NURS 206 (Health Assessment) Practical Skills Test
Latest 2026/2027 | Newly Released
San Diego State University (SDSU)
Guaranteed Pass | Graded A +
COMPLETE PRACTICAL SKILLS EXAM – 5 Stations
Section 1: Vital Signs & Patient-Centered Communication Station
Item 1. Infection Control & Patient Identification
• Critical Elements: Performs hand hygiene using appropriate technique;
verifies two patient identifiers (name and date of birth or medical record
number); checks allergy band.
• Pass Criteria: Student cleanses hands before touching the patient and confirms
identity using two accepted identifiers.
• Fail Criteria: Omits hand hygiene or fails to verify two identifiers prior to
patient contact.
Item 2. Therapeutic Communication & Informed Consent
• Critical Elements: Introduces self and role; explains each vital sign procedure
in lay terms; obtains verbal consent; maintains patient privacy (closes
curtain/door); drapes appropriately.
• Pass Criteria: Patient can verbalize understanding of what will be performed
and demonstrates comfort.
• Fail Criteria: Omits explanation or consent; fails to provide privacy.
, Item 3. Body Temperature
• Critical Elements: Selects appropriate route (oral, tympanic, temporal, or
axillary) based on patient condition; ensures proper device placement; waits 15
minutes if oral route follows hot/cold intake.
• Pass Criteria: Accurate technique yields a reading within expected parameters
for the selected route.
• Fail Criteria: Selects inappropriate route (e.g., oral in an unconscious patient)
or fails to wait after oral intake.
Item 4. Pulse
• Critical Elements: Selects appropriate site (radial or apical); counts for 60
seconds if rhythm is irregular or 30 seconds × 2 if regular; assesses rate, rhythm,
and quality (strength).
• Pass Criteria: Correct site selection, full count, and accurate notation of
regularity and amplitude.
• Fail Criteria: Counts for less than 30 seconds; misses an irregular rhythm; fails
to note quality.
Item 5. Respirations
• Critical Elements: Counts for 30–60 seconds without alerting the patient to
the assessment; assesses rate, rhythm, depth, and work of breathing.
• Pass Criteria: Unobtrusive observation yields an accurate rate and
characterization of respiratory effort.
• Fail Criteria: Explicitly tells the patient to "breathe normally" during the count;
counts for less than 30 seconds.
Item 6. Blood Pressure
• Critical Elements: Selects correct cuff size (bladder width approximately 40%
of arm circumference, length 80% of arm circumference); positions limb at heart
level; palpates brachial artery; inflates 20–30 mmHg above palpated systolic
pressure; deflates at 2–3 mmHg per second; identifies Phase I (onset) and Phase
V (disappearance) Korotkoff sounds.
• Pass Criteria: All technique steps performed correctly; reading is accurate and
reproducible.
• Fail Criteria: Incorrect cuff size; arm not supported at heart level; rapid
deflation (>4 mmHg/sec); failure to identify Phase I or V.
Latest 2026/2027 | Newly Released
San Diego State University (SDSU)
Guaranteed Pass | Graded A +
COMPLETE PRACTICAL SKILLS EXAM – 5 Stations
Section 1: Vital Signs & Patient-Centered Communication Station
Item 1. Infection Control & Patient Identification
• Critical Elements: Performs hand hygiene using appropriate technique;
verifies two patient identifiers (name and date of birth or medical record
number); checks allergy band.
• Pass Criteria: Student cleanses hands before touching the patient and confirms
identity using two accepted identifiers.
• Fail Criteria: Omits hand hygiene or fails to verify two identifiers prior to
patient contact.
Item 2. Therapeutic Communication & Informed Consent
• Critical Elements: Introduces self and role; explains each vital sign procedure
in lay terms; obtains verbal consent; maintains patient privacy (closes
curtain/door); drapes appropriately.
• Pass Criteria: Patient can verbalize understanding of what will be performed
and demonstrates comfort.
• Fail Criteria: Omits explanation or consent; fails to provide privacy.
, Item 3. Body Temperature
• Critical Elements: Selects appropriate route (oral, tympanic, temporal, or
axillary) based on patient condition; ensures proper device placement; waits 15
minutes if oral route follows hot/cold intake.
• Pass Criteria: Accurate technique yields a reading within expected parameters
for the selected route.
• Fail Criteria: Selects inappropriate route (e.g., oral in an unconscious patient)
or fails to wait after oral intake.
Item 4. Pulse
• Critical Elements: Selects appropriate site (radial or apical); counts for 60
seconds if rhythm is irregular or 30 seconds × 2 if regular; assesses rate, rhythm,
and quality (strength).
• Pass Criteria: Correct site selection, full count, and accurate notation of
regularity and amplitude.
• Fail Criteria: Counts for less than 30 seconds; misses an irregular rhythm; fails
to note quality.
Item 5. Respirations
• Critical Elements: Counts for 30–60 seconds without alerting the patient to
the assessment; assesses rate, rhythm, depth, and work of breathing.
• Pass Criteria: Unobtrusive observation yields an accurate rate and
characterization of respiratory effort.
• Fail Criteria: Explicitly tells the patient to "breathe normally" during the count;
counts for less than 30 seconds.
Item 6. Blood Pressure
• Critical Elements: Selects correct cuff size (bladder width approximately 40%
of arm circumference, length 80% of arm circumference); positions limb at heart
level; palpates brachial artery; inflates 20–30 mmHg above palpated systolic
pressure; deflates at 2–3 mmHg per second; identifies Phase I (onset) and Phase
V (disappearance) Korotkoff sounds.
• Pass Criteria: All technique steps performed correctly; reading is accurate and
reproducible.
• Fail Criteria: Incorrect cuff size; arm not supported at heart level; rapid
deflation (>4 mmHg/sec); failure to identify Phase I or V.
