NR 302 Final Exam – Health Assessment I (Chamberlain
College of Nursing) High-Yield Comprehensive Practice
Overview (2026 Style) | PDF
The NR 302 Final Exam (Health Assessment I) at Chamberlain College of Nursing is a
cumulative evaluation of core assessment skills used in bedside nursing practice. It focuses
on your ability to perform a safe, systematic head-to-toe assessment, interpret normal vs
abnormal findings, and apply therapeutic communication and documentation principles.
This exam typically integrates NCLEX-style clinical reasoning questions covering
foundational nursing assessment concepts such as:
Health history and therapeutic communication
Vital signs interpretation and abnormal findings
Head-to-toe physical assessment techniques (inspection, palpation, percussion,
auscultation)
Respiratory, cardiovascular, abdominal, and neurological assessment
Skin, musculoskeletal, and sensory system findings
Safety, infection control, and patient prioritization
Documentation, SBAR reporting, and charting basics
1.
A nurse enters the room of a 72-year-old patient who reports shortness of breath while
resting in bed. The patient is using accessory muscles, appears anxious, and oxygen
saturation is 88% on room air. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Document findings in the chart
B. Encourage the patient to cough and deep breathe
C. Apply oxygen therapy immediately
D. Reassess oxygen saturation in 15 minutes
,Answer: C
Explanation: Oxygen saturation of 88% with respiratory distress indicates hypoxia requiring
immediate oxygen administration as a priority intervention.
2.
A patient reports sudden right-sided chest pain that worsens with deep inspiration. The
nurse notes tachypnea and decreased breath sounds on the right side. What is the most
likely condition?
A. Myocardial infarction
B. Pneumonia
C. Pneumothorax
D. Heart failure
Answer: C
Explanation: Sudden pleuritic chest pain with unilateral decreased breath sounds suggests
pneumothorax.
3.
A nurse is assessing a patient with suspected appendicitis. The patient reports pain that
began around the umbilicus and now localizes to the right lower quadrant. What is the
significance of this finding?
A. Indicates pancreatitis
B. Suggests gallbladder disease
C. Classic sign of appendicitis progression
D. Indicates bowel obstruction
Answer: C
Explanation: Pain migration from periumbilical area to RLQ is a classic sign of appendicitis.
4.
A patient is admitted with signs of dehydration including dry mucous membranes, poor skin
turgor, and hypotension. Which assessment finding should the nurse expect?
,A. Increased urine output
B. Bradycardia
C. Tachycardia
D. Crackles in lungs
Answer: C
Explanation: The body compensates for low volume with tachycardia.
5.
A nurse is performing a neurological assessment. The patient is able to open eyes to
speech, is confused, and withdraws from painful stimuli. What is the Glasgow Coma Scale
score?
A. 6
B. 8
C. 10
D. 12
Answer: C
Explanation: Eye opening to speech (3), confused verbal response (4), withdrawal to pain
(3) = total 10.
6.
A patient presents with crushing chest pain radiating to the left arm and jaw. The ECG
shows ST elevation. What is the nurse’s priority interpretation?
A. Stable angina
B. Acute myocardial infarction
C. Pericarditis
D. GERD
Answer: B
Explanation: ST elevation with chest pain indicates STEMI requiring emergency
intervention.
, 7.
A nurse hears high-pitched wheezing during expiration in a patient with asthma. What is the
underlying cause?
A. Fluid in alveoli
B. Airway constriction
C. Pleural inflammation
D. Lung collapse
Answer: B
Explanation: Wheezing is caused by narrowed airways due to bronchospasm.
8.
A patient has bilateral pitting edema in the lower extremities and shortness of breath when
lying flat. What condition does the nurse suspect?
A. Kidney stones
B. Left-sided heart failure
C. Congestive heart failure
D. Appendicitis
Answer: C
Explanation: CHF causes fluid overload, edema, and orthopnea.
9.
A nurse notes a patient has unequal pupils and decreased responsiveness after a fall. What
is the priority concern?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Stroke or increased intracranial pressure
C. Dehydration
D. Infection
Answer: B
Explanation: Unequal pupils after trauma may indicate brain injury or increased ICP.
