Health Assessment 2026 Clinical Case
Study Practice Questions: Patient
Assessment, Abnormal Findings, Nursing
Decisions, Documentation & Clinical
Reasoning Review
SECTION 1: GENERAL ASSESSMENT & VITAL SIGNS CASE STUDIES
(Questions 1–25)
Question 1
A 68-year-old male is admitted to the medical-surgical unit with complaints of
dizziness and weakness. His vital signs are: BP 88/52 mm Hg, HR 110 beats/min,
RR 22 breaths/min, T 99.8°F, O2 sat 94% on room air. Which assessment finding
requires immediate intervention?
A. Temperature 99.8°F
B. Blood pressure 88/52 mm Hg with heart rate 110 beats/min
C. Respiratory rate 22 breaths/min
D. Oxygen saturation 94%
Rationale: Hypotension with compensatory tachycardia indicates shock and
requires immediate intervention. The combination of low blood pressure and
elevated heart rate suggests inadequate perfusion.
Question 2
A 72-year-old female is admitted with dehydration. Which assessment finding
supports this diagnosis?
A. Moist mucous membranes
B. Poor skin turgor and dry mucous membranes
,C. Bounding pulse
D. Weight gain
Rationale: Poor skin turgor and dry mucous membranes are classic signs of
dehydration.
Question 3
A 55-year-old male is admitted with fever and chills. His temperature is 103.2°F
(39.6°C). Which nursing intervention is priority?
A. Apply warm blankets
B. Administer antipyretics as prescribed and encourage fluids
C. Restrict fluids
D. Encourage physical activity
Rationale: Fever requires antipyretic administration and fluid replacement to
prevent dehydration.
Question 4
A 60-year-old female is admitted with shortness of breath. Her respiratory rate is
28 breaths/min and oxygen saturation is 88% on room air. Which action should the
nurse take first?
A. Document and reassess in 4 hours
B. Apply supplemental oxygen as prescribed
C. Encourage deep breathing
D. Position patient supine
Rationale: An oxygen saturation below 90% indicates hypoxemia requiring
immediate oxygen supplementation.
,Question 5
A 45-year-old male is admitted with chest pain. His blood pressure is 88/52 mm
Hg and heart rate is 120 beats/min. Which assessment finding is priority?
A. Pain rated 5/10
B. Hypotension and tachycardia
C. Nausea
D. Anxiety
Rationale: Hypotension and tachycardia in a patient with chest pain may indicate
cardiogenic shock requiring immediate intervention.
Question 6
A 70-year-old female is admitted with a suspected stroke. Which assessment
finding is priority?
A. Headache
B. Sudden weakness on one side and facial drooping
C. Nausea
D. Dizziness
Rationale: Sudden weakness and facial drooping are classic signs of stroke
requiring immediate intervention.
Question 7
A 62-year-old male is admitted with a suspected myocardial infarction. Which
assessment finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Pain rated 5/10
B. Blood pressure 88/52 mm Hg
C. Nausea
D. Anxiety
Rationale: Hypotension in a patient with chest pain may indicate cardiogenic
shock.
, Question 8
A 55-year-old female is admitted with a suspected pulmonary embolism. Which
assessment finding is priority?
A. Anxiety
B. Sudden shortness of breath and chest pain
C. Leg pain
D. Heart rate 100 beats/min
Rationale: Sudden shortness of breath and chest pain are classic signs of
pulmonary embolism.
Question 9
A 68-year-old male is admitted with a head injury. Which assessment finding
requires immediate intervention?
A. Headache
B. Decreased level of consciousness and unequal pupils
C. Nausea
D. Dizziness
Rationale: Decreased level of consciousness and unequal pupils indicate increased
intracranial pressure.
Question 10
A 65-year-old female is admitted with sepsis. Which assessment finding is
priority?
A. Fever
B. Hypotension and tachycardia
C. Confusion
D. Warm skin
Study Practice Questions: Patient
Assessment, Abnormal Findings, Nursing
Decisions, Documentation & Clinical
Reasoning Review
SECTION 1: GENERAL ASSESSMENT & VITAL SIGNS CASE STUDIES
(Questions 1–25)
Question 1
A 68-year-old male is admitted to the medical-surgical unit with complaints of
dizziness and weakness. His vital signs are: BP 88/52 mm Hg, HR 110 beats/min,
RR 22 breaths/min, T 99.8°F, O2 sat 94% on room air. Which assessment finding
requires immediate intervention?
A. Temperature 99.8°F
B. Blood pressure 88/52 mm Hg with heart rate 110 beats/min
C. Respiratory rate 22 breaths/min
D. Oxygen saturation 94%
Rationale: Hypotension with compensatory tachycardia indicates shock and
requires immediate intervention. The combination of low blood pressure and
elevated heart rate suggests inadequate perfusion.
Question 2
A 72-year-old female is admitted with dehydration. Which assessment finding
supports this diagnosis?
A. Moist mucous membranes
B. Poor skin turgor and dry mucous membranes
,C. Bounding pulse
D. Weight gain
Rationale: Poor skin turgor and dry mucous membranes are classic signs of
dehydration.
Question 3
A 55-year-old male is admitted with fever and chills. His temperature is 103.2°F
(39.6°C). Which nursing intervention is priority?
A. Apply warm blankets
B. Administer antipyretics as prescribed and encourage fluids
C. Restrict fluids
D. Encourage physical activity
Rationale: Fever requires antipyretic administration and fluid replacement to
prevent dehydration.
Question 4
A 60-year-old female is admitted with shortness of breath. Her respiratory rate is
28 breaths/min and oxygen saturation is 88% on room air. Which action should the
nurse take first?
A. Document and reassess in 4 hours
B. Apply supplemental oxygen as prescribed
C. Encourage deep breathing
D. Position patient supine
Rationale: An oxygen saturation below 90% indicates hypoxemia requiring
immediate oxygen supplementation.
,Question 5
A 45-year-old male is admitted with chest pain. His blood pressure is 88/52 mm
Hg and heart rate is 120 beats/min. Which assessment finding is priority?
A. Pain rated 5/10
B. Hypotension and tachycardia
C. Nausea
D. Anxiety
Rationale: Hypotension and tachycardia in a patient with chest pain may indicate
cardiogenic shock requiring immediate intervention.
Question 6
A 70-year-old female is admitted with a suspected stroke. Which assessment
finding is priority?
A. Headache
B. Sudden weakness on one side and facial drooping
C. Nausea
D. Dizziness
Rationale: Sudden weakness and facial drooping are classic signs of stroke
requiring immediate intervention.
Question 7
A 62-year-old male is admitted with a suspected myocardial infarction. Which
assessment finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Pain rated 5/10
B. Blood pressure 88/52 mm Hg
C. Nausea
D. Anxiety
Rationale: Hypotension in a patient with chest pain may indicate cardiogenic
shock.
, Question 8
A 55-year-old female is admitted with a suspected pulmonary embolism. Which
assessment finding is priority?
A. Anxiety
B. Sudden shortness of breath and chest pain
C. Leg pain
D. Heart rate 100 beats/min
Rationale: Sudden shortness of breath and chest pain are classic signs of
pulmonary embolism.
Question 9
A 68-year-old male is admitted with a head injury. Which assessment finding
requires immediate intervention?
A. Headache
B. Decreased level of consciousness and unequal pupils
C. Nausea
D. Dizziness
Rationale: Decreased level of consciousness and unequal pupils indicate increased
intracranial pressure.
Question 10
A 65-year-old female is admitted with sepsis. Which assessment finding is
priority?
A. Fever
B. Hypotension and tachycardia
C. Confusion
D. Warm skin
