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NR 509 – Advanced Physical Assessment
Final Exam Chamberlain University |
Practice Questions 2026
pg. 1
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SECTION 1: GENERAL ASSESSMENT & HISTORY TAKING (Questions 1-12)
QUESTION 1
During a patient interview, the nurse practitioner asks: "Tell me about your
chest pain. When did it start? What does it feel like? What makes it better or
worse?" This questioning technique is BEST described as:
A) Leading questions
B) Open-ended questioning followed by directed questioning
C) Confrontational interviewing
D) Review of systems
ANSWER: B
FULL RATIONALE:
This technique begins with an OPEN-ENDED question ("Tell me about your chest
pain") that allows the patient to describe the symptom in their own words
without being led. This is followed by DIRECTED or focused questions ("When did
it start? What does it feel like?") to obtain specific details about the symptom's
characteristics. This approach provides rich, unbiased information while ensuring
key clinical details are obtained. Leading questions suggest the answer,
confrontation challenges the patient, and review of systems is a systematic
inventory of symptoms by body system.
QUESTION 2
The nurse practitioner is performing a symptom analysis (history of present
illness) for a patient with a chief complaint of headache. Using the OLDCARTS
mnemonic, which of the following questions addresses "Aggravating/Alleviating
Factors"?
A) "Where exactly is the pain located?"
B) "On a scale of 0-10, how severe is the headache?"
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C) "Does anything make the headache better or worse?"
D) "When did the headache first begin?"
ANSWER: C
FULL RATIONALE:
OLDCARTS is a mnemonic for symptom analysis:
• Onset: "When did it begin?"
• Location: "Where is it?"
• Duration: "How long does it last?"
• Character: "What does it feel like?"
• Aggravating/Alleviating factors: "What makes it better or worse?" (Option C
is correct)
• Radiation: "Does the pain travel anywhere?"
• Timing: "Is it constant or intermittent?"
• Severity: "How bad is it on a scale of 0-10?"
Each letter targets a specific dimension of the symptom, ensuring a
comprehensive history.
QUESTION 3
A 65-year-old patient presents for an annual physical. The nurse practitioner
asks: "Have you had any recent fever, chills, or unintentional weight loss?" This
is an example of:
A) History of present illness
B) Review of systems
C) Past medical history
D) Family history
ANSWER: B
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FULL RATIONALE:
The REVIEW OF SYSTEMS (ROS) is a systematic inventory of symptoms organized
by body system. Constitutional symptoms (fever, chills, weight loss, fatigue) are
typically asked as part of the ROS general/constitutional section. The history of
present illness (HPI) is a detailed analysis of the chief complaint. Past medical
history includes prior illnesses, surgeries, and medications. Family history covers
health conditions in blood relatives.
QUESTION 4
The nurse practitioner asks a patient: "Do you have any advance directives or a
living will?" This question is MOST appropriately included in which component
of the health history?
A) Chief complaint
B) Past medical history
C) Personal and social history
D) Health maintenance and anticipatory guidance
ANSWER: C
FULL RATIONALE:
Advance directives, living wills, and healthcare power of attorney are typically
discussed as part of the PERSONAL AND SOCIAL HISTORY, which also includes:
occupation, lifestyle habits (tobacco, alcohol, drug use), diet, exercise, living
situation, relationships, spiritual/religious beliefs, and end-of-life planning. These
topics reflect the patient's values, preferences, and social context. Including
advance care planning in the social history ensures it is addressed proactively
rather than during a crisis.
QUESTION 5
A patient reports drinking "a few beers after work" daily. To quantify alcohol
use and screen for risky drinking, the nurse practitioner should ask:
pg. 4
NR 509 – Advanced Physical Assessment
Final Exam Chamberlain University |
Practice Questions 2026
pg. 1
,2
SECTION 1: GENERAL ASSESSMENT & HISTORY TAKING (Questions 1-12)
QUESTION 1
During a patient interview, the nurse practitioner asks: "Tell me about your
chest pain. When did it start? What does it feel like? What makes it better or
worse?" This questioning technique is BEST described as:
A) Leading questions
B) Open-ended questioning followed by directed questioning
C) Confrontational interviewing
D) Review of systems
ANSWER: B
FULL RATIONALE:
This technique begins with an OPEN-ENDED question ("Tell me about your chest
pain") that allows the patient to describe the symptom in their own words
without being led. This is followed by DIRECTED or focused questions ("When did
it start? What does it feel like?") to obtain specific details about the symptom's
characteristics. This approach provides rich, unbiased information while ensuring
key clinical details are obtained. Leading questions suggest the answer,
confrontation challenges the patient, and review of systems is a systematic
inventory of symptoms by body system.
QUESTION 2
The nurse practitioner is performing a symptom analysis (history of present
illness) for a patient with a chief complaint of headache. Using the OLDCARTS
mnemonic, which of the following questions addresses "Aggravating/Alleviating
Factors"?
A) "Where exactly is the pain located?"
B) "On a scale of 0-10, how severe is the headache?"
pg. 2
,3
C) "Does anything make the headache better or worse?"
D) "When did the headache first begin?"
ANSWER: C
FULL RATIONALE:
OLDCARTS is a mnemonic for symptom analysis:
• Onset: "When did it begin?"
• Location: "Where is it?"
• Duration: "How long does it last?"
• Character: "What does it feel like?"
• Aggravating/Alleviating factors: "What makes it better or worse?" (Option C
is correct)
• Radiation: "Does the pain travel anywhere?"
• Timing: "Is it constant or intermittent?"
• Severity: "How bad is it on a scale of 0-10?"
Each letter targets a specific dimension of the symptom, ensuring a
comprehensive history.
QUESTION 3
A 65-year-old patient presents for an annual physical. The nurse practitioner
asks: "Have you had any recent fever, chills, or unintentional weight loss?" This
is an example of:
A) History of present illness
B) Review of systems
C) Past medical history
D) Family history
ANSWER: B
pg. 3
, 4
FULL RATIONALE:
The REVIEW OF SYSTEMS (ROS) is a systematic inventory of symptoms organized
by body system. Constitutional symptoms (fever, chills, weight loss, fatigue) are
typically asked as part of the ROS general/constitutional section. The history of
present illness (HPI) is a detailed analysis of the chief complaint. Past medical
history includes prior illnesses, surgeries, and medications. Family history covers
health conditions in blood relatives.
QUESTION 4
The nurse practitioner asks a patient: "Do you have any advance directives or a
living will?" This question is MOST appropriately included in which component
of the health history?
A) Chief complaint
B) Past medical history
C) Personal and social history
D) Health maintenance and anticipatory guidance
ANSWER: C
FULL RATIONALE:
Advance directives, living wills, and healthcare power of attorney are typically
discussed as part of the PERSONAL AND SOCIAL HISTORY, which also includes:
occupation, lifestyle habits (tobacco, alcohol, drug use), diet, exercise, living
situation, relationships, spiritual/religious beliefs, and end-of-life planning. These
topics reflect the patient's values, preferences, and social context. Including
advance care planning in the social history ensures it is addressed proactively
rather than during a crisis.
QUESTION 5
A patient reports drinking "a few beers after work" daily. To quantify alcohol
use and screen for risky drinking, the nurse practitioner should ask:
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