,NU 325 Exams 1–4 – Health Assessment – (2026) Practice
Exam
200 Questions with Correct Answers & Detailed Rationales
EXAM 1: Health History, Interviewing, & General Assessment
Questions 1–50
1. During a health history interview, a patient provides a
vague description of their chief complaint, stating "I just feel
unwell." Which interviewing technique is most appropriate to
clarify the nature and onset of the symptom while avoiding
leading the patient?
A) Ask "Do you feel nauseous or dizzy?" to narrow down
possibilities.
B) Use open-ended probing: "Tell me more about what you mean
by feeling unwell."
C) Proceed to the review of systems to systematically identify
affected areas.
D) Reassure the patient and ask about recent life stressors.
Answer: B
,Rationale: Open-ended probing encourages the patient to
elaborate without imposing the interviewer's assumptions. Option
A is leading and may bias responses. Option C bypasses
clarification, risking incomplete data. Option D may be
appropriate later but does not clarify the symptom first.
2. A nurse is conducting a health history with a patient who
has limited English proficiency. An interpreter is present.
Which action by the nurse best ensures accurate
communication and patient autonomy?
A) Direct all questions to the interpreter, who then translates to
the patient.
B) Maintain eye contact with the patient while speaking, and allow
the interpreter to translate.
C) Use simple English phrases and rely on family members to
interpret.
D) Avoid sensitive topics to minimize cultural discomfort.
Answer: B
Rationale: Maintaining eye contact with the patient respects their
personhood and builds rapport, while the interpreter facilitates
accurate translation. Option A disengages the patient. Option C
risks inaccurate translation and breaches confidentiality. Option D
may omit crucial health information.
, 3. When documenting the health history, a nurse records the
patient's statement: "I have had chest pain for three days."
Which component of the PQRST mnemonic is being
documented?
A) Provocative/Palliative factors
B) Quality of the symptom
C) Region/Radiation
D) Temporal onset
Answer: D
Rationale: Temporal onset refers to when the symptom began
and its duration. "For three days" describes the time course.
Option A would include what makes it better or worse. Option B
describes the sensation (e.g., sharp, dull). Option C describes
location and spread.
4. A patient reports a history of hypertension but cannot
recall the specific blood pressure readings or medications.
Which approach is most effective for obtaining accurate data?
A) Ask the patient to estimate the duration of hypertension and
list any medications they remember.
B) Request permission to contact the patient's previous healthcare
provider for records.
C) Document the history as "unknown" and proceed with the
physical assessment.
D) Use a standardized questionnaire to prompt recall.
Exam
200 Questions with Correct Answers & Detailed Rationales
EXAM 1: Health History, Interviewing, & General Assessment
Questions 1–50
1. During a health history interview, a patient provides a
vague description of their chief complaint, stating "I just feel
unwell." Which interviewing technique is most appropriate to
clarify the nature and onset of the symptom while avoiding
leading the patient?
A) Ask "Do you feel nauseous or dizzy?" to narrow down
possibilities.
B) Use open-ended probing: "Tell me more about what you mean
by feeling unwell."
C) Proceed to the review of systems to systematically identify
affected areas.
D) Reassure the patient and ask about recent life stressors.
Answer: B
,Rationale: Open-ended probing encourages the patient to
elaborate without imposing the interviewer's assumptions. Option
A is leading and may bias responses. Option C bypasses
clarification, risking incomplete data. Option D may be
appropriate later but does not clarify the symptom first.
2. A nurse is conducting a health history with a patient who
has limited English proficiency. An interpreter is present.
Which action by the nurse best ensures accurate
communication and patient autonomy?
A) Direct all questions to the interpreter, who then translates to
the patient.
B) Maintain eye contact with the patient while speaking, and allow
the interpreter to translate.
C) Use simple English phrases and rely on family members to
interpret.
D) Avoid sensitive topics to minimize cultural discomfort.
Answer: B
Rationale: Maintaining eye contact with the patient respects their
personhood and builds rapport, while the interpreter facilitates
accurate translation. Option A disengages the patient. Option C
risks inaccurate translation and breaches confidentiality. Option D
may omit crucial health information.
, 3. When documenting the health history, a nurse records the
patient's statement: "I have had chest pain for three days."
Which component of the PQRST mnemonic is being
documented?
A) Provocative/Palliative factors
B) Quality of the symptom
C) Region/Radiation
D) Temporal onset
Answer: D
Rationale: Temporal onset refers to when the symptom began
and its duration. "For three days" describes the time course.
Option A would include what makes it better or worse. Option B
describes the sensation (e.g., sharp, dull). Option C describes
location and spread.
4. A patient reports a history of hypertension but cannot
recall the specific blood pressure readings or medications.
Which approach is most effective for obtaining accurate data?
A) Ask the patient to estimate the duration of hypertension and
list any medications they remember.
B) Request permission to contact the patient's previous healthcare
provider for records.
C) Document the history as "unknown" and proceed with the
physical assessment.
D) Use a standardized questionnaire to prompt recall.
