to identify a scent.
B. Perform the whisper test.
C. Ask the patient to shrug their shoulders.
D. Check the patient's visual acuity.
Answer: B
Rationale: Cranial Nerve VIII is responsible for hearing and balance. The
whisper test is a simple screening tool for hearing acuity. Identifying
scents tests CN I. Shrugging shoulders tests CN XI. Visual acuity tests CN
II.
8. A patient presents with a blood pressure of 148/92 mmHg. The
nurse correctly categorizes this as which stage of hypertension
according to the American Heart Association guidelines?
A. Normal.
B. Elevated.
C. Stage 1 Hypertension.
D. Stage 2 Hypertension.
Answer: C
Rationale: According to AHA guidelines, Stage 1 Hypertension is defined
as a systolic pressure of 130-139 mmHg or a diastolic pressure of 80-89
mmHg. Wait, the question says 148/92. 148 is >140 and 92 is >90.
According to older JNC 7 guidelines, this is Stage 1. According to 2017
ACC/AHA guidelines, this is Stage 2. Given the context of nursing exams,
148/92 is generally Stage 2 Hypertension (Systolic ≥140 or Diastolic
≥90). Correction: Stage 2 is Systolic ≥140 or Diastolic ≥90. Stage 1 is 130-
139/80-89. Therefore, 148/92 is Stage 2. Answer: D.
9. Which of the following is the correct technique for using a
stethoscope to auscultate the lungs?
A. Place the diaphragm firmly on the skin.
