UT Arlington NURS 3320 Holistic Health Assessment Final Exam
(pdf) | 2026/2027 | Health Assessment Q&A | Nursing
1. A nurse is preparing to conduct a health history interview with a newly
admitted patient. Which of the following is the correct order for the four
phases of a nursing interview?
A) Working, Preintroductory, Introductory, Summary/Closing
B) Introductory, Preintroductory, Summary/Closing, Working
C) Preintroductory, Introductory, Working, Summary/Closing
D) Introductory, Working, Summary/Closing, Preintroductory
Correct Answer: Preintroductory, Introductory, Working, Summary/Closing
Rationale: The four phases of a nursing interview are the preintroductory
phase (reviewing the medical chart), the introductory phase (introducing
oneself, stating the purpose of the interview, and assuring confidentiality),
the working phase (collecting information through open-ended and closed-
ended questions), and the summary/closing phase (reviewing the information
obtained and discussing the plan).
2. A patient reports feeling "short of breath" and "dizzy." This information is
classified as:
A) Objective data
B) Secondary data
C) Subjective data
D) Primary data
Correct Answer: Subjective data
,Rationale: Subjective data is information reported by the client, including
their perceptions, feelings, and sensations, such as shortness of breath and
dizziness. It cannot be directly observed or measured by the nurse.
3. A nurse observes that a patient's skin is pale and their respiratory rate is
24 breaths per minute. These findings are classified as:
A) Subjective data
B) Objective data
C) Primary data
D) Secondary data
Correct Answer: Objective data
Rationale: Objective data is information gathered through direct observation
and physical examination, such as vital signs and skin color. It is measurable
and observable.
4. An initial comprehensive assessment is typically performed:
A) When a patient is about to be discharged
B) When a patient first enters the healthcare system
C) During every shift change
D) Only when a patient is in critical condition
Correct Answer: When a patient first enters the healthcare system
Rationale: An initial comprehensive assessment is performed when a patient
first enters the healthcare system to establish a baseline of data against
which future changes can be measured. It includes a full health history and
physical examination.
,5. An ongoing partial assessment is performed:
A) Only once upon admission
B) During every shift or patient encounter
C) Only when a patient has a new complaint
D) After a patient is discharged
Correct Answer: During every shift or patient encounter
Rationale: An ongoing partial assessment is a follow-up assessment
conducted after the initial comprehensive assessment is established. It is
performed whenever the nurse has an encounter with the client to monitor
for changes in their health status.
6. The correct order of assessment techniques for a general physical
examination is:
A) Palpation, Percussion, Inspection, Auscultation
B) Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
C) Inspection, Auscultation, Palpation, Percussion
D) Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Correct Answer: Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
Rationale: The standard order for a general physical examination is
inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. This sequence prevents
alteration of findings before they are assessed.
7. What is the modified order of assessment techniques for the abdomen?
A) Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
, B) Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
C) Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
D) Palpation, Percussion, Inspection, Auscultation
Correct Answer: Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
Rationale: For the abdomen, the order is modified to inspection, auscultation,
percussion, and palpation. Auscultation is performed before palpation and
percussion to avoid altering bowel sounds.
8. A nurse is assessing a patient's pain. What is the most reliable indicator of
pain?
A) Changes in vital signs
B) The patient's facial expression
C) The patient's self-report
D) The patient's activity level
Correct Answer: The patient's self-report
Rationale: The patient's self-report of pain is the most reliable indicator of
pain. Pain is a subjective experience, and the patient's own description is the
gold standard for assessment.
9. A patient rates their pain as an 8 on a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale (NRS).
This indicates:
A) Mild pain
B) Moderate pain
C) Severe pain
D) No pain
(pdf) | 2026/2027 | Health Assessment Q&A | Nursing
1. A nurse is preparing to conduct a health history interview with a newly
admitted patient. Which of the following is the correct order for the four
phases of a nursing interview?
A) Working, Preintroductory, Introductory, Summary/Closing
B) Introductory, Preintroductory, Summary/Closing, Working
C) Preintroductory, Introductory, Working, Summary/Closing
D) Introductory, Working, Summary/Closing, Preintroductory
Correct Answer: Preintroductory, Introductory, Working, Summary/Closing
Rationale: The four phases of a nursing interview are the preintroductory
phase (reviewing the medical chart), the introductory phase (introducing
oneself, stating the purpose of the interview, and assuring confidentiality),
the working phase (collecting information through open-ended and closed-
ended questions), and the summary/closing phase (reviewing the information
obtained and discussing the plan).
2. A patient reports feeling "short of breath" and "dizzy." This information is
classified as:
A) Objective data
B) Secondary data
C) Subjective data
D) Primary data
Correct Answer: Subjective data
,Rationale: Subjective data is information reported by the client, including
their perceptions, feelings, and sensations, such as shortness of breath and
dizziness. It cannot be directly observed or measured by the nurse.
3. A nurse observes that a patient's skin is pale and their respiratory rate is
24 breaths per minute. These findings are classified as:
A) Subjective data
B) Objective data
C) Primary data
D) Secondary data
Correct Answer: Objective data
Rationale: Objective data is information gathered through direct observation
and physical examination, such as vital signs and skin color. It is measurable
and observable.
4. An initial comprehensive assessment is typically performed:
A) When a patient is about to be discharged
B) When a patient first enters the healthcare system
C) During every shift change
D) Only when a patient is in critical condition
Correct Answer: When a patient first enters the healthcare system
Rationale: An initial comprehensive assessment is performed when a patient
first enters the healthcare system to establish a baseline of data against
which future changes can be measured. It includes a full health history and
physical examination.
,5. An ongoing partial assessment is performed:
A) Only once upon admission
B) During every shift or patient encounter
C) Only when a patient has a new complaint
D) After a patient is discharged
Correct Answer: During every shift or patient encounter
Rationale: An ongoing partial assessment is a follow-up assessment
conducted after the initial comprehensive assessment is established. It is
performed whenever the nurse has an encounter with the client to monitor
for changes in their health status.
6. The correct order of assessment techniques for a general physical
examination is:
A) Palpation, Percussion, Inspection, Auscultation
B) Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
C) Inspection, Auscultation, Palpation, Percussion
D) Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Correct Answer: Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
Rationale: The standard order for a general physical examination is
inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. This sequence prevents
alteration of findings before they are assessed.
7. What is the modified order of assessment techniques for the abdomen?
A) Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
, B) Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
C) Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
D) Palpation, Percussion, Inspection, Auscultation
Correct Answer: Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
Rationale: For the abdomen, the order is modified to inspection, auscultation,
percussion, and palpation. Auscultation is performed before palpation and
percussion to avoid altering bowel sounds.
8. A nurse is assessing a patient's pain. What is the most reliable indicator of
pain?
A) Changes in vital signs
B) The patient's facial expression
C) The patient's self-report
D) The patient's activity level
Correct Answer: The patient's self-report
Rationale: The patient's self-report of pain is the most reliable indicator of
pain. Pain is a subjective experience, and the patient's own description is the
gold standard for assessment.
9. A patient rates their pain as an 8 on a 0-10 Numeric Rating Scale (NRS).
This indicates:
A) Mild pain
B) Moderate pain
C) Severe pain
D) No pain
