NSG 3160 Health Assessment Exam 1 Galen College
2026/2027 – Questions and Answers | 100% Verified |
Detailed Rationales – Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Question 1
A nursing student is conducting an initial interview with a 64-year-old
male admitted with chest tightness. Which opening question best
demonstrates therapeutic, open-ended communication?
A. "Tell me what brought you to the hospital today."
B. "Are you having chest pain right now?"
C. "Did you take your blood pressure medication today?"
D. "Do you have a history of heart disease?"
Correct Answer: A. "Tell me what brought you to the hospital today."
Rationale: Open-ended invitations such as "Tell me what brought
you..." allow the patient to share the chief complaint in his own
words and direct the remainder of the interview. Closed questions
are appropriate later for focused clarification.
Question 2
During the interview, the patient avoids eye contact and answers
questions with short, clipped phrases. The most appropriate
interpretation is that this behavior most likely reflects:
A. Cognitive impairment
B. Depression
,C. Cultural norm, anxiety, or mistrust that warrants gentle exploration
D. Hearing loss
Correct Answer: C. Cultural norm, anxiety, or mistrust that
warrants gentle exploration
Rationale: Avoidance of eye contact may reflect cultural norms,
fear, anxiety, or mistrust rather than pathology. The nurse should
not assume cognitive or affective disorder but should adjust
approach and gently explore preferences.
Question 3
When obtaining a health history from a non-English-speaking patient, the
nurse should:
A. Limit questions to yes/no to avoid confusion
B. Use a trained medical interpreter and address the patient directly
C. Use a family member under 18 to translate
D. Speak slowly in English so the patient can follow
Correct Answer: B. Use a trained medical interpreter and address
the patient directly
Rationale: A trained medical interpreter ensures accurate clinical
terminology and patient confidentiality. Family members,
particularly minors, may omit or alter information; the nurse should
still address the patient directly while the interpreter translates.
Question 4
What is the primary purpose of the health history?
A. To collect subjective data about the patient's health status
,B. To collect objective data through physical examination
C. To order diagnostic tests
D. To prescribe medications
Correct Answer: A. To collect subjective data about the patient's
health status
Rationale: The health history is the subjective component of the
health assessment, gathering information about the patient's
symptoms, history, and perceptions.
Question 5
What is the primary purpose of the physical examination?
A. To collect objective data about the patient's health status
B. To collect subjective data from the patient
C. To order diagnostic tests
D. To prescribe medications
Correct Answer: A. To collect objective data about the patient's
health status
Rationale: The physical examination is the objective component of
the health assessment, using inspection, palpation, percussion, and
auscultation to gather data.
Question 6
Which of the following is considered subjective data?
A. Blood pressure reading
B. Patient's report of nausea
, C. Heart rate
D. Lung sounds
Correct Answer: B. Patient's report of nausea
Rationale: Subjective data is information perceived only by the
affected person, such as pain, nausea, or dizziness.
Question 7
Which of the following is considered objective data?
A. Patient's report of pain
B. Patient's report of dizziness
C. Blood pressure reading
D. Patient's report of fatigue
Correct Answer: C. Blood pressure reading
Rationale: Objective data is observable and measurable data that
can be seen, heard, or felt by someone other than the person
experiencing them.
Question 8
What is the purpose of the "chief complaint"?
A. To document the reason for the patient's visit in the patient's own
words
B. To document the patient's medical history
C. To document the patient's family history
D. To document the patient's review of systems
2026/2027 – Questions and Answers | 100% Verified |
Detailed Rationales – Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Question 1
A nursing student is conducting an initial interview with a 64-year-old
male admitted with chest tightness. Which opening question best
demonstrates therapeutic, open-ended communication?
A. "Tell me what brought you to the hospital today."
B. "Are you having chest pain right now?"
C. "Did you take your blood pressure medication today?"
D. "Do you have a history of heart disease?"
Correct Answer: A. "Tell me what brought you to the hospital today."
Rationale: Open-ended invitations such as "Tell me what brought
you..." allow the patient to share the chief complaint in his own
words and direct the remainder of the interview. Closed questions
are appropriate later for focused clarification.
Question 2
During the interview, the patient avoids eye contact and answers
questions with short, clipped phrases. The most appropriate
interpretation is that this behavior most likely reflects:
A. Cognitive impairment
B. Depression
,C. Cultural norm, anxiety, or mistrust that warrants gentle exploration
D. Hearing loss
Correct Answer: C. Cultural norm, anxiety, or mistrust that
warrants gentle exploration
Rationale: Avoidance of eye contact may reflect cultural norms,
fear, anxiety, or mistrust rather than pathology. The nurse should
not assume cognitive or affective disorder but should adjust
approach and gently explore preferences.
Question 3
When obtaining a health history from a non-English-speaking patient, the
nurse should:
A. Limit questions to yes/no to avoid confusion
B. Use a trained medical interpreter and address the patient directly
C. Use a family member under 18 to translate
D. Speak slowly in English so the patient can follow
Correct Answer: B. Use a trained medical interpreter and address
the patient directly
Rationale: A trained medical interpreter ensures accurate clinical
terminology and patient confidentiality. Family members,
particularly minors, may omit or alter information; the nurse should
still address the patient directly while the interpreter translates.
Question 4
What is the primary purpose of the health history?
A. To collect subjective data about the patient's health status
,B. To collect objective data through physical examination
C. To order diagnostic tests
D. To prescribe medications
Correct Answer: A. To collect subjective data about the patient's
health status
Rationale: The health history is the subjective component of the
health assessment, gathering information about the patient's
symptoms, history, and perceptions.
Question 5
What is the primary purpose of the physical examination?
A. To collect objective data about the patient's health status
B. To collect subjective data from the patient
C. To order diagnostic tests
D. To prescribe medications
Correct Answer: A. To collect objective data about the patient's
health status
Rationale: The physical examination is the objective component of
the health assessment, using inspection, palpation, percussion, and
auscultation to gather data.
Question 6
Which of the following is considered subjective data?
A. Blood pressure reading
B. Patient's report of nausea
, C. Heart rate
D. Lung sounds
Correct Answer: B. Patient's report of nausea
Rationale: Subjective data is information perceived only by the
affected person, such as pain, nausea, or dizziness.
Question 7
Which of the following is considered objective data?
A. Patient's report of pain
B. Patient's report of dizziness
C. Blood pressure reading
D. Patient's report of fatigue
Correct Answer: C. Blood pressure reading
Rationale: Objective data is observable and measurable data that
can be seen, heard, or felt by someone other than the person
experiencing them.
Question 8
What is the purpose of the "chief complaint"?
A. To document the reason for the patient's visit in the patient's own
words
B. To document the patient's medical history
C. To document the patient's family history
D. To document the patient's review of systems
