NSG 351 Exam 1 V3 | NSG 351 Health
Assessment | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(NSG351 Exam 1) | James Madison
University
1. During the working phase of a health interview, the nurse uses open-ended questions
primarily to:
A. Gather specific factual data
B. Elicit the patient’s narrative and feelings
C. Confirm medical history details
D. Provide a structured survey of symptoms
Answer: B
Rationale: Open-ended questions allow patients to express themselves in their own words
and provide narrative detail. This technique is essential for exploring the patient’s
perspective on their health status. Closed-ended questions are more appropriate for
specific data gathering, while open-ended ones build rapport and uncover hidden concerns.
2. When assessing a patient’s pulse, which characteristic refers to the strength of the blood’s
stroke against the arterial wall?
A. Force
B. Rhythm
,C. Rate
D. Elasticity
Answer: A
Rationale: Force describes the strength of the heart’s stroke volume as it reaches the
peripheral artery. It is typically graded on a scale from 0 to 3+. Rate refers to the speed, and
rhythm refers to the regularity of the beats.
3. The nurse is assessing a dark-skinned patient for jaundice. Where is the most reliable place
to check for this color change?
A. The palms of the hands
B. The hard palate or sclera
C. The nail beds
D. The abdomen
Answer: B
Rationale: Jaundice is best observed in the hard and soft palate or the sclera because these
areas have less melanin and show yellowing more clearly. Melanin in the skin of dark-
skinned individuals can mask the yellow hue. Assessment of these mucous membranes
ensures an accurate clinical finding.
, 4. Which part of the PQRST mnemonic for pain assessment refers to what makes the pain
better or worse?
A. Provocative or Palliative
B. Quality
C. Region
D. Severity
Answer: A
Rationale: The ‘P’ in PQRST stands for Provocative or Palliative factors, which involve
identifying what triggers or relieves the pain. Knowing these factors helps determine the
underlying cause and effective treatments. Other components include Quality (Q), Region
(R), Severity (S), and Timing (T).
5. A patient has a blood pressure of 150/90 mmHg. The nurse knows that the 90 mmHg
represents:
A. The systolic pressure
B. The diastolic pressure
C. The pulse pressure
D. The mean arterial pressure
Answer: B
Assessment | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(NSG351 Exam 1) | James Madison
University
1. During the working phase of a health interview, the nurse uses open-ended questions
primarily to:
A. Gather specific factual data
B. Elicit the patient’s narrative and feelings
C. Confirm medical history details
D. Provide a structured survey of symptoms
Answer: B
Rationale: Open-ended questions allow patients to express themselves in their own words
and provide narrative detail. This technique is essential for exploring the patient’s
perspective on their health status. Closed-ended questions are more appropriate for
specific data gathering, while open-ended ones build rapport and uncover hidden concerns.
2. When assessing a patient’s pulse, which characteristic refers to the strength of the blood’s
stroke against the arterial wall?
A. Force
B. Rhythm
,C. Rate
D. Elasticity
Answer: A
Rationale: Force describes the strength of the heart’s stroke volume as it reaches the
peripheral artery. It is typically graded on a scale from 0 to 3+. Rate refers to the speed, and
rhythm refers to the regularity of the beats.
3. The nurse is assessing a dark-skinned patient for jaundice. Where is the most reliable place
to check for this color change?
A. The palms of the hands
B. The hard palate or sclera
C. The nail beds
D. The abdomen
Answer: B
Rationale: Jaundice is best observed in the hard and soft palate or the sclera because these
areas have less melanin and show yellowing more clearly. Melanin in the skin of dark-
skinned individuals can mask the yellow hue. Assessment of these mucous membranes
ensures an accurate clinical finding.
, 4. Which part of the PQRST mnemonic for pain assessment refers to what makes the pain
better or worse?
A. Provocative or Palliative
B. Quality
C. Region
D. Severity
Answer: A
Rationale: The ‘P’ in PQRST stands for Provocative or Palliative factors, which involve
identifying what triggers or relieves the pain. Knowing these factors helps determine the
underlying cause and effective treatments. Other components include Quality (Q), Region
(R), Severity (S), and Timing (T).
5. A patient has a blood pressure of 150/90 mmHg. The nurse knows that the 90 mmHg
represents:
A. The systolic pressure
B. The diastolic pressure
C. The pulse pressure
D. The mean arterial pressure
Answer: B
