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NURS6512 Advanced Health Assessment
Midterm Exam 2025/2026 – Complete
Actual Exam Questions and Correct
Verified Answers (Already Graded A)
1. During a health history interview, a client reports intermittent chest pain. Which
question best helps determine the pain’s characteristics?
A. “Have you had this pain before?”
B. “Can you describe the pain and when it occurs?”
C. “Have you taken any medication for the pain?”
D. “Does anyone in your family have heart problems?”
Correct Answer: B. “Can you describe the pain and when it occurs?”
Rationale: Using the OLDCARTS mnemonic (Onset, Location, Duration,
Characteristics, Associated symptoms, Relieving factors, Timing, Severity), asking
the client to describe the pain and its timing provides critical details about its nature
and potential causes, guiding further assessment.
2. When assessing a client’s respiratory system, which finding indicates an
abnormality?
A. Symmetrical chest expansion
B. Resonance on percussion over lung fields
C. Unilateral wheezing on auscultation
D. Respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: C. Unilateral wheezing on auscultation
Rationale: Unilateral wheezing suggests a localized obstruction, such as a foreign
body or tumor, and is abnormal. Symmetrical expansion, resonance, and a normal
respiratory rate (12–20 breaths/min) are expected findings.
3. A nurse practitioner is palpating a client’s abdomen. Which finding requires
further investigation?
A. Soft, non-tender abdomen
B. Firm, non-mobile mass in the right lower quadrant
C. Normoactive bowel sounds in all quadrants
D. No rebound tenderness
Correct Answer: B. Firm, non-mobile mass in the right lower quadrant
Rationale: A firm, non-mobile mass suggests a potential pathology, such as a tumor
or abscess, requiring urgent evaluation. Other findings are normal.
4. When performing a cardiovascular assessment, where should the nurse practitioner
place the stethoscope to auscultate the aortic area?
A. Second intercostal space, right sternal border
B. Fifth intercostal space, midclavicular line
C. Second intercostal space, left sternal border
D. Fifth intercostal space, left sternal border
, 2
Correct Answer: A. Second intercostal space, right sternal border
Rationale: The aortic area is auscultated at the second intercostal space, right
sternal border. Other locations correspond to the pulmonic, tricuspid, or mitral
areas.
5. A client reports difficulty hearing in one ear. Which test should the nurse
practitioner perform first to assess hearing?
A. Rinne test
B. Weber test
C. Whisper test
D. Audiometry
Correct Answer: C. Whisper test
Rationale: The whisper test is a quick screening tool to assess gross hearing loss.
Rinne and Weber tests differentiate conductive from sensorineural loss but are
performed after confirming hearing impairment.
6. During a skin assessment, a client has a lesion described as a 0.5 cm fluid-filled sac.
How should the nurse practitioner document this?
A. Macule
B. Papule
C. Vesicle
D. Pustule
Correct Answer: C. Vesicle
Rationale: A vesicle is a small (<1 cm), fluid-filled sac. Macules are flat, papules are
solid and elevated, and pustules contain pus.
7. A nurse practitioner is assessing a client’s cranial nerves. Which action tests cranial
nerve V (trigeminal)?
A. Asking the client to puff out their cheeks
B. Touching the client’s face with a cotton wisp
C. Observing for pupil constriction to light
D. Asking the client to stick out their tongue
Correct Answer: B. Touching the client’s face with a cotton wisp
Rationale: The trigeminal nerve (V) controls facial sensation and mastication.
Testing sensation with a cotton wisp assesses its sensory function. Other actions test
different cranial nerves.
8. A client presents with a history of palpitations. Which finding during the cardiac
exam is most concerning?
A. Regular heart rate of 80 beats per minute
B. S1 and S2 sounds without murmurs
C. Irregularly irregular heart rhythm
D. Mild peripheral edema
Correct Answer: C. Irregularly irregular heart rhythm
Rationale: An irregularly irregular rhythm suggests atrial fibrillation, a serious
condition requiring further evaluation. Other findings are less urgent or normal.
9. When performing a musculoskeletal assessment, which test evaluates for carpal
tunnel syndrome?
