NU 650 EXAM 1 ADVANCED HEALTH
ASSESSMENT – PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES
SECTION 1: Health History & Interviewing (Questions 1-50)
1. A 45-year-old male presents for an annual exam. What is the most
appropriate sequence for conducting a comprehensive health history?
A) Past medical history, chief complaint, family history, review of systems
B) Chief complaint, history of present illness, past medical history, family
history, social history, review of systems
C) Review of systems, social history, past medical history, chief complaint
D) Family history, past medical history, chief complaint, review of systems
Answer: B
Rationale: The standard comprehensive history follows a logical sequence
beginning with the chief complaint and HPI to establish the reason for the
visit, then expands to past medical, family, and social history, and finally the
,review of systems. This order helps clinicians focus on the presenting problem
while gathering contextual information.
---
2. A patient describes chest pain as "a heavy pressure that started 2 hours ago
while I was shoveling snow." Which component of the HPI is being
documented?
A) Quality and timing
B) Location and duration
C) Quality, timing, and context
D) Severity and modifying factors
Answer: C
Rationale: The patient is describing quality ("heavy pressure"), timing ("2
hours ago"), and context/activity ("while shoveling snow"). These are key
elements of the HPI using the OLDCARTS or OPQRST mnemonic.
---
3. What does the mnemonic "OLDCARTS" help the clinician remember?
A) Components of the review of systems
B) Elements of the history of present illness
C) Parts of the physical examination
,D) Documentation requirements
Answer: B
Rationale: OLDCARTS stands for Onset, Location, Duration, Character,
aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing, and Severity. It is a systematic
way to characterize the chief complaint and HPI.
---
4. What is the purpose of the "review of systems" (ROS)?
A) To diagnose current medical conditions
B) To evaluate functional abilities (ADLs)
C) To systematically inquire about symptoms in each body system
D) To assess the patient's social support system
Answer: C
Rationale: The ROS is a systematic review of each body system to identify
symptoms the patient may not have mentioned, ensuring a comprehensive
assessment.
---
5. When taking a sexual history, which approach is most appropriate?
, A) Ask direct questions only if the patient appears sexually active
B) Use open-ended questions then progress to specific questions using
nonjudgmental language
C) Avoid sexual history unless the patient has genitourinary symptoms
D) Ask the patient's partner to provide the history
Answer: B
Rationale: The sexual history should be taken in a respectful, confidential
manner using open-ended questions ("Are you sexually active?") before
moving to specific questions about partners, protection, and STI risk.
Normalizing language reduces patient discomfort.
---
6. A patient reports a 10-pound unintentional weight loss over 2 months. This
finding raises suspicion for which categories of illness?
A) Benign causes only
B) Malignancy, chronic infection, endocrine disorders, or psychiatric illness
C) Musculoskeletal disorders
D) Dermatologic conditions
Answer: B
ASSESSMENT – PRACTICE QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES
SECTION 1: Health History & Interviewing (Questions 1-50)
1. A 45-year-old male presents for an annual exam. What is the most
appropriate sequence for conducting a comprehensive health history?
A) Past medical history, chief complaint, family history, review of systems
B) Chief complaint, history of present illness, past medical history, family
history, social history, review of systems
C) Review of systems, social history, past medical history, chief complaint
D) Family history, past medical history, chief complaint, review of systems
Answer: B
Rationale: The standard comprehensive history follows a logical sequence
beginning with the chief complaint and HPI to establish the reason for the
visit, then expands to past medical, family, and social history, and finally the
,review of systems. This order helps clinicians focus on the presenting problem
while gathering contextual information.
---
2. A patient describes chest pain as "a heavy pressure that started 2 hours ago
while I was shoveling snow." Which component of the HPI is being
documented?
A) Quality and timing
B) Location and duration
C) Quality, timing, and context
D) Severity and modifying factors
Answer: C
Rationale: The patient is describing quality ("heavy pressure"), timing ("2
hours ago"), and context/activity ("while shoveling snow"). These are key
elements of the HPI using the OLDCARTS or OPQRST mnemonic.
---
3. What does the mnemonic "OLDCARTS" help the clinician remember?
A) Components of the review of systems
B) Elements of the history of present illness
C) Parts of the physical examination
,D) Documentation requirements
Answer: B
Rationale: OLDCARTS stands for Onset, Location, Duration, Character,
aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing, and Severity. It is a systematic
way to characterize the chief complaint and HPI.
---
4. What is the purpose of the "review of systems" (ROS)?
A) To diagnose current medical conditions
B) To evaluate functional abilities (ADLs)
C) To systematically inquire about symptoms in each body system
D) To assess the patient's social support system
Answer: C
Rationale: The ROS is a systematic review of each body system to identify
symptoms the patient may not have mentioned, ensuring a comprehensive
assessment.
---
5. When taking a sexual history, which approach is most appropriate?
, A) Ask direct questions only if the patient appears sexually active
B) Use open-ended questions then progress to specific questions using
nonjudgmental language
C) Avoid sexual history unless the patient has genitourinary symptoms
D) Ask the patient's partner to provide the history
Answer: B
Rationale: The sexual history should be taken in a respectful, confidential
manner using open-ended questions ("Are you sexually active?") before
moving to specific questions about partners, protection, and STI risk.
Normalizing language reduces patient discomfort.
---
6. A patient reports a 10-pound unintentional weight loss over 2 months. This
finding raises suspicion for which categories of illness?
A) Benign causes only
B) Malignancy, chronic infection, endocrine disorders, or psychiatric illness
C) Musculoskeletal disorders
D) Dermatologic conditions
Answer: B
