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NURS550: Advanced Health Assessment and
Diagnostic Reasoning Week #1 Guided
Reading Questions with Detailed Verified
Answers
Chapter 1 (p 4-34) Ans: FOUNDATIONS FOR CLINICAL PROFICIENCY
1. Describe the differences between
a. A comprehensive health history/exam Ans: Includes all the elements
of the health history and the complete physical examination.
- Provides fundamental and personalized knowledge about the patient
- Strengthens the clinician-patient relationship
- Helps identify or rule out physical causes related to patient concerns
Provides a baseline for future assessments
-Creates a platform for health promotion through education and
counseling
- Develops proficiency in the essential skills of physical examination
b. A focused health history/exam Ans: Assesses symptoms restricted to
a specific body system (eg. sore throat or knee pain)
Applies examination methods relevant to assessing the concern or
problem as thoroughly and carefully as possible
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The patient's symptoms, age, and health history help determine the
scope of the focused examination, as does your knowledge of disease
pattern
2. Identify examples of when you would obtain (2 examples for each):
a. A comprehensive health history/exam Ans: Is appropriate for new
patients in the office or hospital
b. A focused health history/exam Ans: Is appropriate for established
patients, especially during routine or urgent care visits
Addresses focused concerns or symptoms
( eg. sore throat or knee pain)
3. Discuss the differences between subjective and objective data Ans:
Subjective data: is what the patient tells you
Objective data: what you detect during the examination, laboratory
information and test data
a. Provide examples of what would constitute Subjective data Ans: The
symptoms and history, from Chief Complaint through Review of Systems
Example: Mrs. G. is a 54-year-old hairdresser who reports pressure over
her left chest "like an elephant sitting there," which goes into her left
neck and arm.
b. Provide examples of what would constitute Objective data Ans: All
physical examination findings, or signs
Example: Mrs. G. is an older, overweight white female, who is pleasant
and cooperative. Height 5′4′′, weight 150 lbs, BMI 26, BP 160/80, HR 96
and regular, respiratory rate 24, temperature 97.5 °F
4. Identify what goes into each section of the comprehensive health
history
NURS550: Advanced Health Assessment and
Diagnostic Reasoning Week #1 Guided
Reading Questions with Detailed Verified
Answers
Chapter 1 (p 4-34) Ans: FOUNDATIONS FOR CLINICAL PROFICIENCY
1. Describe the differences between
a. A comprehensive health history/exam Ans: Includes all the elements
of the health history and the complete physical examination.
- Provides fundamental and personalized knowledge about the patient
- Strengthens the clinician-patient relationship
- Helps identify or rule out physical causes related to patient concerns
Provides a baseline for future assessments
-Creates a platform for health promotion through education and
counseling
- Develops proficiency in the essential skills of physical examination
b. A focused health history/exam Ans: Assesses symptoms restricted to
a specific body system (eg. sore throat or knee pain)
Applies examination methods relevant to assessing the concern or
problem as thoroughly and carefully as possible
, Page | 2
The patient's symptoms, age, and health history help determine the
scope of the focused examination, as does your knowledge of disease
pattern
2. Identify examples of when you would obtain (2 examples for each):
a. A comprehensive health history/exam Ans: Is appropriate for new
patients in the office or hospital
b. A focused health history/exam Ans: Is appropriate for established
patients, especially during routine or urgent care visits
Addresses focused concerns or symptoms
( eg. sore throat or knee pain)
3. Discuss the differences between subjective and objective data Ans:
Subjective data: is what the patient tells you
Objective data: what you detect during the examination, laboratory
information and test data
a. Provide examples of what would constitute Subjective data Ans: The
symptoms and history, from Chief Complaint through Review of Systems
Example: Mrs. G. is a 54-year-old hairdresser who reports pressure over
her left chest "like an elephant sitting there," which goes into her left
neck and arm.
b. Provide examples of what would constitute Objective data Ans: All
physical examination findings, or signs
Example: Mrs. G. is an older, overweight white female, who is pleasant
and cooperative. Height 5′4′′, weight 150 lbs, BMI 26, BP 160/80, HR 96
and regular, respiratory rate 24, temperature 97.5 °F
4. Identify what goes into each section of the comprehensive health
history
