NSG 6020 3P EXAM – ADVANCED
PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT – SOUTH
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF NURSING AND
HEALTH QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains:
1. Health History and Interviewing Techniques
2. General Survey and Vital Signs
3. Skin, Hair, and Nail Assessment
4. Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat (HEENT) Assessment
5. Neck and Lymphatic System Assessment
6. Thorax and Lung Assessment
7. Cardiovascular System Assessment
8. Abdominal Assessment
9. Musculoskeletal System Assessment
10. Neurologic System Assessment
11. Breast and Axillae Assessment
12. Male and Female Genitourinary Assessment
13. Developmental and Cultural Considerations
14. Documentation and Clinical Reasoning
Introduction
This comprehensive examination is designed to evaluate the advanced
practice nursing student's competency in performing a comprehensive
health history and physical assessment across the lifespan. It assesses the
integration of inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation
techniques with clinical reasoning to identify normal variations and
abnormal findings. The exam utilizes a multiple-choice format with clinical
,scenario-based questions that reflect real-world advanced practice
encounters. Emphasis is placed on the application of evidence-based
assessment techniques, interpretation of findings, and the development of
differential diagnoses. This assessment aligns with APRN core
competencies and prepares students for clinical practice.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1 - 100
1. During a health history interview, a 45-year-old patient reports
chest pain. Which of the following questions is MOST appropriate to
further characterize the pain?
A. "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
B. "Do you have a family history of heart disease?"
C. "What medications do you currently take?"
D. "Have you ever had surgery?"
A. "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
RATIONALE: The PQRST (Provocation/Palliation, Quality,
Region/Radiation, Severity, Timing) mnemonic guides pain assessment.
Asking about quality (sharp vs. dull) is essential for characterizing chest
pain. Other questions address history and medications but do not
directly characterize the pain.
2. A 62-year-old patient presents with a complaint of fatigue. During
the health history, the APRN asks about the patient's sleep patterns.
Which component of the health history is being assessed?
A. Past medical history
B. Social history
C. Review of systems
D. Functional assessment
C. Review of systems
RATIONALE: The review of systems is a systematic approach to
collecting subjective data about each body system. Asking about sleep
,patterns is part of the neurologic or general ROS. It is not part of the past
medical history, social history, or functional assessment.
3. A 55-year-old patient reports a 10-pound unintentional weight loss
over the past 3 months. The APRN should ask which of the following
questions FIRST?
A. "Are you trying to lose weight?"
B. "Have you had any changes in your appetite?"
C. "Do you have a history of diabetes?"
D. "Are you taking any new medications?"
A. "Are you trying to lose weight?"
RATIONALE: Before considering unintentional weight loss as a sign
of disease, the APRN must first determine if the weight loss was
intentional (dieting, exercise). This is the most appropriate first question
to clarify the nature of the weight loss.
4. A 70-year-old patient reports difficulty hearing in noisy
environments. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate
initial screening test?
A. Weber test
B. Rinne test
C. Whisper test
D. Audiometry
C. Whisper test
RATIONALE: The whisper test is a simple, quick screening test for
hearing loss in the primary care setting. Patients with difficulty hearing
in noisy environments often have sensorineural hearing loss. Formal
audiometry is reserved for further evaluation.
5. A 32-year-old female patient presents with a complaint of a
"lump" in her breast. During the breast examination, the APRN
notes a firm, nontender, mobile mass in the upper outer quadrant.
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate next step?
, A. Reassure the patient that it is benign
B. Schedule a mammogram
C. Obtain a breast ultrasound
D. Refer for surgical consultation
C. Obtain a breast ultrasound
RATIONALE: In a woman under 35, breast ultrasound is the preferred
initial imaging modality to evaluate a palpable mass. Mammography is
less effective in younger women due to dense breast tissue. Ultrasound
can differentiate between solid and cystic masses.
6. During a cardiovascular assessment, the APRN auscultates a
systolic ejection murmur at the right upper sternal border that
radiates to the carotid arteries. This finding is MOST consistent
with:
A. Mitral regurgitation
B. Aortic stenosis
C. Pulmonic stenosis
D. Tricuspid regurgitation
B. Aortic stenosis
RATIONALE: Aortic stenosis is characterized by a systolic ejection
murmur at the right upper sternal border (aortic area) that radiates to
the carotids. Mitral regurgitation is a holosystolic murmur at the apex,
pulmonic stenosis is at the left upper sternal border, and tricuspid
regurgitation is at the left lower sternal border.
7. A 48-year-old patient presents with a 3-day history of cough,
fever, and pleuritic chest pain. On auscultation, the APRN hears
crackles in the right lower lung field. Which of the following is the
MOST likely diagnosis?
