Chamberlain University NR509 Advanced
Physical Assessment Comprehensive Final
Exam Review: Questions & Evidence-Based
Rationales
SECTION 1: HEALTH HISTORY & INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES
1. A patient tells the nurse, "I have been having pain in my chest for
the past few days." Which response by the nurse would be most
appropriate to gather more data?
A. "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
B. "What were you doing when the pain started?"
C. "Have you ever had this pain before?"
D. "Does the pain radiate to your arm?"
☑CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Open-ended questions allow the patient to describe the
,circumstances surrounding the symptom. Asking about the activity at
onset helps establish context and precipitating factors, which is part of
the OLD CART mnemonic.
2. When obtaining a patient's chief complaint, the nurse should record
it in:
A. Medical terminology
B. The patient's own words
C. Technical language
D. Abbreviated form
☑CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: The chief complaint should be documented using the
patient's exact words to maintain accuracy and avoid misinterpretation.
,3. Which of the following is an example of objective data?
A. "I feel dizzy when I stand up."
B. "The pain is a 6 on a scale of 0 to 10."
C. Blood pressure 140/90 mmHg
D. "I have had a fever for two days."
☑CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Objective data are measurable, observable facts obtained
through physical examination, vital signs, and laboratory tests.
Subjective data are reported by the patient.
, 4. The nurse uses the mnemonic "OLD CART" to assess a patient's
pain. What does the "A" stand for?
A. Aggravating factors
B. Assessment
C. Associated symptoms
D. Analysis
☑CORRECT ANSWER: A
Rationale: OLD CART stands
for Onset, Location, Duration, Characteristics, Aggravating
factors, Relieving factors, and Treatment.
5. A patient states, "I don't want to take that medicine; it makes me
sick." The nurse's best response is:
Physical Assessment Comprehensive Final
Exam Review: Questions & Evidence-Based
Rationales
SECTION 1: HEALTH HISTORY & INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES
1. A patient tells the nurse, "I have been having pain in my chest for
the past few days." Which response by the nurse would be most
appropriate to gather more data?
A. "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
B. "What were you doing when the pain started?"
C. "Have you ever had this pain before?"
D. "Does the pain radiate to your arm?"
☑CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: Open-ended questions allow the patient to describe the
,circumstances surrounding the symptom. Asking about the activity at
onset helps establish context and precipitating factors, which is part of
the OLD CART mnemonic.
2. When obtaining a patient's chief complaint, the nurse should record
it in:
A. Medical terminology
B. The patient's own words
C. Technical language
D. Abbreviated form
☑CORRECT ANSWER: B
Rationale: The chief complaint should be documented using the
patient's exact words to maintain accuracy and avoid misinterpretation.
,3. Which of the following is an example of objective data?
A. "I feel dizzy when I stand up."
B. "The pain is a 6 on a scale of 0 to 10."
C. Blood pressure 140/90 mmHg
D. "I have had a fever for two days."
☑CORRECT ANSWER: C
Rationale: Objective data are measurable, observable facts obtained
through physical examination, vital signs, and laboratory tests.
Subjective data are reported by the patient.
, 4. The nurse uses the mnemonic "OLD CART" to assess a patient's
pain. What does the "A" stand for?
A. Aggravating factors
B. Assessment
C. Associated symptoms
D. Analysis
☑CORRECT ANSWER: A
Rationale: OLD CART stands
for Onset, Location, Duration, Characteristics, Aggravating
factors, Relieving factors, and Treatment.
5. A patient states, "I don't want to take that medicine; it makes me
sick." The nurse's best response is:
