National University NUR 304 Module 1 (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Advanced
Health Assessment Q&A | Nursing
1. A graduate nursing student is preparing to conduct a comprehensive
health history on a newly admitted patient. Which of the following is the
primary purpose of this assessment?
A) To establish a baseline of the patient's current health status and identify
potential risk factors
B) To complete the hospital's admission paperwork efficiently
C) To determine the patient's insurance coverage and financial status
D) To satisfy the requirements of the electronic health record system
Correct Answer: To establish a baseline of the patient's current health status
and identify potential risk factors
Rationale: The comprehensive health history is fundamental to advanced
health assessment; its primary purpose is to collect subjective and objective
data to establish a baseline and identify actual or potential health problems.
This data guides all subsequent clinical decisions and differentiates the
assessment from administrative or documentation tasks.
2. A nurse practitioner is interviewing a patient who is anxious and provides
vague answers to questions. Which advanced communication technique is
most effective for eliciting accurate and comprehensive data?
A) Asking closed-ended questions to maintain focus
B) Using silence and active listening to allow the patient to organize their
thoughts
C) Reassuring the patient that everything will be fine
D) Speaking quickly to complete the interview in a timely manner
Correct Answer: Using silence and active listening to allow the patient to
organize their thoughts
,Rationale: Active listening and the strategic use of silence are advanced
communication techniques that provide patients with the space to articulate
their concerns. Closed-ended questions limit data, premature reassurance
can block communication, and speaking quickly increases anxiety, all of
which compromise the depth of the health history.
3. A nurse is documenting a patient's pain using the PQRSTU mnemonic.
Which of the following questions best assesses the "Provocation/Palliation"
aspect of this framework?
A) "What makes the pain better, and what makes it worse?"
B) "Where exactly is the pain located?"
C) "What does the pain feel like?"
D) "How does the pain affect your daily activities?"
Correct Answer: "What makes the pain better, and what makes it worse?"
Rationale: In the PQRSTU framework, "Provocation/Palliation" directly
explores the factors that aggravate or alleviate the symptom. Asking "What
makes it better or worse?" is the standard question for this component,
distinguishing it from location (P), quality (Q), and the impact on function (U).
4. An advanced practice nurse is performing a general survey on an older
adult patient. Which observation is a normal age-related change and not a
sign of pathology?
A) A stooped posture with a shuffling gait
B) A loss of skin elasticity and the presence of wrinkles
C) A significant decrease in cognitive function
D) An increase in muscle mass and strength
,Correct Answer: A loss of skin elasticity and the presence of wrinkles
Rationale: Age-related changes in the integumentary system include loss of
elasticity, thinning of the skin, and wrinkles. While a stooped posture can
occur, it is not a universal normal change. Cognitive decline and muscle loss
are not normal aging processes but indicators of potential pathology.
5. A nurse practitioner is assessing a patient's vital signs and notes a blood
pressure of 142/92 mmHg in both arms. According to current hypertension
guidelines, this finding is classified as:
A) Normal
B) Elevated
C) Stage 1 hypertension
D) Stage 2 hypertension
Correct Answer: Stage 2 hypertension
Rationale: The ACC/AHA guidelines define Stage 2 hypertension as a systolic
BP ≥ 140 mmHg or a diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg. A reading of 142/92 mmHg
meets this criteria. Elevated BP is 120-129/<80, and Stage 1 is 130-139/80-
89.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient's nutritional status. Which laboratory value
is the most sensitive indicator of protein malnutrition?
A) Serum albumin
B) Prealbumin
C) Total protein
D) Hemoglobin
Correct Answer: Prealbumin
, Rationale: Prealbumin has a short half-life (approximately 2 days) and is a
highly sensitive, early indicator of protein malnutrition. While albumin (half-
life ~21 days) reflects longer-term status, prealbumin changes more rapidly
with nutritional interventions, making it a better acute indicator.
7. A nurse practitioner is performing a comprehensive pain assessment.
Which of the following factors is most important to consider when evaluating
a patient's pain experience?
A) The patient's vital signs and facial expressions
B) The patient's self-report of pain intensity and quality
C) The nurse's clinical judgment based on the patient's diagnosis
D) The family's perception of the patient's pain
Correct Answer: The patient's self-report of pain intensity and quality
Rationale: The patient's self-report is the single most reliable indicator of
pain. Pain is a subjective experience, and while vital signs and behavior can
offer clues, they are not definitive. The patient's description of intensity and
quality is the foundation of any pain assessment.
8. A nurse is preparing to perform a physical examination. Which of the
following sequences is correct for the general assessment of most body
systems?
A) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
B) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
C) Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
D) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Correct Answer: Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
Health Assessment Q&A | Nursing
1. A graduate nursing student is preparing to conduct a comprehensive
health history on a newly admitted patient. Which of the following is the
primary purpose of this assessment?
A) To establish a baseline of the patient's current health status and identify
potential risk factors
B) To complete the hospital's admission paperwork efficiently
C) To determine the patient's insurance coverage and financial status
D) To satisfy the requirements of the electronic health record system
Correct Answer: To establish a baseline of the patient's current health status
and identify potential risk factors
Rationale: The comprehensive health history is fundamental to advanced
health assessment; its primary purpose is to collect subjective and objective
data to establish a baseline and identify actual or potential health problems.
This data guides all subsequent clinical decisions and differentiates the
assessment from administrative or documentation tasks.
2. A nurse practitioner is interviewing a patient who is anxious and provides
vague answers to questions. Which advanced communication technique is
most effective for eliciting accurate and comprehensive data?
A) Asking closed-ended questions to maintain focus
B) Using silence and active listening to allow the patient to organize their
thoughts
C) Reassuring the patient that everything will be fine
D) Speaking quickly to complete the interview in a timely manner
Correct Answer: Using silence and active listening to allow the patient to
organize their thoughts
,Rationale: Active listening and the strategic use of silence are advanced
communication techniques that provide patients with the space to articulate
their concerns. Closed-ended questions limit data, premature reassurance
can block communication, and speaking quickly increases anxiety, all of
which compromise the depth of the health history.
3. A nurse is documenting a patient's pain using the PQRSTU mnemonic.
Which of the following questions best assesses the "Provocation/Palliation"
aspect of this framework?
A) "What makes the pain better, and what makes it worse?"
B) "Where exactly is the pain located?"
C) "What does the pain feel like?"
D) "How does the pain affect your daily activities?"
Correct Answer: "What makes the pain better, and what makes it worse?"
Rationale: In the PQRSTU framework, "Provocation/Palliation" directly
explores the factors that aggravate or alleviate the symptom. Asking "What
makes it better or worse?" is the standard question for this component,
distinguishing it from location (P), quality (Q), and the impact on function (U).
4. An advanced practice nurse is performing a general survey on an older
adult patient. Which observation is a normal age-related change and not a
sign of pathology?
A) A stooped posture with a shuffling gait
B) A loss of skin elasticity and the presence of wrinkles
C) A significant decrease in cognitive function
D) An increase in muscle mass and strength
,Correct Answer: A loss of skin elasticity and the presence of wrinkles
Rationale: Age-related changes in the integumentary system include loss of
elasticity, thinning of the skin, and wrinkles. While a stooped posture can
occur, it is not a universal normal change. Cognitive decline and muscle loss
are not normal aging processes but indicators of potential pathology.
5. A nurse practitioner is assessing a patient's vital signs and notes a blood
pressure of 142/92 mmHg in both arms. According to current hypertension
guidelines, this finding is classified as:
A) Normal
B) Elevated
C) Stage 1 hypertension
D) Stage 2 hypertension
Correct Answer: Stage 2 hypertension
Rationale: The ACC/AHA guidelines define Stage 2 hypertension as a systolic
BP ≥ 140 mmHg or a diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg. A reading of 142/92 mmHg
meets this criteria. Elevated BP is 120-129/<80, and Stage 1 is 130-139/80-
89.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient's nutritional status. Which laboratory value
is the most sensitive indicator of protein malnutrition?
A) Serum albumin
B) Prealbumin
C) Total protein
D) Hemoglobin
Correct Answer: Prealbumin
, Rationale: Prealbumin has a short half-life (approximately 2 days) and is a
highly sensitive, early indicator of protein malnutrition. While albumin (half-
life ~21 days) reflects longer-term status, prealbumin changes more rapidly
with nutritional interventions, making it a better acute indicator.
7. A nurse practitioner is performing a comprehensive pain assessment.
Which of the following factors is most important to consider when evaluating
a patient's pain experience?
A) The patient's vital signs and facial expressions
B) The patient's self-report of pain intensity and quality
C) The nurse's clinical judgment based on the patient's diagnosis
D) The family's perception of the patient's pain
Correct Answer: The patient's self-report of pain intensity and quality
Rationale: The patient's self-report is the single most reliable indicator of
pain. Pain is a subjective experience, and while vital signs and behavior can
offer clues, they are not definitive. The patient's description of intensity and
quality is the foundation of any pain assessment.
8. A nurse is preparing to perform a physical examination. Which of the
following sequences is correct for the general assessment of most body
systems?
A) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
B) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
C) Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
D) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Correct Answer: Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
