NUR 6001 Exam 1 – Advanced Health
Assessment – (2026) Actual Questions &
Answers with rationales (WPU)
The nurse practitioner is preparing to conduct a comprehensive health
assessment on a new patient. Which statement best describes the primary
purpose of the comprehensive health history?
A) To identify a specific diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan
B) To establish a complete baseline of the patient's health status and risks
C) To fulfill legal documentation requirements for insurance billing
D) To focus entirely on the patient's current chief complaint
Answer: B
Rationale: A comprehensive health assessment aims to establish a complete
baseline database regarding the patient's past and present health, family history,
lifestyle, and psychosocial status, which guides future care. It is not limited to a
single diagnosis or chief complaint.
During an interview, a patient states, "I just can't seem to get a good night's sleep
because my back hurts." How should the NP document this information?
A) As part of the past medical history
B) As the chief complaint
C) As a review of systems symptom
D) As a social history detail
Answer: B
,Rationale: The chief complaint is the reason for the patient's visit, stated in the
patient's own words. In this case, the inability to sleep due to back pain is the
primary reason prompting the visit.
Which of the following is an example of an open-ended question?
A) "Do you have a family history of heart disease?"
B) "Does the pain feel sharp or dull?"
C) "Can you tell me what brought you to the clinic today?"
D) "Are you taking your blood pressure medication daily?"
Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions allow the patient to narrate their story in their
own words without restricting them to a "yes" or "no" answer. "Can you tell me
what brought you to the clinic today?" invites a descriptive response.
A patient becomes tearful and silent after discussing the recent loss of a spouse.
What is the most appropriate nursing action?
A) Change the subject to distract the patient
B) Remain silent and offer a tissue, allowing the patient time to process
C) Excuse oneself from the room to give the patient privacy
D) Ask rapid questions to move the interview forward
Answer: B
Rationale: The use of silence is a therapeutic communication technique that
allows the patient time to gather their thoughts and express emotions. Offering a
tissue shows nonverbal empathy.
An NP is interviewing a patient who says, "I feel like my life is out of control." The
NP replies, "You feel like your life is out of control." Which communication
technique is the NP using?
A) Summarization
B) Clarification
, C) Reflection
D) Interpretation
Answer: C
Rationale: Reflection mirrors the patient's words or feelings back to them,
validating their emotions and encouraging further elaboration without imposing
the NP's own interpretation.
Which technique is most effective when attempting to elicit information from a
overly talkative patient who is straying from the topic?
A) Standing up to signal the end of the interview
B) Using directed questions to refocus the interview
C) Interrupting the patient firmly and abruptly
D) Allowing the patient to talk until they finish naturally
Answer: B
Rationale: Directed (or closed-ended) questions are useful for limiting the
conversation and refocusing an overly talkative patient on specific, relevant
details needed for the assessment.
When obtaining a family history, the NP documents that the patient's father died
at age 65 from myocardial infarction. Which tool is best used to visually organize
this generational health data?
A) Genogram
B) Ecomap
C) Flow sheet
D) Concept map
Answer: A
Rationale: A genogram is a pictorial representation of a patient's family tree that
displays health history, diseases, and relationships across multiple generations.
Assessment – (2026) Actual Questions &
Answers with rationales (WPU)
The nurse practitioner is preparing to conduct a comprehensive health
assessment on a new patient. Which statement best describes the primary
purpose of the comprehensive health history?
A) To identify a specific diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan
B) To establish a complete baseline of the patient's health status and risks
C) To fulfill legal documentation requirements for insurance billing
D) To focus entirely on the patient's current chief complaint
Answer: B
Rationale: A comprehensive health assessment aims to establish a complete
baseline database regarding the patient's past and present health, family history,
lifestyle, and psychosocial status, which guides future care. It is not limited to a
single diagnosis or chief complaint.
During an interview, a patient states, "I just can't seem to get a good night's sleep
because my back hurts." How should the NP document this information?
A) As part of the past medical history
B) As the chief complaint
C) As a review of systems symptom
D) As a social history detail
Answer: B
,Rationale: The chief complaint is the reason for the patient's visit, stated in the
patient's own words. In this case, the inability to sleep due to back pain is the
primary reason prompting the visit.
Which of the following is an example of an open-ended question?
A) "Do you have a family history of heart disease?"
B) "Does the pain feel sharp or dull?"
C) "Can you tell me what brought you to the clinic today?"
D) "Are you taking your blood pressure medication daily?"
Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions allow the patient to narrate their story in their
own words without restricting them to a "yes" or "no" answer. "Can you tell me
what brought you to the clinic today?" invites a descriptive response.
A patient becomes tearful and silent after discussing the recent loss of a spouse.
What is the most appropriate nursing action?
A) Change the subject to distract the patient
B) Remain silent and offer a tissue, allowing the patient time to process
C) Excuse oneself from the room to give the patient privacy
D) Ask rapid questions to move the interview forward
Answer: B
Rationale: The use of silence is a therapeutic communication technique that
allows the patient time to gather their thoughts and express emotions. Offering a
tissue shows nonverbal empathy.
An NP is interviewing a patient who says, "I feel like my life is out of control." The
NP replies, "You feel like your life is out of control." Which communication
technique is the NP using?
A) Summarization
B) Clarification
, C) Reflection
D) Interpretation
Answer: C
Rationale: Reflection mirrors the patient's words or feelings back to them,
validating their emotions and encouraging further elaboration without imposing
the NP's own interpretation.
Which technique is most effective when attempting to elicit information from a
overly talkative patient who is straying from the topic?
A) Standing up to signal the end of the interview
B) Using directed questions to refocus the interview
C) Interrupting the patient firmly and abruptly
D) Allowing the patient to talk until they finish naturally
Answer: B
Rationale: Directed (or closed-ended) questions are useful for limiting the
conversation and refocusing an overly talkative patient on specific, relevant
details needed for the assessment.
When obtaining a family history, the NP documents that the patient's father died
at age 65 from myocardial infarction. Which tool is best used to visually organize
this generational health data?
A) Genogram
B) Ecomap
C) Flow sheet
D) Concept map
Answer: A
Rationale: A genogram is a pictorial representation of a patient's family tree that
displays health history, diseases, and relationships across multiple generations.
