NR-222 – Health Assessment | Complete Study
Guide & Exam Preparation Comprehensive
Questions with Detailed Rationales | Latest 2025–
2026 Update
Question 1
When obtaining a patient's health history, which question is MOST appropriate to
ask to elicit information about the patient's chief complaint?
A. "What brings you to the hospital today?"
B. "Do you have any pain?"
C. "How are you feeling today?"
D. "What medications are you taking?"
Answer: A. "What brings you to the hospital today?"
Rationale: The chief complaint should be obtained using an open-ended question
that allows the patient to describe their primary reason for seeking care in their
own words. This establishes the focus of the health history and assessment.
Question 2
Which component of the health history provides the MOST comprehensive
information about the patient's current illness?
A. Biographic data
B. History of Present Illness (HPI)
C. Past medical history
D. Review of systems
Answer: B. History of Present Illness (HPI)
Rationale: The HPI provides the most comprehensive information about the
patient's current illness, including onset, duration, severity, and associated
symptoms. It follows the PQRSTU or OLDCARTS framework for thorough
assessment.
,Question 3
What is the BEST way to document a patient's chief complaint?
A. Use the patient's exact words in quotation marks
B. Summarize the patient's symptoms in your own words
C. Document only the medical diagnosis
D. Use medical terminology only
Answer: A. Use the patient's exact words in quotation marks
Rationale: Documenting the chief complaint using the patient's exact words in
quotation marks preserves the patient's perspective and ensures accuracy. It is a
legal and professional standard in healthcare documentation.
Question 4
What is the purpose of the Review of Systems (ROS)?
A. To assess the patient's mental status
B. To evaluate the patient's overall health status and identify any missed
symptoms
C. To diagnose the patient's condition
D. To complete the physical examination
Answer: B. To evaluate the patient's overall health status and identify any
missed symptoms
Rationale: The ROS is used to evaluate the patient's overall health status and
identify any symptoms that may have been missed during the history of present
illness. It provides a comprehensive assessment of all body systems.
Question 5
What is the MOST important principle when performing a cultural assessment?
A. Assume all patients share the same cultural beliefs
B. Recognize and respect the patient's cultural beliefs and practices
C. Ignore cultural differences to provide standard care
D. Use the same approach for all patients
Answer: B. Recognize and respect the patient's cultural beliefs and practices
,Rationale: Cultural assessment requires recognizing and respecting the patient's
cultural beliefs and practices. This promotes patient-centered care, builds trust, and
improves health outcomes.
Question 6
Which type of question is MOST effective in obtaining a comprehensive patient
history?
A. Closed-ended questions
B. Open-ended questions
C. Leading questions
D. Yes/no questions
Answer: B. Open-ended questions
Rationale: Open-ended questions are most effective because they allow patients to
describe their symptoms and concerns in their own words without being
constrained by predetermined answers. This yields more comprehensive and
accurate information.
Question 7
What is the purpose of the "S" in the OLDCARTS mnemonic for pain assessment?
A. Site of pain
B. Severity of pain (0-10 scale)
C. Source of pain
D. Sensation of pain
Answer: B. Severity of pain (0-10 scale)
Rationale: In OLDCARTS, "S" stands for Severity, typically assessed using a 0-
10 pain scale. This quantifies the intensity of the symptom and helps evaluate
treatment effectiveness.
Question 8
Which technique should be used when obtaining a patient's sexual history?
, A. Avoid the topic to maintain patient comfort
B. Use open-ended, non-judgmental questions in a private setting
C. Ask only about current sexual activity
D. Defer the sexual history to another provider
Answer: B. Use open-ended, non-judgmental questions in a private setting
Rationale: A sexual history should be obtained using open-ended, non-judgmental
questions in a private, confidential setting. This approach respects patient privacy
and promotes honest communication.
Question 9
What is the MOST appropriate response when a patient provides incomplete or
vague answers to history questions?
A. Document the incomplete information as given
B. Use focused questions to obtain specific details
C. Move on to the next section of the history
D. Ask family members to provide the information
Answer: B. Use focused questions to obtain specific details
Rationale: When patients provide incomplete answers, the nurse should use
focused questions to obtain specific details. This helps clarify information while
maintaining a respectful and therapeutic approach.
Question 10
What is the primary purpose of the health history interview?