College of Nursing) High-Yield Comprehensive Practice
Overview (2026 Style) | PDF
The NR 302 Final Exam (Health Assessment I) at Chamberlain College of Nursing is a
cumulative evaluation of core assessment skills used in bedside nursing practice. It focuses
on your ability to perform a safe, systematic head-to-toe assessment, interpret normal vs
abnormal findings, and apply therapeutic communication and documentation principles.
This exam typically integrates NCLEX-style clinical reasoning questions covering
foundational nursing assessment concepts such as:
Health history and therapeutic communication
Vital signs interpretation and abnormal findings
Head-to-toe physical assessment techniques (inspection, palpation, percussion,
auscultation)
Respiratory, cardiovascular, abdominal, and neurological assessment
Skin, musculoskeletal, and sensory system findings
Safety, infection control, and patient prioritization
Documentation, SBAR reporting, and charting basics
1.
A nurse enters the room of a 72-year-old patient who reports shortness of breath while
resting in bed. The patient is using accessory muscles, appears anxious, and oxygen
saturation is 88% on room air. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Document findings in the chart
B. Encourage the patient to cough and deep breathe
C. Apply oxygen therapy immediately
D. Reassess oxygen saturation in 15 minutes
,Answer: C
Explanation: Oxygen saturation of 88% with respiratory distress indicates hypoxia requiring
immediate oxygen administration as a priority intervention.
2.
A patient reports sudden right-sided chest pain that worsens with deep inspiration. The
nurse notes tachypnea and decreased breath sounds on the right side. What is the most
likely condition?
A. Myocardial infarction
B. Pneumonia
C. Pneumothorax
D. Heart failure
Answer: C
Explanation: Sudden pleuritic chest pain with unilateral decreased breath sounds suggests
pneumothorax.
3.
A nurse is assessing a patient with suspected appendicitis. The patient reports pain that
began around the umbilicus and now localizes to the right lower quadrant. What is the
significance of this finding?
A. Indicates pancreatitis
B. Suggests gallbladder disease
C. Classic sign of appendicitis progression
D. Indicates bowel obstruction
Answer: C
Explanation: Pain migration from periumbilical area to RLQ is a classic sign of appendicitis.
4.
A patient is admitted with signs of dehydration including dry mucous membranes, poor skin
turgor, and hypotension. Which assessment finding should the nurse expect?
,A. Increased urine output
B. Bradycardia
C. Tachycardia
D. Crackles in lungs
Answer: C
Explanation: The body compensates for low volume with tachycardia.
5.
A nurse is performing a neurological assessment. The patient is able to open eyes to
speech, is confused, and withdraws from painful stimuli. What is the Glasgow Coma Scale
score?
A. 6
B. 8
C. 10
D. 12
Answer: C
Explanation: Eye opening to speech (3), confused verbal response (4), withdrawal to pain
(3) = total 10.
6.
A patient presents with crushing chest pain radiating to the left arm and jaw. The ECG
shows ST elevation. What is the nurse’s priority interpretation?
A. Stable angina
B. Acute myocardial infarction
C. Pericarditis
D. GERD
Answer: B
Explanation: ST elevation with chest pain indicates STEMI requiring emergency
intervention.
, 7.
A nurse hears high-pitched wheezing during expiration in a patient with asthma. What is the
underlying cause?
A. Fluid in alveoli
B. Airway constriction
C. Pleural inflammation
D. Lung collapse
Answer: B
Explanation: Wheezing is caused by narrowed airways due to bronchospasm.
8.
A patient has bilateral pitting edema in the lower extremities and shortness of breath when
lying flat. What condition does the nurse suspect?
A. Kidney stones
B. Left-sided heart failure
C. Congestive heart failure
D. Appendicitis
Answer: C
Explanation: CHF causes fluid overload, edema, and orthopnea.
9.
A nurse notes a patient has unequal pupils and decreased responsiveness after a fall. What
is the priority concern?
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Stroke or increased intracranial pressure
C. Dehydration
D. Infection
Answer: B
Explanation: Unequal pupils after trauma may indicate brain injury or increased ICP.
