1
NR 222 – Health and Wellness \ Chamberlain University
| Practice Examination Questions with Verified Answers
& Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1: HEALTH PROMOTION & WELLNESS MODELS (Questions 1-20)
QUESTION 1
A nurse is teaching a community health class about the definition of health.
Which statement by a participant indicates an understanding of the World
Health Organization's (WHO) definition of health?
A) "Health is the absence of disease or physical infirmity."
B) "Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
C) "Health is the ability to perform activities of daily living independently."
D) "Health is determined solely by genetic factors and access to healthcare."
CORRECT ANSWER : B
FULL RATIONALE:
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as "a state of complete
physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity." This holistic definition recognizes that health encompasses multiple
dimensions: physical, mental, and social. The definition goes beyond simply being
free from illness—it emphasizes optimal functioning and well-being across all
aspects of life. The WHO's definition has been influential in shaping modern
healthcare's focus on wellness rather than just treating disease. Option A reflects
a narrow, outdated biomedical model. Option C describes functional ability but
not comprehensive health. Option D incorrectly limits health determinants.
QUESTION 2
pg. 1
,2
A nurse is using Pender's Health Promotion Model to develop interventions for
a patient who wants to improve their health. According to this model, which of
the following is the MOST important predictor of health-promoting behavior?
A) The patient's perception of barriers to action
B) The patient's perceived self-efficacy (confidence in their ability to perform the
behavior)
C) The patient's perception of the severity of potential illness
D) The patient's demographic characteristics
CORRECT ANSWER : B
FULL RATIONALE:
Pender's Health Promotion Model identifies PERCEIVED SELF-EFFICACY as one of
the most powerful predictors of whether an individual will engage in health-
promoting behaviors. Self-efficacy is the belief in one's own ability to successfully
perform a specific behavior. According to the model, when individuals believe
they can accomplish a behavior change (e.g., starting an exercise program,
quitting smoking), they are much more likely to attempt and maintain that
change. Perceived barriers (Option A) do influence behavior—the more barriers
perceived, the less likely the behavior—but self-efficacy has been shown to be a
stronger predictor. The perception of severity (Option C) is a component of the
Health Belief Model, not Pender's model. Demographics (Option D) influence
behavior indirectly but are not the primary predictor.
QUESTION 3
A patient tells the nurse, "I know I should exercise, but my neighborhood
doesn't have sidewalks, and I can't afford a gym membership." According to the
Health Belief Model, this statement BEST reflects the patient's:
A) Perceived susceptibility
B) Perceived severity
C) Perceived benefits
D) Perceived barriers
CORRECT ANSWER : D
pg. 2
,3
FULL RATIONALE:
The Health Belief Model (HBM) identifies PERCEIVED BARRIERS as the individual's
assessment of the obstacles or costs associated with adopting a health behavior.
This patient is identifying specific barriers: lack of sidewalks (environmental
barrier) and cost of gym membership (financial barrier). According to the HBM,
even if an individual believes they are susceptible to a condition and that the
condition is serious, and even if they believe the benefits of action outweigh the
barriers, the presence of significant barriers can prevent action. The nurse's role is
to help the patient identify strategies to overcome these barriers (e.g., walking in
a safe public space, using online exercise videos at home).
QUESTION 4
A nurse is assessing a patient who has been smoking for 20 years. The patient
states, "I know smoking is bad for me, but my grandfather smoked his whole life
and lived to be 90." According to the Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change),
which stage of change does this patient's statement MOST likely represent?
A) Precontemplation
B) Contemplation
C) Preparation
D) Action
CORRECT ANSWER : A
FULL RATIONALE:
The PRECONTEMPLATION stage is characterized by the individual having no
intention of changing their behavior in the foreseeable future (typically within 6
months). People in this stage are often unaware or under-aware of the problem,
or they minimize the risks. This patient's statement—rationalizing smoking by
citing a relative who lived a long life despite smoking—is a classic example of
precontemplation. The patient is not seriously considering quitting. In the
Contemplation stage (Option B), the person acknowledges the problem and is
seriously thinking about changing within 6 months. In Preparation (Option C), the
person intends to take action within 30 days and has taken some behavioral
pg. 3
, 4
steps. In Action (Option D), the person has made specific overt modifications to
their behavior.
QUESTION 5
A patient has started a walking program 3 weeks ago and tells the nurse, "I'm
walking 20 minutes three times a week now, and I feel great." According to the
Transtheoretical Model, which stage of change is this patient in?
A) Contemplation
B) Preparation
C) Action
D) Maintenance
CORRECT ANSWER : C
FULL RATIONALE:
The ACTION stage is characterized by the individual having made specific, overt
modifications to their lifestyle within the past 6 months. This patient has been
walking for 3 weeks—they are actively engaged in the new behavior. The action
stage requires considerable commitment of time and energy. The risk of relapse is
highest during this stage, so the nurse should provide support, reinforcement,
and strategies to maintain the behavior. Maintenance (Option D) occurs when the
individual has sustained the behavior change for more than 6 months and is
working to prevent relapse. Contemplation (Option A) involves thinking about
change. Preparation (Option B) involves intending to take action within 30 days.
QUESTION 6
Which of the following is an example of PRIMARY prevention?
A) Performing a mammogram to detect breast cancer
B) Administering the influenza vaccine to prevent infection
C) Teaching a patient with diabetes how to perform foot care to prevent ulcers
D) Referring a patient who had a stroke to a rehabilitation program
CORRECT ANSWER : B
pg. 4
NR 222 – Health and Wellness \ Chamberlain University
| Practice Examination Questions with Verified Answers
& Detailed Rationales
SECTION 1: HEALTH PROMOTION & WELLNESS MODELS (Questions 1-20)
QUESTION 1
A nurse is teaching a community health class about the definition of health.
