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 & Therapeutic Communication Station
• Item 1. Infection Prevention & Patient Identification
• Critical Elements: Performs hand hygiene with soap/water or alcohol-based
rub for a minimum of 20 seconds; verifies two patient identifiers (name, DOB, or
MRN); confirms allergies using the allergy band and asks the patient directly.
• Pass Criteria: Hands are cleansed before patient contact; two identifiers and
allergy status are confirmed verbally and visually.
• Fail Criteria: Touches the patient before hand hygiene; fails to verify two
identifiers or allergy status.
• Item 2. Therapeutic Introduction & Consent
• Critical Elements: States name and role clearly; explains the purpose and
sequence of vital signs in plain language; asks for verbal consent; ensures privacy
by closing the door/curtain and draping the patient appropriately.
• Pass Criteria: Patient can repeat back what will be done and gives verbal
agreement; privacy is maintained throughout.
• Fail Criteria: Omits consent or privacy measures; uses medical jargon without
clarification.
, • Item 3. Temperature Assessment — Route Selection & Technique
• Critical Elements: Selects route based on patient age and condition (oral,
tympanic, temporal, axillary, or rectal); ensures proper probe cover use and
placement; waits 15–30 minutes after oral intake, smoking, or oxygen delivery
before oral measurement.
• Pass Criteria: Appropriate route selected; accurate reading obtained; delays
oral measurement if indicated.
• Fail Criteria: Uses oral route in an unconscious, confused, or oxygen-
dependent patient; fails to wait after hot/cold intake.
• Item 4. Apical-Radial Pulse Assessment
• Critical Elements: Locates the apical pulse at the fifth intercostal space, left
midclavicular line, using the stethoscope bell; simultaneously palpates the radial
pulse; counts both for 60 seconds if irregular; calculates and documents any
pulse deficit.
• Pass Criteria: Correct apical location; simultaneous radial palpation; full 60-
second count if irregular; pulse deficit calculated accurately.
• Fail Criteria: Counts for less than 30 seconds; fails to assess rhythm or quality;
misses pulse deficit.
• Item 5. Respiratory Assessment — Unobtrusive Observation
• Critical Elements: Counts respirations immediately after pulse while fingers
remain on the wrist (or observes chest rise without announcing); assesses rate,
rhythm, depth, and pattern for 30–60 seconds; notes use of accessory muscles,
nasal flaring, or pursed-lip breathing.
• Pass Criteria: Respiratory rate and pattern assessed without patient awareness;
full count completed.
• Fail Criteria: Explicitly states "I am counting your breathing"; counts for less
than 30 seconds; misses abnormal patterns.
• Item 6. Blood Pressure — Orthostatic Protocol
• Critical Elements: Selects appropriate cuff size (bladder width 40% of arm
circumference); positions arm at heart level; palpates brachial artery; inflates
20–30 mmHg above estimated systolic; deflates at 2 mmHg per second;
identifies Phase I and Phase V Korotkoff sounds; repeats after patient stands for
1–3 minutes if orthostatic vitals are indicated.
Latest 2026/2027 | Newly Released
San Diego State University (SDSU)
Guaranteed Pass | Graded A +
COMPLETE PRACTICAL SKILLS EXAM – 5 Stations
• Section 1: Vital Signs & Therapeutic Communication Station
• Item 1. Infection Prevention & Patient Identification
• Critical Elements: Performs hand hygiene with soap/water or alcohol-based
rub for a minimum of 20 seconds; verifies two patient identifiers (name, DOB, or
MRN); confirms allergies using the allergy band and asks the patient directly.
• Pass Criteria: Hands are cleansed before patient contact; two identifiers and
allergy status are confirmed verbally and visually.
• Fail Criteria: Touches the patient before hand hygiene; fails to verify two
identifiers or allergy status.
• Item 2. Therapeutic Introduction & Consent
• Critical Elements: States name and role clearly; explains the purpose and
sequence of vital signs in plain language; asks for verbal consent; ensures privacy
by closing the door/curtain and draping the patient appropriately.
• Pass Criteria: Patient can repeat back what will be done and gives verbal
agreement; privacy is maintained throughout.
• Fail Criteria: Omits consent or privacy measures; uses medical jargon without
clarification.
, • Item 3. Temperature Assessment — Route Selection & Technique
• Critical Elements: Selects route based on patient age and condition (oral,
tympanic, temporal, axillary, or rectal); ensures proper probe cover use and
placement; waits 15–30 minutes after oral intake, smoking, or oxygen delivery
before oral measurement.
• Pass Criteria: Appropriate route selected; accurate reading obtained; delays
oral measurement if indicated.
• Fail Criteria: Uses oral route in an unconscious, confused, or oxygen-
dependent patient; fails to wait after hot/cold intake.
• Item 4. Apical-Radial Pulse Assessment
• Critical Elements: Locates the apical pulse at the fifth intercostal space, left
midclavicular line, using the stethoscope bell; simultaneously palpates the radial
pulse; counts both for 60 seconds if irregular; calculates and documents any
pulse deficit.
• Pass Criteria: Correct apical location; simultaneous radial palpation; full 60-
second count if irregular; pulse deficit calculated accurately.
• Fail Criteria: Counts for less than 30 seconds; fails to assess rhythm or quality;
misses pulse deficit.
• Item 5. Respiratory Assessment — Unobtrusive Observation
• Critical Elements: Counts respirations immediately after pulse while fingers
remain on the wrist (or observes chest rise without announcing); assesses rate,
rhythm, depth, and pattern for 30–60 seconds; notes use of accessory muscles,
nasal flaring, or pursed-lip breathing.
• Pass Criteria: Respiratory rate and pattern assessed without patient awareness;
full count completed.
• Fail Criteria: Explicitly states "I am counting your breathing"; counts for less
than 30 seconds; misses abnormal patterns.
• Item 6. Blood Pressure — Orthostatic Protocol
• Critical Elements: Selects appropriate cuff size (bladder width 40% of arm
circumference); positions arm at heart level; palpates brachial artery; inflates
20–30 mmHg above estimated systolic; deflates at 2 mmHg per second;
identifies Phase I and Phase V Korotkoff sounds; repeats after patient stands for
1–3 minutes if orthostatic vitals are indicated.
