NUR 6001 Exam 1 – Advanced Health
Assessment – (2026) Actual Questions &
Answers (WPU)
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS & DOCUMENTATION
1. During a comprehensive health assessment, which component should the
advanced practice nurse perform FIRST?
• A) Percussion
• B) Palpation
• C) Inspection
• D) Auscultation
Correct ,,,answer,,,: C) Inspection
Rationale: Inspection is the foundational first step of the physical examination,
providing visual baseline data about overall appearance, skin color, symmetry, and
body habitus before any hands-on techniques are performed. Palpation,
percussion, and auscultation follow in a logical sequence, though abdominal
assessment requires auscultation before palpation to avoid altering bowel sounds.
,2. A 45-year-old male presents with chest pain that started 2 days ago and is
located in the center of his chest. When the NP asks about the location of the
pain, which component of OLD CARTS is being addressed?
• A) Onset
• B) Location
• C) Duration
• D) Associated symptoms
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B) Location
Rationale: OLD CARTS stands for Onset, Location, Duration, Characteristics,
Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing/Treatment, and Severity. The
"Location" component identifies the anatomical source of the symptom.
3. Which component of a SOAP note includes the patient's chief complaint and
history of present illness (HPI)?
• A) Subjective
• B) Objective
• C) Assessment
• D) Plan
Correct ,,,answer,,,: A) Subjective
Rationale: The Subjective section captures all information reported by the patient,
including the chief complaint, HPI, symptoms, feelings, and personal history.
Objective data are measurable findings obtained during the physical examination.
,4. The mnemonic commonly used to systematically assess pain
characteristics is:
• A) SOAP
• B) OLD CARTS (or PQRST)
• C) HEADSS
• D) CAGE
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B) OLD CARTS (or PQRST)
Rationale: OLD CARTS (Onset, Location, Duration, Characteristics,
Aggravating/Alleviating factors, Radiation, Timing, Severity) is used to
systematically assess the chief complaint. PQRSTU (Provocative/Palliative,
Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, Timing, Understanding) is an alternate format
for symptom analysis.
5. The "Review of Systems" (ROS) differs from the "History of Present Illness"
(HPI) because the ROS:
• A) Is done after the physical exam
• B) Is limited to the chief complaint
• C) Asks about symptoms in all body systems regardless of chief complaint
• D) Only includes positive findings
Correct ,,,answer,,,: C) Asks about symptoms in all body systems regardless of
chief complaint
, Rationale: The ROS is a systematic inventory of possible symptoms in every body
system, including those not mentioned in the HPI. It screens for potential problems
the patient may not have volunteered.
6. In a SOAP note, where would the practitioner document "patient reports
feeling nauseous for three days"?
• A) Subjective
• B) Objective
• C) Assessment
• D) Plan
Correct ,,,answer,,,: A) Subjective
Rationale: The Subjective section captures all information reported by the patient,
including symptoms, feelings, and personal history. Objective data are measurable
findings obtained during the physical examination.
7. The "CAGE" questionnaire is used to screen for:
• A) Depression
• B) Anxiety
• C) Alcohol use disorder
• D) Cognitive impairment
Correct ,,,answer,,,: C) Alcohol use disorder
Assessment – (2026) Actual Questions &
Answers (WPU)
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS & DOCUMENTATION
1. During a comprehensive health assessment, which component should the
advanced practice nurse perform FIRST?
• A) Percussion
• B) Palpation
• C) Inspection
• D) Auscultation
Correct ,,,answer,,,: C) Inspection
Rationale: Inspection is the foundational first step of the physical examination,
providing visual baseline data about overall appearance, skin color, symmetry, and
body habitus before any hands-on techniques are performed. Palpation,
percussion, and auscultation follow in a logical sequence, though abdominal
assessment requires auscultation before palpation to avoid altering bowel sounds.
,2. A 45-year-old male presents with chest pain that started 2 days ago and is
located in the center of his chest. When the NP asks about the location of the
pain, which component of OLD CARTS is being addressed?
• A) Onset
• B) Location
• C) Duration
• D) Associated symptoms
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B) Location
Rationale: OLD CARTS stands for Onset, Location, Duration, Characteristics,
Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing/Treatment, and Severity. The
"Location" component identifies the anatomical source of the symptom.
3. Which component of a SOAP note includes the patient's chief complaint and
history of present illness (HPI)?
• A) Subjective
• B) Objective
• C) Assessment
• D) Plan
Correct ,,,answer,,,: A) Subjective
Rationale: The Subjective section captures all information reported by the patient,
including the chief complaint, HPI, symptoms, feelings, and personal history.
Objective data are measurable findings obtained during the physical examination.
,4. The mnemonic commonly used to systematically assess pain
characteristics is:
• A) SOAP
• B) OLD CARTS (or PQRST)
• C) HEADSS
• D) CAGE
Correct ,,,answer,,,: B) OLD CARTS (or PQRST)
Rationale: OLD CARTS (Onset, Location, Duration, Characteristics,
Aggravating/Alleviating factors, Radiation, Timing, Severity) is used to
systematically assess the chief complaint. PQRSTU (Provocative/Palliative,
Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, Timing, Understanding) is an alternate format
for symptom analysis.
5. The "Review of Systems" (ROS) differs from the "History of Present Illness"
(HPI) because the ROS:
• A) Is done after the physical exam
• B) Is limited to the chief complaint
• C) Asks about symptoms in all body systems regardless of chief complaint
• D) Only includes positive findings
Correct ,,,answer,,,: C) Asks about symptoms in all body systems regardless of
chief complaint
, Rationale: The ROS is a systematic inventory of possible symptoms in every body
system, including those not mentioned in the HPI. It screens for potential problems
the patient may not have volunteered.
6. In a SOAP note, where would the practitioner document "patient reports
feeling nauseous for three days"?
• A) Subjective
• B) Objective
• C) Assessment
• D) Plan
Correct ,,,answer,,,: A) Subjective
Rationale: The Subjective section captures all information reported by the patient,
including symptoms, feelings, and personal history. Objective data are measurable
findings obtained during the physical examination.
7. The "CAGE" questionnaire is used to screen for:
• A) Depression
• B) Anxiety
• C) Alcohol use disorder
• D) Cognitive impairment
Correct ,,,answer,,,: C) Alcohol use disorder
