Essential Health Assessment
by Janice Thompson (Author)
2nd Edition
, TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Understanding Health Assessment
2. Interviewing the Patient for a Health History
3. Taking the Health History
4. Assessing Nutrition and Anthropometric Measurements
5. Assessment Techniques
6. General Survey and Assessing Vital Signs
7. Assessing Pain
8. Assessing the Skin, Hair, and Nails
9. Assessing the Head, Face, Mouth, and Neck
10. Assessing the Ears
11. Assessing the Eyes
12. Assessing the Respiratory System
13. Assessing the Cardiovascular System
14. Assessing the Abdomen
15. Assessing the Peripheral Vascular System and Regional Lymphatic System
16. Assessing the Musculoskeletal System
17. Assessing the Neurological System
18. Assessing the Female Breasts, Axillae, and Reproductive System
19. Assessing the Male Breasts and Reproductive System
20. Assessing the Anus and Rectum
21. Assessing the Newborn
22. Assessing the Child and Adolescent
23. Assessment of the Pregnant Woman
24. Assessing the Older Adult
,Test Bank: Essential Health Assessment, 2nd Edition
Thompson (2022) — Chapters 1–24
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
CHAPTER 1: HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND THE NURSE
1. The primary purpose of health assessment in nursing practice is to:
A) Diagnose medical conditions
B) Collect data to identify patient health needs and plan appropriate care
C) Prescribe medications based on findings
D) Replace the physician's physical examination
Answer: B
Rationale: Health assessment provides the nurse with data needed to identify patient needs, plan care,
and evaluate outcomes. Diagnosing medical conditions and prescribing medications are outside the
nurse's independent scope of practice.
2. Which type of health assessment is performed upon a patient's admission to a healthcare facility?
A) Focused assessment
B) Ongoing partial assessment
C) Comprehensive assessment
D) Emergency assessment
Answer: C
Rationale: A comprehensive assessment is performed at admission to establish a baseline. Focused
assessments target specific concerns; ongoing partial assessments monitor known problems; emergency
assessments are performed in urgent situations.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient who reports sudden onset of chest pain. Which type of assessment is
most appropriate?
A) Comprehensive assessment
, B) Focused assessment
C) Ongoing partial assessment
D) Screening assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: A focused assessment addresses a specific patient complaint or problem, such as chest pain,
and allows the nurse to rapidly gather pertinent data.
4. Which statement best describes the subjective data component of health assessment?
A) Data obtained by the nurse through direct observation
B) Measurable data such as vital signs and laboratory values
C) Information reported by the patient about symptoms and feelings
D) Data gathered from diagnostic tests
Answer: C
Rationale: Subjective data includes what the patient reports — symptoms, feelings, and perceptions that
cannot be directly measured by the nurse.
5. An example of objective data collected during a health assessment is:
A) The patient states, "I feel nauseated."
B) The patient reports a pain level of 8/10
C) A blood pressure reading of 148/92 mmHg
D) The patient denies shortness of breath
Answer: C
Rationale: Objective data is measurable and observable, such as vital signs, physical findings, and
laboratory results.
6. Which of the following best describes a focused assessment?
A) Performed annually to screen for disease
by Janice Thompson (Author)
2nd Edition
, TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Understanding Health Assessment
2. Interviewing the Patient for a Health History
3. Taking the Health History
4. Assessing Nutrition and Anthropometric Measurements
5. Assessment Techniques
6. General Survey and Assessing Vital Signs
7. Assessing Pain
8. Assessing the Skin, Hair, and Nails
9. Assessing the Head, Face, Mouth, and Neck
10. Assessing the Ears
11. Assessing the Eyes
12. Assessing the Respiratory System
13. Assessing the Cardiovascular System
14. Assessing the Abdomen
15. Assessing the Peripheral Vascular System and Regional Lymphatic System
16. Assessing the Musculoskeletal System
17. Assessing the Neurological System
18. Assessing the Female Breasts, Axillae, and Reproductive System
19. Assessing the Male Breasts and Reproductive System
20. Assessing the Anus and Rectum
21. Assessing the Newborn
22. Assessing the Child and Adolescent
23. Assessment of the Pregnant Woman
24. Assessing the Older Adult
,Test Bank: Essential Health Assessment, 2nd Edition
Thompson (2022) — Chapters 1–24
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
CHAPTER 1: HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND THE NURSE
1. The primary purpose of health assessment in nursing practice is to:
A) Diagnose medical conditions
B) Collect data to identify patient health needs and plan appropriate care
C) Prescribe medications based on findings
D) Replace the physician's physical examination
Answer: B
Rationale: Health assessment provides the nurse with data needed to identify patient needs, plan care,
and evaluate outcomes. Diagnosing medical conditions and prescribing medications are outside the
nurse's independent scope of practice.
2. Which type of health assessment is performed upon a patient's admission to a healthcare facility?
A) Focused assessment
B) Ongoing partial assessment
C) Comprehensive assessment
D) Emergency assessment
Answer: C
Rationale: A comprehensive assessment is performed at admission to establish a baseline. Focused
assessments target specific concerns; ongoing partial assessments monitor known problems; emergency
assessments are performed in urgent situations.
3. A nurse is caring for a patient who reports sudden onset of chest pain. Which type of assessment is
most appropriate?
A) Comprehensive assessment
, B) Focused assessment
C) Ongoing partial assessment
D) Screening assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: A focused assessment addresses a specific patient complaint or problem, such as chest pain,
and allows the nurse to rapidly gather pertinent data.
4. Which statement best describes the subjective data component of health assessment?
A) Data obtained by the nurse through direct observation
B) Measurable data such as vital signs and laboratory values
C) Information reported by the patient about symptoms and feelings
D) Data gathered from diagnostic tests
Answer: C
Rationale: Subjective data includes what the patient reports — symptoms, feelings, and perceptions that
cannot be directly measured by the nurse.
5. An example of objective data collected during a health assessment is:
A) The patient states, "I feel nauseated."
B) The patient reports a pain level of 8/10
C) A blood pressure reading of 148/92 mmHg
D) The patient denies shortness of breath
Answer: C
Rationale: Objective data is measurable and observable, such as vital signs, physical findings, and
laboratory results.
6. Which of the following best describes a focused assessment?
A) Performed annually to screen for disease
