NSG 3160 Exam 1 - Health Assessment 2026 UPDATE |GCU 2026 Update • Verified Answers
✓ VERIFIED • 2026 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
NSG 3160 Exam 1 - Health Assessment 2026
UPDATE |GCU
Actual Exam Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations)
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Full Rationales
Status: Verified & Updated for 2026
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 1
,NSG 3160 Exam 1 - Health Assessment 2026 UPDATE |GCU 2026 Update • Verified Answers
Questions & Verified Answers
1. Which of the following is considered subjective data during a health assessment?
A. Blood pressure reading of 120/80 mmHg
B. The presence of a visible rash on the forearm
C. The patient’s description of chest pain
D. A heart rate of 75 beats per minute
Answer: C
Rationale: Subjective data is what the patient says about himself or herself during history taking. Objective
data is what the health professional observes by inspecting, percussing, palpating, and auscultating during the
physical examination. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related
distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
2. What is the correct sequence for performing a physical examination on most body systems?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Palpation, Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion
C. Inspection, Auscultation, Palpation, Percussion
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: A
Rationale: The standard sequence is Inspection, followed by Palpation, then Percussion, and finally
Auscultation. The abdomen is the exception where auscultation follows inspection to avoid altering bowel
sounds. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making
a clear rationale essential for mastery.
3. When assessing a patient’s pulse, the nurse notes it is ‘full and bounding’. How should this
be documented?
A. 1+
B. 3+
C. 2+
D. 0
Answer: B
Rationale: Pulse force is recorded on a three-point scale: 3+ is full/bounding, 2+ is normal, 1+ is weak/thready,
and 0 is absent. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (B) requires
understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle
allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 2
, NSG 3160 Exam 1 - Health Assessment 2026 UPDATE |GCU 2026 Update • Verified Answers
4. In the PQRST mnemonic for pain assessment, what does the ‘Q’ represent?
A. Quality
B. Quantity
C. Quell
D. Quickness
Answer: A
Rationale: Q stands for Quality or Quantity. It asks the patient to describe how the pain looks, feels, or sounds
(e.g., sharp, dull, stabbing, burning). Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based
practice and improves patient outcomes. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct
answer (A) requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications.
5. Which part of the hand is best suited for assessing skin temperature during palpation?
A. Fingertips
B. Ulnar surface
C. Dorsa (back) of the hands
D. Palmar surface
Answer: C
Rationale: The dorsa (backs) of the hands and fingers are best for determining temperature because the skin
is thinner than on the palms. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based practice
and improves patient outcomes. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (C)
requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications.
6. A nurse is using a blood pressure cuff that is too narrow for the patient’s arm. What impact
will this have on the reading?
A. The reading will be falsely high
B. The reading will be falsely low
C. The systolic reading will be low but diastolic will be high
D. It will have no effect on the accuracy
Answer: A
Rationale: Using a cuff that is too narrow or too loose results in a falsely high blood pressure reading because
it takes extra pressure to compress the artery. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care,
anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to
distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 3
✓ VERIFIED • 2026 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
NSG 3160 Exam 1 - Health Assessment 2026
UPDATE |GCU
Actual Exam Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations)
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Full Rationales
Status: Verified & Updated for 2026
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 1
,NSG 3160 Exam 1 - Health Assessment 2026 UPDATE |GCU 2026 Update • Verified Answers
Questions & Verified Answers
1. Which of the following is considered subjective data during a health assessment?
A. Blood pressure reading of 120/80 mmHg
B. The presence of a visible rash on the forearm
C. The patient’s description of chest pain
D. A heart rate of 75 beats per minute
Answer: C
Rationale: Subjective data is what the patient says about himself or herself during history taking. Objective
data is what the health professional observes by inspecting, percussing, palpating, and auscultating during the
physical examination. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related
distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
2. What is the correct sequence for performing a physical examination on most body systems?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Palpation, Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion
C. Inspection, Auscultation, Palpation, Percussion
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: A
Rationale: The standard sequence is Inspection, followed by Palpation, then Percussion, and finally
Auscultation. The abdomen is the exception where auscultation follows inspection to avoid altering bowel
sounds. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making
a clear rationale essential for mastery.
3. When assessing a patient’s pulse, the nurse notes it is ‘full and bounding’. How should this
be documented?
A. 1+
B. 3+
C. 2+
D. 0
Answer: B
Rationale: Pulse force is recorded on a three-point scale: 3+ is full/bounding, 2+ is normal, 1+ is weak/thready,
and 0 is absent. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (B) requires
understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle
allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 2
, NSG 3160 Exam 1 - Health Assessment 2026 UPDATE |GCU 2026 Update • Verified Answers
4. In the PQRST mnemonic for pain assessment, what does the ‘Q’ represent?
A. Quality
B. Quantity
C. Quell
D. Quickness
Answer: A
Rationale: Q stands for Quality or Quantity. It asks the patient to describe how the pain looks, feels, or sounds
(e.g., sharp, dull, stabbing, burning). Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based
practice and improves patient outcomes. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct
answer (A) requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications.
5. Which part of the hand is best suited for assessing skin temperature during palpation?
A. Fingertips
B. Ulnar surface
C. Dorsa (back) of the hands
D. Palmar surface
Answer: C
Rationale: The dorsa (backs) of the hands and fingers are best for determining temperature because the skin
is thinner than on the palms. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based practice
and improves patient outcomes. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (C)
requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications.
6. A nurse is using a blood pressure cuff that is too narrow for the patient’s arm. What impact
will this have on the reading?
A. The reading will be falsely high
B. The reading will be falsely low
C. The systolic reading will be low but diastolic will be high
D. It will have no effect on the accuracy
Answer: A
Rationale: Using a cuff that is too narrow or too loose results in a falsely high blood pressure reading because
it takes extra pressure to compress the artery. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care,
anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education. Exam questions often test the ability to
distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for mastery.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 3
