Galen NSG 3160 Health Assessment: Exam 1 - Questions with
Correct Answers
100 questions
1. The best way to begin a health history interview is to:
A. Start immediately with questions about sexual history
B. Introduce yourself, explain the purpose and ask how the patient prefers to be addressed
C. Read the patient's chart aloud
D. Ask the family to answer all questions
Correct Answer: B. Introduce yourself, explain the purpose and ask how the patient prefers to
be addressed
Rationale: A respectful introduction and explanation set the tone and build trust before sensitive topics
are raised. Opening with intimate questions, reading the chart aloud or bypassing a capable patient
damages rapport and the reliability of the history.
2. When interviewing an adolescent, the nurse should:
A. Interview the teen alone for part of the visit and explain confidentiality and its limits
B. Always keep the parent in the room
C. Avoid asking about drugs or sexual activity
D. Use slang to appear friendly
Correct Answer: A. Interview the teen alone for part of the visit and explain confidentiality and
its limits
Rationale: Time alone with a clear explanation of confidentiality encourages honest answers about risk
behaviors. Keeping parents present, avoiding sensitive topics or using slang reduces trust and the
accuracy of the history.
3. The AUDIT-C is used to screen for:
A. Unhealthy alcohol use
B. Depression
C. Cognitive impairment
D. Domestic violence
Correct Answer: A. Unhealthy alcohol use
Rationale: The AUDIT-C asks three questions about frequency and quantity of drinking and binge
episodes. Depression is screened with tools like the PHQ, cognition with the Mini-Cog and intimate
partner violence with direct, private questions.
,4. A patient with hearing loss reads lips. The nurse should:
A. Face the patient in good light and speak clearly at a normal pace
B. Shout from across the room
C. Cover the mouth while speaking
D. Speak with exaggerated mouth movements
Correct Answer: A. Face the patient in good light and speak clearly at a normal pace
Rationale: Lip reading requires a clear view of the face, good lighting and natural speech. Shouting
distorts sounds, covering the mouth blocks visual cues and exaggerated movements make lip reading
harder.
5. When using a medical interpreter, the nurse should:
A. Speak to the interpreter and refer to the patient as 'he' or 'she'
B. Speak directly to the patient in short phrases and maintain eye contact with the patient
C. Ask a family member to interpret to save time
D. Use long, complex sentences so all information is given at once
Correct Answer: B. Speak directly to the patient in short phrases and maintain eye contact
with the patient
Rationale: Addressing the patient directly in short segments keeps the patient at the center and improves
accuracy. Talking about the patient in the third person is impersonal, and family interpreters may filter
information or compromise privacy.
6. Which question about alcohol use is part of the CAGE screening tool?
A. 'What is your favorite drink?'
B. 'Do you drink at parties?'
C. 'How old were you when you first drank?'
D. 'Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?'
Correct Answer: D. 'Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?'
Rationale: CAGE asks about Cutting down, Annoyance at criticism, Guilt and Eye-openers, and two or
more positive answers suggest problem drinking. The other questions gather background but are not
CAGE items.
,7. The nurse notes that a patient's account of events differs from the family's account. The nurse
should:
A. Document both accounts objectively and note the source of each
B. Record only the family's version
C. Decide which version is true
D. Leave both accounts out of the record
Correct Answer: A. Document both accounts objectively and note the source of each
Rationale: Recording each source accurately preserves the facts for the care team without judgment.
Choosing one version or omitting both loses information that may be important, especially in safety
concerns.
8. Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) include:
A. Managing finances, shopping and using the telephone
B. Bathing and toileting
C. Eating and dressing
D. Transferring from bed to chair
Correct Answer: A. Managing finances, shopping and using the telephone
Rationale: IADLs are complex tasks needed to live independently, such as handling money, shopping,
cooking and using transportation. Bathing, toileting, eating, dressing and transferring are basic ADLs.
9. An older adult's vital signs commonly show:
A. Lower systolic blood pressure from more elastic arteries
B. Faster resting heart rate than young adults
C. Increased systolic blood pressure from stiffer arteries and a lower baseline temperature
D. Higher normal body temperature
Correct Answer: C. Increased systolic blood pressure from stiffer arteries and a lower
baseline temperature
Rationale: Arterial stiffening raises systolic pressure and widens pulse pressure, and older adults often
run cooler, so a mild elevation may be a significant fever. Heart rate stays in the normal range and arteries
become less elastic.
, 10. A Doppler device is used during assessment to:
A. Detect blood flow in pulses that are difficult to palpate
B. Measure body temperature
C. Assess visual acuity
D. Measure lung volume
Correct Answer: A. Detect blood flow in pulses that are difficult to palpate
Rationale: Doppler ultrasound amplifies the sound of blood flow, helping locate weak peripheral pulses
and measure ankle-brachial index. It does not measure temperature, vision or lung volume.
11. Pulse oximetry readings may be inaccurate when:
A. The patient has cold fingers, poor perfusion or dark nail polish
B. The patient is calm and warm
C. The probe is correctly placed
D. The patient is breathing room air
Correct Answer: A. The patient has cold fingers, poor perfusion or dark nail polish
Rationale: The sensor needs good pulsatile blood flow and clear light transmission, so vasoconstriction,
low perfusion, motion and some polishes cause errors. Research also shows overestimation in patients
with darker skin, so clinical signs must be considered.
12. A patient reports pain as 8/10 but is laughing with visitors. The nurse should:
A. Document that the patient is exaggerating
B. Withhold analgesics
C. Accept the patient's report and assess further
D. Ask visitors to rate the pain
Correct Answer: C. Accept the patient's report and assess further
Rationale: Patients use distraction and coping behaviors, so behavior does not invalidate self-report.
Labeling the patient, withholding treatment or asking others to rate pain leads to undertreatment.
