WGU D117 Advanced Health Assessment
Documentation Form Study Guide Actual Exam
2026/2027 | Complete Exam-Style Questions with
Detailed Rationales | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
SECTION 1: Chief Complaint & History of Presenting Illness
(OLDCARTS, PQRSTU)
Q1: A 45-year-old patient states, "I've been having chest pain for the past 4 hours." How
should the chief complaint be documented?
A. Patient reports chest pain for 4 hours
B. Chest pain, 4 hours
C. "I've been having chest pain for the past 4 hours"
D. Chest pain, acute onset, 4 hours duration
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the chief complaint should be documented in the patient's
own words, enclosed in quotation marks, as a brief statement of the reason for seeking
care.
Q2: Which component of OLDCARTS addresses the question, "When did the symptom
start?"
A. Location
B. Onset
C. Duration
D. Character
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the "O" in OLDCARTS stands for Onset, which documents
when the symptom started and whether it was gradual or sudden.
Q3: A patient describes their abdominal pain as "sharp and stabbing." This
documentation reflects which OLDCARTS component?
A. Severity
B. Character
C. Aggravating factors
D. Treatment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the "C" in OLDCARTS stands for Character, which describes
the quality of the symptom such as sharp, dull, burning, or crushing.
Q4: The nurse asks, "What makes your headache worse?" This question assesses which
OLDCARTS component?
A. Relieving factors
B. Aggravating factors
C. Severity
D. Treatment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the "A" in OLDCARTS stands for Aggravating factors, which
identifies what makes the symptom worse.
,Q5: A patient rates their back pain as 8 out of 10. This reflects which OLDCARTS
component?
A. Character
B. Severity
C. Duration
D. Location
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the "S" in OLDCARTS stands for Severity, which is
documented on a 0-10 scale to quantify the intensity of the symptom.
Q6: The PQRSTU mnemonic includes "Understanding," which refers to:
A. The nurse's understanding of the patient's condition
B. What the patient thinks is causing the symptom
C. The family's understanding of the diagnosis
D. The physician's assessment of the problem
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the "U" in PQRSTU stands for Understanding, which
documents what the patient believes is causing their symptom.
Q7: "The pain started in my lower back and now radiates down my left leg." This
statement documents which PQRSTU component?
A. Quality
B. Region/Radiation
C. Severity
D. Timing
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Correct because the "R" in PQRSTU stands for Region/Radiation, which
documents where the symptom is located and whether it spreads to other areas.
Q8: Which OLDCARTS component documents whether a symptom is constant or
intermittent?
A. Onset
B. Duration
C. Character
D. Severity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the "D" in OLDCARTS stands for Duration, which documents
how long the symptom lasts and whether it is constant or intermittent.
Q9: A patient states, "Taking ibuprofen helps my knee pain." This documents which
OLDCARTS component?
A. Aggravating factors
B. Relieving factors
C. Treatment
D. Character
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the "R" in OLDCARTS stands for Relieving factors, which
identifies what makes the symptom better.
Q10: The PQRSTU component "Provocation/Palliation" corresponds to which
OLDCARTS components?
Documentation Form Study Guide Actual Exam
2026/2027 | Complete Exam-Style Questions with
Detailed Rationales | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
SECTION 1: Chief Complaint & History of Presenting Illness
(OLDCARTS, PQRSTU)
Q1: A 45-year-old patient states, "I've been having chest pain for the past 4 hours." How
should the chief complaint be documented?
A. Patient reports chest pain for 4 hours
B. Chest pain, 4 hours
C. "I've been having chest pain for the past 4 hours"
D. Chest pain, acute onset, 4 hours duration
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because the chief complaint should be documented in the patient's
own words, enclosed in quotation marks, as a brief statement of the reason for seeking
care.
Q2: Which component of OLDCARTS addresses the question, "When did the symptom
start?"
A. Location
B. Onset
C. Duration
D. Character
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the "O" in OLDCARTS stands for Onset, which documents
when the symptom started and whether it was gradual or sudden.
Q3: A patient describes their abdominal pain as "sharp and stabbing." This
documentation reflects which OLDCARTS component?
A. Severity
B. Character
C. Aggravating factors
D. Treatment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the "C" in OLDCARTS stands for Character, which describes
the quality of the symptom such as sharp, dull, burning, or crushing.
Q4: The nurse asks, "What makes your headache worse?" This question assesses which
OLDCARTS component?
A. Relieving factors
B. Aggravating factors
C. Severity
D. Treatment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the "A" in OLDCARTS stands for Aggravating factors, which
identifies what makes the symptom worse.
,Q5: A patient rates their back pain as 8 out of 10. This reflects which OLDCARTS
component?
A. Character
B. Severity
C. Duration
D. Location
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the "S" in OLDCARTS stands for Severity, which is
documented on a 0-10 scale to quantify the intensity of the symptom.
Q6: The PQRSTU mnemonic includes "Understanding," which refers to:
A. The nurse's understanding of the patient's condition
B. What the patient thinks is causing the symptom
C. The family's understanding of the diagnosis
D. The physician's assessment of the problem
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the "U" in PQRSTU stands for Understanding, which
documents what the patient believes is causing their symptom.
Q7: "The pain started in my lower back and now radiates down my left leg." This
statement documents which PQRSTU component?
A. Quality
B. Region/Radiation
C. Severity
D. Timing
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Correct because the "R" in PQRSTU stands for Region/Radiation, which
documents where the symptom is located and whether it spreads to other areas.
Q8: Which OLDCARTS component documents whether a symptom is constant or
intermittent?
A. Onset
B. Duration
C. Character
D. Severity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the "D" in OLDCARTS stands for Duration, which documents
how long the symptom lasts and whether it is constant or intermittent.
Q9: A patient states, "Taking ibuprofen helps my knee pain." This documents which
OLDCARTS component?
A. Aggravating factors
B. Relieving factors
C. Treatment
D. Character
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the "R" in OLDCARTS stands for Relieving factors, which
identifies what makes the symptom better.
Q10: The PQRSTU component "Provocation/Palliation" corresponds to which
OLDCARTS components?