A. To diagnose the patient's condition
B. To establish a therapeutic relationship and gather health information
C. To provide treatment recommendations
D. To complete hospital admission paperwork
Answer: B. To establish a therapeutic relationship and gather health
information
Guide & Exam Preparation Comprehensive
Questions with Detailed Rationales | Latest 2025–
2026 Update
Question 1
When obtaining a patient's health history, which question is MOST appropriate to
ask to elicit information about the patient's chief complaint?
A. "What brings you to the hospital today?"
B. "Do you have any pain?"
C. "How are you feeling today?"
D. "What medications are you taking?"
Answer: A. "What brings you to the hospital today?"
Rationale: The chief complaint should be obtained using an open-ended question
that allows the patient to describe their primary reason for seeking care in their
own words. This establishes the focus of the health history and assessment.
Question 2
Which component of the health history provides the MOST comprehensive
information about the patient's current illness?
A. Biographic data
B. History of Present Illness (HPI)
C. Past medical history
D. Review of systems
Answer: B. History of Present Illness (HPI)
Rationale: The HPI provides the most comprehensive information about the
patient's current illness, including onset, duration, severity, and associated
symptoms. It follows the PQRSTU or OLDCARTS framework for thorough
assessment.
,Question 3
What is the BEST way to document a patient's chief complaint?
A. Use the patient's exact words in quotation marks
B. Summarize the patient's symptoms in your own words
C. Document only the medical diagnosis
D. Use medical terminology only
Answer: A. Use the patient's exact words in quotation marks
Rationale: Documenting the chief complaint using the patient's exact words in
quotation marks preserves the patient's perspective and ensures accuracy. It is a
legal and professional standard in healthcare documentation.
Question 4
What is the purpose of the Review of Systems (ROS)?
A. To assess the patient's mental status
B. To evaluate the patient's overall health status and identify any missed
symptoms
C. To diagnose the patient's condition
D. To complete the physical examination
Answer: B. To evaluate the patient's overall health status and identify any
missed symptoms
Rationale: The ROS is used to evaluate the patient's overall health status and
identify any symptoms that may have been missed during the history of present
illness. It provides a comprehensive assessment of all body systems.
Question 5
What is the MOST important principle when performing a cultural assessment?
A. Assume all patients share the same cultural beliefs
B. Recognize and respect the patient's cultural beliefs and practices
C. Ignore cultural differences to provide standard care
D. Use the same approach for all patients
Answer: B. Recognize and respect the patient's cultural beliefs and practices
,Rationale: Cultural assessment requires recognizing and respecting the patient's
cultural beliefs and practices. This promotes patient-centered care, builds trust, and
improves health outcomes.
Question 6
Which type of question is MOST effective in obtaining a comprehensive patient
history?
A. Closed-ended questions
B. Open-ended questions
C. Leading questions
D. Yes/no questions
Answer: B. Open-ended questions
Rationale: Open-ended questions are most effective because they allow patients to
describe their symptoms and concerns in their own words without being
constrained by predetermined answers. This yields more comprehensive and
accurate information.
Question 7
What is the purpose of the "S" in the OLDCARTS mnemonic for pain assessment?
A. Site of pain
B. Severity of pain (0-10 scale)
C. Source of pain
D. Sensation of pain
Answer: B. Severity of pain (0-10 scale)
Rationale: In OLDCARTS, "S" stands for Severity, typically assessed using a 0-
10 pain scale. This quantifies the intensity of the symptom and helps evaluate
treatment effectiveness.
Question 8
Which technique should be used when obtaining a patient's sexual history?
, A. Avoid the topic to maintain patient comfort
B. Use open-ended, non-judgmental questions in a private setting
C. Ask only about current sexual activity
D. Defer the sexual history to another provider
Answer: B. Use open-ended, non-judgmental questions in a private setting
Rationale: A sexual history should be obtained using open-ended, non-judgmental
questions in a private, confidential setting. This approach respects patient privacy
and promotes honest communication.
Question 9
What is the MOST appropriate response when a patient provides incomplete or
vague answers to history questions?
A. Document the incomplete information as given
B. Use focused questions to obtain specific details
C. Move on to the next section of the history
D. Ask family members to provide the information
Answer: B. Use focused questions to obtain specific details
Rationale: When patients provide incomplete answers, the nurse should use
focused questions to obtain specific details. This helps clarify information while
maintaining a respectful and therapeutic approach.
Question 10
What is the primary purpose of the health history interview?
A. To diagnose the patient's condition
B. To establish a therapeutic relationship and gather health information
C. To provide treatment recommendations
D. To complete hospital admission paperwork
Answer: B. To establish a therapeutic relationship and gather health
information