Correct Answers
100 questions
1. The best way to begin a health history interview is to:
A. Start immediately with questions about sexual history
B. Introduce yourself, explain the purpose and ask how the patient prefers to be addressed
C. Read the patient's chart aloud
D. Ask the family to answer all questions
Correct Answer: B. Introduce yourself, explain the purpose and ask how the patient prefers to
be addressed
Rationale: A respectful introduction and explanation set the tone and build trust before sensitive topics
are raised. Opening with intimate questions, reading the chart aloud or bypassing a capable patient
damages rapport and the reliability of the history.
2. When interviewing an adolescent, the nurse should:
A. Interview the teen alone for part of the visit and explain confidentiality and its limits
B. Always keep the parent in the room
C. Avoid asking about drugs or sexual activity
D. Use slang to appear friendly
Correct Answer: A. Interview the teen alone for part of the visit and explain confidentiality and
its limits
Rationale: Time alone with a clear explanation of confidentiality encourages honest answers about risk
behaviors. Keeping parents present, avoiding sensitive topics or using slang reduces trust and the
accuracy of the history.
3. The AUDIT-C is used to screen for:
A. Unhealthy alcohol use
B. Depression
C. Cognitive impairment
D. Domestic violence
Correct Answer: A. Unhealthy alcohol use
Rationale: The AUDIT-C asks three questions about frequency and quantity of drinking and binge
episodes. Depression is screened with tools like the PHQ, cognition with the Mini-Cog and intimate
partner violence with direct, private questions.
,4. A patient with hearing loss reads lips. The nurse should:
A. Face the patient in good light and speak clearly at a normal pace
B. Shout from across the room
C. Cover the mouth while speaking
D. Speak with exaggerated mouth movements
Correct Answer: A. Face the patient in good light and speak clearly at a normal pace
Rationale: Lip reading requires a clear view of the face, good lighting and natural speech. Shouting
distorts sounds, covering the mouth blocks visual cues and exaggerated movements make lip reading
harder.
5. When using a medical interpreter, the nurse should:
A. Speak to the interpreter and refer to the patient as 'he' or 'she'
B. Speak directly to the patient in short phrases and maintain eye contact with the patient
C. Ask a family member to interpret to save time
D. Use long, complex sentences so all information is given at once
Correct Answer: B. Speak directly to the patient in short phrases and maintain eye contact
with the patient
Rationale: Addressing the patient directly in short segments keeps the patient at the center and improves
accuracy. Talking about the patient in the third person is impersonal, and family interpreters may filter
information or compromise privacy.
6. Which question about alcohol use is part of the CAGE screening tool?
A. 'What is your favorite drink?'
B. 'Do you drink at parties?'
C. 'How old were you when you first drank?'
D. 'Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?'
Correct Answer: D. 'Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?'
Rationale: CAGE asks about Cutting down, Annoyance at criticism, Guilt and Eye-openers, and two or
more positive answers suggest problem drinking. The other questions gather background but are not
CAGE items.
,7. The nurse notes that a patient's account of events differs from the family's account. The nurse
should:
A. Document both accounts objectively and note the source of each
B. Record only the family's version
C. Decide which version is true
D. Leave both accounts out of the record
Correct Answer: A. Document both accounts objectively and note the source of each
Rationale: Recording each source accurately preserves the facts for the care team without judgment.
Choosing one version or omitting both loses information that may be important, especially in safety
concerns.
8. Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) include:
A. Managing finances, shopping and using the telephone
B. Bathing and toileting
C. Eating and dressing
D. Transferring from bed to chair
Correct Answer: A. Managing finances, shopping and using the telephone
Rationale: IADLs are complex tasks needed to live independently, such as handling money, shopping,
cooking and using transportation. Bathing, toileting, eating, dressing and transferring are basic ADLs.
9. An older adult's vital signs commonly show:
A. Lower systolic blood pressure from more elastic arteries
B. Faster resting heart rate than young adults
C. Increased systolic blood pressure from stiffer arteries and a lower baseline temperature
D. Higher normal body temperature
Correct Answer: C. Increased systolic blood pressure from stiffer arteries and a lower
baseline temperature
Rationale: Arterial stiffening raises systolic pressure and widens pulse pressure, and older adults often
run cooler, so a mild elevation may be a significant fever. Heart rate stays in the normal range and arteries
become less elastic.
, 10. A Doppler device is used during assessment to:
A. Detect blood flow in pulses that are difficult to palpate
B. Measure body temperature
C. Assess visual acuity
D. Measure lung volume
Correct Answer: A. Detect blood flow in pulses that are difficult to palpate
Rationale: Doppler ultrasound amplifies the sound of blood flow, helping locate weak peripheral pulses
and measure ankle-brachial index. It does not measure temperature, vision or lung volume.
11. Pulse oximetry readings may be inaccurate when:
A. The patient has cold fingers, poor perfusion or dark nail polish
B. The patient is calm and warm
C. The probe is correctly placed
D. The patient is breathing room air
Correct Answer: A. The patient has cold fingers, poor perfusion or dark nail polish
Rationale: The sensor needs good pulsatile blood flow and clear light transmission, so vasoconstriction,
low perfusion, motion and some polishes cause errors. Research also shows overestimation in patients
with darker skin, so clinical signs must be considered.
12. A patient reports pain as 8/10 but is laughing with visitors. The nurse should:
A. Document that the patient is exaggerating
B. Withhold analgesics
C. Accept the patient's report and assess further
D. Ask visitors to rate the pain
Correct Answer: C. Accept the patient's report and assess further
Rationale: Patients use distraction and coping behaviors, so behavior does not invalidate self-report.
Labeling the patient, withholding treatment or asking others to rate pain leads to undertreatment.