A. Asthma
B. Pneumonia
C. COPD
D. Pulmonary embolism
PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT – SOUTH
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF NURSING AND
HEALTH QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains:
1. Health History and Interviewing Techniques
2. General Survey and Vital Signs
3. Skin, Hair, and Nail Assessment
4. Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat (HEENT) Assessment
5. Neck and Lymphatic System Assessment
6. Thorax and Lung Assessment
7. Cardiovascular System Assessment
8. Abdominal Assessment
9. Musculoskeletal System Assessment
10. Neurologic System Assessment
11. Breast and Axillae Assessment
12. Male and Female Genitourinary Assessment
13. Developmental and Cultural Considerations
14. Documentation and Clinical Reasoning
Introduction
This comprehensive examination is designed to evaluate the advanced
practice nursing student's competency in performing a comprehensive
health history and physical assessment across the lifespan. It assesses the
integration of inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation
techniques with clinical reasoning to identify normal variations and
abnormal findings. The exam utilizes a multiple-choice format with clinical
,scenario-based questions that reflect real-world advanced practice
encounters. Emphasis is placed on the application of evidence-based
assessment techniques, interpretation of findings, and the development of
differential diagnoses. This assessment aligns with APRN core
competencies and prepares students for clinical practice.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1 - 100
1. During a health history interview, a 45-year-old patient reports
chest pain. Which of the following questions is MOST appropriate to
further characterize the pain?
A. "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
B. "Do you have a family history of heart disease?"
C. "What medications do you currently take?"
D. "Have you ever had surgery?"
A. "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
RATIONALE: The PQRST (Provocation/Palliation, Quality,
Region/Radiation, Severity, Timing) mnemonic guides pain assessment.
Asking about quality (sharp vs. dull) is essential for characterizing chest
pain. Other questions address history and medications but do not
directly characterize the pain.
2. A 62-year-old patient presents with a complaint of fatigue. During
the health history, the APRN asks about the patient's sleep patterns.
Which component of the health history is being assessed?
A. Past medical history
B. Social history
C. Review of systems
D. Functional assessment
C. Review of systems
RATIONALE: The review of systems is a systematic approach to
collecting subjective data about each body system. Asking about sleep
,patterns is part of the neurologic or general ROS. It is not part of the past
medical history, social history, or functional assessment.
3. A 55-year-old patient reports a 10-pound unintentional weight loss
over the past 3 months. The APRN should ask which of the following
questions FIRST?
A. "Are you trying to lose weight?"
B. "Have you had any changes in your appetite?"
C. "Do you have a history of diabetes?"
D. "Are you taking any new medications?"
A. "Are you trying to lose weight?"
RATIONALE: Before considering unintentional weight loss as a sign
of disease, the APRN must first determine if the weight loss was
intentional (dieting, exercise). This is the most appropriate first question
to clarify the nature of the weight loss.
4. A 70-year-old patient reports difficulty hearing in noisy
environments. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate
initial screening test?
A. Weber test
B. Rinne test
C. Whisper test
D. Audiometry
C. Whisper test
RATIONALE: The whisper test is a simple, quick screening test for
hearing loss in the primary care setting. Patients with difficulty hearing
in noisy environments often have sensorineural hearing loss. Formal
audiometry is reserved for further evaluation.
5. A 32-year-old female patient presents with a complaint of a
"lump" in her breast. During the breast examination, the APRN
notes a firm, nontender, mobile mass in the upper outer quadrant.
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate next step?
, A. Reassure the patient that it is benign
B. Schedule a mammogram
C. Obtain a breast ultrasound
D. Refer for surgical consultation
C. Obtain a breast ultrasound
RATIONALE: In a woman under 35, breast ultrasound is the preferred
initial imaging modality to evaluate a palpable mass. Mammography is
less effective in younger women due to dense breast tissue. Ultrasound
can differentiate between solid and cystic masses.
6. During a cardiovascular assessment, the APRN auscultates a
systolic ejection murmur at the right upper sternal border that
radiates to the carotid arteries. This finding is MOST consistent
with:
A. Mitral regurgitation
B. Aortic stenosis
C. Pulmonic stenosis
D. Tricuspid regurgitation
B. Aortic stenosis
RATIONALE: Aortic stenosis is characterized by a systolic ejection
murmur at the right upper sternal border (aortic area) that radiates to
the carotids. Mitral regurgitation is a holosystolic murmur at the apex,
pulmonic stenosis is at the left upper sternal border, and tricuspid
regurgitation is at the left lower sternal border.
7. A 48-year-old patient presents with a 3-day history of cough,
fever, and pleuritic chest pain. On auscultation, the APRN hears
crackles in the right lower lung field. Which of the following is the
MOST likely diagnosis?
A. Asthma
B. Pneumonia
C. COPD
D. Pulmonary embolism