Which statement by a participant indicates an understanding of the World
Health Organization's (WHO) definition of health?
A) "Health is the absence of disease or physical infirmity."
B) "Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not
merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
C) "Health is the ability to perform activities of daily living independently."
D) "Health is determined solely by genetic factors and access to healthcare."
CORRECT ANSWER : B
FULL RATIONALE:
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as "a state of complete
physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or
infirmity." This holistic definition recognizes that health encompasses multiple
dimensions: physical, mental, and social. The definition goes beyond simply being
free from illness—it emphasizes optimal functioning and well-being across all
aspects of life. The WHO's definition has been influential in shaping modern
healthcare's focus on wellness rather than just treating disease. Option A reflects
a narrow, outdated biomedical model. Option C describes functional ability but
not comprehensive health. Option D incorrectly limits health determinants.
QUESTION 2
pg. 1
,2
A nurse is using Pender's Health Promotion Model to develop interventions for
a patient who wants to improve their health. According to this model, which of
the following is the MOST important predictor of health-promoting behavior?
A) The patient's perception of barriers to action
B) The patient's perceived self-efficacy (confidence in their ability to perform the
behavior)
C) The patient's perception of the severity of potential illness
D) The patient's demographic characteristics
CORRECT ANSWER : B
FULL RATIONALE:
Pender's Health Promotion Model identifies PERCEIVED SELF-EFFICACY as one of
the most powerful predictors of whether an individual will engage in health-
promoting behaviors. Self-efficacy is the belief in one's own ability to successfully
perform a specific behavior. According to the model, when individuals believe
they can accomplish a behavior change (e.g., starting an exercise program,
quitting smoking), they are much more likely to attempt and maintain that
change. Perceived barriers (Option A) do influence behavior—the more barriers
perceived, the less likely the behavior—but self-efficacy has been shown to be a
stronger predictor. The perception of severity (Option C) is a component of the
Health Belief Model, not Pender's model. Demographics (Option D) influence
behavior indirectly but are not the primary predictor.
QUESTION 3
A patient tells the nurse, "I know I should exercise, but my neighborhood
doesn't have sidewalks, and I can't afford a gym membership." According to the
Health Belief Model, this statement BEST reflects the patient's:
A) Perceived susceptibility
B) Perceived severity
C) Perceived benefits
D) Perceived barriers
CORRECT ANSWER : D
pg. 2
,3
FULL RATIONALE:
The Health Belief Model (HBM) identifies PERCEIVED BARRIERS as the individual's
assessment of the obstacles or costs associated with adopting a health behavior.
This patient is identifying specific barriers: lack of sidewalks (environmental
barrier) and cost of gym membership (financial barrier). According to the HBM,
even if an individual believes they are susceptible to a condition and that the
condition is serious, and even if they believe the benefits of action outweigh the
barriers, the presence of significant barriers can prevent action. The nurse's role is
to help the patient identify strategies to overcome these barriers (e.g., walking in
a safe public space, using online exercise videos at home).
QUESTION 4
A nurse is assessing a patient who has been smoking for 20 years. The patient
states, "I know smoking is bad for me, but my grandfather smoked his whole life
and lived to be 90." According to the Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change),
which stage of change does this patient's statement MOST likely represent?
A) Precontemplation
B) Contemplation
C) Preparation
D) Action
CORRECT ANSWER : A
FULL RATIONALE:
The PRECONTEMPLATION stage is characterized by the individual having no
intention of changing their behavior in the foreseeable future (typically within 6
months). People in this stage are often unaware or under-aware of the problem,
or they minimize the risks. This patient's statement—rationalizing smoking by
citing a relative who lived a long life despite smoking—is a classic example of
precontemplation. The patient is not seriously considering quitting. In the
Contemplation stage (Option B), the person acknowledges the problem and is
seriously thinking about changing within 6 months. In Preparation (Option C), the
person intends to take action within 30 days and has taken some behavioral
pg. 3
, 4
steps. In Action (Option D), the person has made specific overt modifications to
their behavior.
QUESTION 5
A patient has started a walking program 3 weeks ago and tells the nurse, "I'm
walking 20 minutes three times a week now, and I feel great." According to the
Transtheoretical Model, which stage of change is this patient in?
A) Contemplation
B) Preparation
C) Action
D) Maintenance
CORRECT ANSWER : C
FULL RATIONALE:
The ACTION stage is characterized by the individual having made specific, overt
modifications to their lifestyle within the past 6 months. This patient has been
walking for 3 weeks—they are actively engaged in the new behavior. The action
stage requires considerable commitment of time and energy. The risk of relapse is
highest during this stage, so the nurse should provide support, reinforcement,
and strategies to maintain the behavior. Maintenance (Option D) occurs when the
individual has sustained the behavior change for more than 6 months and is
working to prevent relapse. Contemplation (Option A) involves thinking about
change. Preparation (Option B) involves intending to take action within 30 days.
QUESTION 6
Which of the following is an example of PRIMARY prevention?
A) Performing a mammogram to detect breast cancer
B) Administering the influenza vaccine to prevent infection
C) Teaching a patient with diabetes how to perform foot care to prevent ulcers
D) Referring a patient who had a stroke to a rehabilitation program
CORRECT ANSWER : B
pg. 4
