NUR 231 HEALTH ASSESSMENT
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
VERIFIED (2026/2027) | ILLINOIS STATE
UNIVERSITY
1. A nurse is performing a physical assessment on a patient. Which of the following would be
categorized as subjective data?
A. A blood pressure reading of 152/94 mmHg
B. The presence of a 2cm stage II pressure ulcer
C. A documented oxygen saturation of 92% on room air
D. The patient reporting a ‘throbbing’ headache for two hours
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Subjective data consists of information provided by the patient
that cannot be directly measured or observed by the nurse, such as pain, symptoms, or
feelings.
2. When assessing the abdomen, why must auscultation be performed before percussion and
palpation?
A. To ensure the patient is relaxed before deeper maneuvers
,B. To prevent the stimulation of bowel sounds that could lead to a false assessment
C. Because percussion and palpation provide the most important data
D. To allow the nurse to identify the location of the liver first
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Percussion and palpation can increase peristalsis, which would
alter the baseline bowel sounds heard during auscultation; therefore, auscultation must
come first in abdominal assessment.
3. Using the PQRST mnemonic for pain assessment, what does the ‘Q’ represent?
A. Quality: What does the pain feel like (e.g., sharp, dull, burning)?
B. Quantity: How much does it hurt on a scale of 0-10?
C. Quelling: What makes the pain better?
D. Quickness: How fast did the pain start?
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: In PQRST, Q stands for Quality or Quantity. Quality refers to the
specific characteristics of the pain sensation (sharp, crushing, etc.).
4. While testing Cranial Nerve II (Optic), the nurse uses a Snellen chart. The patient’s vision is
recorded as 20/40. How should the nurse interpret this result?
A. The patient can see at 40 feet what a normal eye sees at 20 feet
B. The patient can see at 20 feet what a person with normal vision sees at 40 feet
, C. The patient’s vision is twice as good as the average person
D. The patient has perfect vision in the right eye but not the left
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The numerator (20) represents the distance the patient stands
from the chart, and the denominator (40) represents the distance at which a person with
normal vision could read that same line.
5. The nurse is assessing a patient with suspected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD). Which physical finding is most characteristic of this condition?
A. Pectus excavatum
B. An anteroposterior-to-transverse diameter ratio of 1:1
C. Increased tactile fremitus over the lower lobes
D. A costal angle of less than 90 degrees
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A 1:1 ratio indicates a ‘barrel chest,’ which results from
hyperinflation of the lungs common in COPD. The normal ratio is 1:2.
6. Which heart sound is caused by the closure of the atrioventricular (mitral and tricuspid)
valves?
A. S1
B. S2
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
VERIFIED (2026/2027) | ILLINOIS STATE
UNIVERSITY
1. A nurse is performing a physical assessment on a patient. Which of the following would be
categorized as subjective data?
A. A blood pressure reading of 152/94 mmHg
B. The presence of a 2cm stage II pressure ulcer
C. A documented oxygen saturation of 92% on room air
D. The patient reporting a ‘throbbing’ headache for two hours
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Subjective data consists of information provided by the patient
that cannot be directly measured or observed by the nurse, such as pain, symptoms, or
feelings.
2. When assessing the abdomen, why must auscultation be performed before percussion and
palpation?
A. To ensure the patient is relaxed before deeper maneuvers
,B. To prevent the stimulation of bowel sounds that could lead to a false assessment
C. Because percussion and palpation provide the most important data
D. To allow the nurse to identify the location of the liver first
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Percussion and palpation can increase peristalsis, which would
alter the baseline bowel sounds heard during auscultation; therefore, auscultation must
come first in abdominal assessment.
3. Using the PQRST mnemonic for pain assessment, what does the ‘Q’ represent?
A. Quality: What does the pain feel like (e.g., sharp, dull, burning)?
B. Quantity: How much does it hurt on a scale of 0-10?
C. Quelling: What makes the pain better?
D. Quickness: How fast did the pain start?
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: In PQRST, Q stands for Quality or Quantity. Quality refers to the
specific characteristics of the pain sensation (sharp, crushing, etc.).
4. While testing Cranial Nerve II (Optic), the nurse uses a Snellen chart. The patient’s vision is
recorded as 20/40. How should the nurse interpret this result?
A. The patient can see at 40 feet what a normal eye sees at 20 feet
B. The patient can see at 20 feet what a person with normal vision sees at 40 feet
, C. The patient’s vision is twice as good as the average person
D. The patient has perfect vision in the right eye but not the left
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The numerator (20) represents the distance the patient stands
from the chart, and the denominator (40) represents the distance at which a person with
normal vision could read that same line.
5. The nurse is assessing a patient with suspected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD). Which physical finding is most characteristic of this condition?
A. Pectus excavatum
B. An anteroposterior-to-transverse diameter ratio of 1:1
C. Increased tactile fremitus over the lower lobes
D. A costal angle of less than 90 degrees
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A 1:1 ratio indicates a ‘barrel chest,’ which results from
hyperinflation of the lungs common in COPD. The normal ratio is 1:2.
6. Which heart sound is caused by the closure of the atrioventricular (mitral and tricuspid)
valves?
A. S1
B. S2
