“NUR 216 (Health Assessment) 2024/2025 Test Bank –
300 Questions, Verified Answers, In-Depth Rationales –
Actual Exam Qs, A+ Graded”
NCLEX-RN–Style Practice Questions for NUR 216: Health
Assessment
Question 1: A 25-year-old female presents for her annual
exam. When obtaining her health history, which
statement by the nurse uses the best open-ended
interviewing technique?
A. "Do you exercise three times a week?"
B. "Tell me about your usual daily activities."
C. "You don’t smoke, do you?"
D. "How many cigarettes do you smoke a day?"
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Option B is an open-ended question that
invites the patient to describe activities in her own
words. Option A is closed and yes/no. Option C is a
leading question. Option D assumes smoking behavior
and limits responses to quantity.
,Question 2: During the general survey, the nurse
observes a 70-year-old man sitting with a stooped
posture, slow gait, and minimal facial expression. Which
condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Parkinson disease
B. Osteoarthritis
C. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
D. Hyperthyroidism
✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Stooped posture, bradykinesia, and masked
facies are characteristic of Parkinson disease.
Osteoarthritis affects joints but doesn’t alter facial
expression. COPD affects respiratory effort but not
gait/facial expression. Hyperthyroidism causes
hyperactivity and tremors, not slowed movement.
Question 3: A nurse is assessing vital signs on a healthy
30-year-old athlete after a marathon. Which finding
would be expected?
A. Bradycardia and hypotension
B. Tachycardia and fever
C. Hypopnea and bradypnea
D. Hypertension and tachypnea
,✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Well-trained athletes often have resting
bradycardia and lower blood pressure due to efficient
cardiovascular conditioning. Tachycardia and fever
suggest infection; hypopnea is abnormal; hypertension
and tachypnea are not typical post-exercise responses.
Question 4: When inspecting a patient's nails, the nurse
notes clubbing. Which underlying condition is most
commonly associated?
A. Iron deficiency anemia
B. Chronic hypoxia (e.g., from COPD)
C. Diabetes mellitus
D. Dehydration
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nail clubbing is associated with chronic
hypoxia (e.g., COPD, cystic fibrosis). Iron deficiency
causes spoon nails (koilonychia). Diabetes and
dehydration do not cause clubbing.
Question 5: A 45-year-old male of South Asian descent
complains of chest discomfort. On auscultation, the
, nurse hears an early systolic click. This finding suggests:
A. Aortic stenosis
B. Mitral valve prolapse
C. Tricuspid regurgitation
D. Ventricular septal defect
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An early systolic click is classic for mitral valve
prolapse. Aortic stenosis yields a systolic ejection
murmur. Tricuspid regurgitation produces a holosystolic
murmur at the left lower sternal border. VSD produces a
harsh holosystolic murmur.
Question 6: A nurse assessing respiratory effort notes
the presence of nasal flaring and intercostal retractions
in a 2-year-old child. These signs indicate:
A. Normal breathing
B. Respiratory distress
C. Bradypnea
D. Hyperresonance
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nasal flaring and retractions are clinical signs
of respiratory distress in children. Bradypnea refers to
300 Questions, Verified Answers, In-Depth Rationales –
Actual Exam Qs, A+ Graded”
NCLEX-RN–Style Practice Questions for NUR 216: Health
Assessment
Question 1: A 25-year-old female presents for her annual
exam. When obtaining her health history, which
statement by the nurse uses the best open-ended
interviewing technique?
A. "Do you exercise three times a week?"
B. "Tell me about your usual daily activities."
C. "You don’t smoke, do you?"
D. "How many cigarettes do you smoke a day?"
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Option B is an open-ended question that
invites the patient to describe activities in her own
words. Option A is closed and yes/no. Option C is a
leading question. Option D assumes smoking behavior
and limits responses to quantity.
,Question 2: During the general survey, the nurse
observes a 70-year-old man sitting with a stooped
posture, slow gait, and minimal facial expression. Which
condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Parkinson disease
B. Osteoarthritis
C. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
D. Hyperthyroidism
✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Stooped posture, bradykinesia, and masked
facies are characteristic of Parkinson disease.
Osteoarthritis affects joints but doesn’t alter facial
expression. COPD affects respiratory effort but not
gait/facial expression. Hyperthyroidism causes
hyperactivity and tremors, not slowed movement.
Question 3: A nurse is assessing vital signs on a healthy
30-year-old athlete after a marathon. Which finding
would be expected?
A. Bradycardia and hypotension
B. Tachycardia and fever
C. Hypopnea and bradypnea
D. Hypertension and tachypnea
,✅ Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Well-trained athletes often have resting
bradycardia and lower blood pressure due to efficient
cardiovascular conditioning. Tachycardia and fever
suggest infection; hypopnea is abnormal; hypertension
and tachypnea are not typical post-exercise responses.
Question 4: When inspecting a patient's nails, the nurse
notes clubbing. Which underlying condition is most
commonly associated?
A. Iron deficiency anemia
B. Chronic hypoxia (e.g., from COPD)
C. Diabetes mellitus
D. Dehydration
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nail clubbing is associated with chronic
hypoxia (e.g., COPD, cystic fibrosis). Iron deficiency
causes spoon nails (koilonychia). Diabetes and
dehydration do not cause clubbing.
Question 5: A 45-year-old male of South Asian descent
complains of chest discomfort. On auscultation, the
, nurse hears an early systolic click. This finding suggests:
A. Aortic stenosis
B. Mitral valve prolapse
C. Tricuspid regurgitation
D. Ventricular septal defect
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An early systolic click is classic for mitral valve
prolapse. Aortic stenosis yields a systolic ejection
murmur. Tricuspid regurgitation produces a holosystolic
murmur at the left lower sternal border. VSD produces a
harsh holosystolic murmur.
Question 6: A nurse assessing respiratory effort notes
the presence of nasal flaring and intercostal retractions
in a 2-year-old child. These signs indicate:
A. Normal breathing
B. Respiratory distress
C. Bradypnea
D. Hyperresonance
✅ Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nasal flaring and retractions are clinical signs
of respiratory distress in children. Bradypnea refers to