A. Phalen’s test
B. Thomas test
NURS6512 Advanced Health Assessment
Midterm Exam 2025/2026 – Complete
Actual Exam Questions and Correct
Verified Answers (Already Graded A)
1. During a health history interview, a client reports intermittent chest pain. Which
question best helps determine the pain’s characteristics?
A. “Have you had this pain before?”
B. “Can you describe the pain and when it occurs?”
C. “Have you taken any medication for the pain?”
D. “Does anyone in your family have heart problems?”
Correct Answer: B. “Can you describe the pain and when it occurs?”
Rationale: Using the OLDCARTS mnemonic (Onset, Location, Duration,
Characteristics, Associated symptoms, Relieving factors, Timing, Severity), asking
the client to describe the pain and its timing provides critical details about its nature
and potential causes, guiding further assessment.
2. When assessing a client’s respiratory system, which finding indicates an
abnormality?
A. Symmetrical chest expansion
B. Resonance on percussion over lung fields
C. Unilateral wheezing on auscultation
D. Respiratory rate of 16 breaths per minute
Correct Answer: C. Unilateral wheezing on auscultation
Rationale: Unilateral wheezing suggests a localized obstruction, such as a foreign
body or tumor, and is abnormal. Symmetrical expansion, resonance, and a normal
respiratory rate (12–20 breaths/min) are expected findings.
3. A nurse practitioner is palpating a client’s abdomen. Which finding requires
further investigation?
A. Soft, non-tender abdomen
B. Firm, non-mobile mass in the right lower quadrant
C. Normoactive bowel sounds in all quadrants
D. No rebound tenderness
Correct Answer: B. Firm, non-mobile mass in the right lower quadrant
Rationale: A firm, non-mobile mass suggests a potential pathology, such as a tumor
or abscess, requiring urgent evaluation. Other findings are normal.
4. When performing a cardiovascular assessment, where should the nurse practitioner
place the stethoscope to auscultate the aortic area?
A. Second intercostal space, right sternal border
B. Fifth intercostal space, midclavicular line
C. Second intercostal space, left sternal border
D. Fifth intercostal space, left sternal border
, 2
Correct Answer: A. Second intercostal space, right sternal border
Rationale: The aortic area is auscultated at the second intercostal space, right
sternal border. Other locations correspond to the pulmonic, tricuspid, or mitral
areas.
5. A client reports difficulty hearing in one ear. Which test should the nurse
practitioner perform first to assess hearing?
A. Rinne test
B. Weber test
C. Whisper test
D. Audiometry
Correct Answer: C. Whisper test
Rationale: The whisper test is a quick screening tool to assess gross hearing loss.
Rinne and Weber tests differentiate conductive from sensorineural loss but are
performed after confirming hearing impairment.
6. During a skin assessment, a client has a lesion described as a 0.5 cm fluid-filled sac.
How should the nurse practitioner document this?
A. Macule
B. Papule
C. Vesicle
D. Pustule
Correct Answer: C. Vesicle
Rationale: A vesicle is a small (<1 cm), fluid-filled sac. Macules are flat, papules are
solid and elevated, and pustules contain pus.
7. A nurse practitioner is assessing a client’s cranial nerves. Which action tests cranial
nerve V (trigeminal)?
A. Asking the client to puff out their cheeks
B. Touching the client’s face with a cotton wisp
C. Observing for pupil constriction to light
D. Asking the client to stick out their tongue
Correct Answer: B. Touching the client’s face with a cotton wisp
Rationale: The trigeminal nerve (V) controls facial sensation and mastication.
Testing sensation with a cotton wisp assesses its sensory function. Other actions test
different cranial nerves.
8. A client presents with a history of palpitations. Which finding during the cardiac
exam is most concerning?
A. Regular heart rate of 80 beats per minute
B. S1 and S2 sounds without murmurs
C. Irregularly irregular heart rhythm
D. Mild peripheral edema
Correct Answer: C. Irregularly irregular heart rhythm
Rationale: An irregularly irregular rhythm suggests atrial fibrillation, a serious
condition requiring further evaluation. Other findings are less urgent or normal.
9. When performing a musculoskeletal assessment, which test evaluates for carpal
tunnel syndrome?
A. Phalen’s test
B. Thomas test
