NURS 5220 Exam 1 Q&A
NURS 5220 Exam 1
Advanced Health Assessment
Questions with Answers| Latest Update
1. When beginning a health history interview, which technique is most effective
for establishing rapport?
A. Asking a series of rapid closed-ended questions
B. Using open-ended questions and active listening
C. Completing the physical exam before taking the history
D. Reading directly from a printed questionnaire without eye contact
Answer: B — Using open-ended questions and active listening
Rationale: Open-ended questions combined with active listening allow the patient
to share information in their own words, build trust, and reveal cues the examiner
might otherwise miss, forming the foundation of an effective health history
interview.
2. The mnemonic OLDCARTS is commonly used to explore which aspect of the
health history?
A. Past medical history
B. Characteristics of a presenting symptom
C. Family history
D. Review of systems
Answer: B — Characteristics of a presenting symptom
Rationale: OLDCARTS (Onset, Location, Duration, Characteristics, Aggravating
factors, Relieving factors, Timing, Severity) is a systematic framework for fully
characterizing a patient's chief complaint or presenting symptom.
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, NURS 5220 Exam 1 Q&A
3. A patient states, 'I've been so stressed lately.' The best facilitative response is:
A. 'Everyone gets stressed sometimes.'
B. 'Tell me more about what's been stressing you.'
C. 'You should try meditation.'
D. Changing the subject to avoid discomfort
Answer: B — 'Tell me more about what's been stressing you.'
Rationale: Reflective, open-ended facilitation invites the patient to elaborate,
demonstrating empathy and gathering clinically relevant psychosocial data rather
than minimizing or redirecting away from the patient's concern.
4. Which component of the health history includes information about a
patient's occupation, living situation, and support systems?
A. Review of systems
B. Social history
C. Past medical history
D. Family history
Answer: B — Social history
Rationale: The social history captures lifestyle and psychosocial factors such as
occupation, living arrangements, relationships, substance use, and support
systems that influence health status and risk.
5. During the review of systems (ROS), the examiner is primarily:
A. Performing hands-on physical examination of each body system
B. Asking a structured series of questions about each body system to identify
symptoms
C. Reviewing prior laboratory results only
D. Documenting the physical exam findings
Answer: B — Asking a structured series of questions about each body system to
identify symptoms
Rationale: The ROS is a subjective, symptom-based questioning process organized
by body system, used to identify symptoms the patient may not have mentioned
during the history of present illness.
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, NURS 5220 Exam 1 Q&A
6. A closed-ended question is most appropriate when the examiner needs to:
A. Explore the patient's emotional response to a diagnosis
B. Obtain specific, factual details efficiently, such as confirming a medication
dose
C. Build initial rapport at the start of the interview
D. Encourage the patient to share their overall health narrative
Answer: B — Obtain specific, factual details efficiently, such as confirming a
medication dose
Rationale: Closed-ended questions yield precise, focused answers and are efficient
for confirming discrete facts, whereas open-ended questions are better suited to
exploring narratives and emotional context.
7. When interviewing a patient through a medical interpreter, the examiner
should:
A. Speak directly to the interpreter rather than the patient
B. Speak directly to the patient in short, clear segments and allow time for
interpretation
C. Use complex medical terminology to save time
D. Avoid eye contact with the patient throughout the interview
Answer: B — Speak directly to the patient in short, clear segments and allow
time for interpretation
Rationale: Best practice is to address the patient directly using short, clear
statements, pausing for accurate interpretation, which preserves the therapeutic
relationship and reduces the risk of miscommunication.
8. Which is an example of a leading question that should generally be avoided?
A. 'How would you describe the pain?'
B. 'You don't smoke, do you?'
C. 'What makes the pain better or worse?'
D. 'Can you tell me when the pain started?'
Answer: B — 'You don't smoke, do you?'
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, NURS 5220 Exam 1 Q&A
Rationale: Leading questions suggest a desired answer and can bias the patient's
response; asking 'You don't smoke, do you?' pressures the patient toward denial
rather than eliciting an honest, unbiased answer.
9. The most appropriate way to ask about sensitive topics such as sexual history
or substance use is to:
A. Skip these topics unless the patient brings them up first
B. Use a nonjudgmental tone, normalize the questions, and ensure privacy
C. Ask only in front of family members for accountability
D. Use vague, indirect language to avoid discomfort
Answer: B — Use a nonjudgmental tone, normalize the questions, and ensure
privacy
Rationale: Sensitive topics require a private setting and a nonjudgmental, matter-
of-fact approach; normalizing the questions (e.g., 'I ask all my patients about...')
increases the likelihood of honest disclosure.
10. Which statement best reflects the use of 'summarization' as an interviewing
technique?
A. Restating the patient's information back to confirm understanding and
signal transition
B. Asking the patient to repeat their entire history
C. Interrupting the patient to correct inaccuracies
D. Providing the patient with a written summary at the end of the visit only
Answer: A — Restating the patient's information back to confirm understanding
and signal transition
Rationale: Summarization involves briefly restating what the patient has shared
to verify accuracy, demonstrate active listening, and provide a natural transition
point in the interview.
General Survey & Vital Signs
11. The general survey of a patient begins:
A. Only after vital signs are measured
Page 4
NURS 5220 Exam 1
Advanced Health Assessment
Questions with Answers| Latest Update
1. When beginning a health history interview, which technique is most effective
for establishing rapport?
A. Asking a series of rapid closed-ended questions
B. Using open-ended questions and active listening
C. Completing the physical exam before taking the history
D. Reading directly from a printed questionnaire without eye contact
Answer: B — Using open-ended questions and active listening
Rationale: Open-ended questions combined with active listening allow the patient
to share information in their own words, build trust, and reveal cues the examiner
might otherwise miss, forming the foundation of an effective health history
interview.
2. The mnemonic OLDCARTS is commonly used to explore which aspect of the
health history?
A. Past medical history
B. Characteristics of a presenting symptom
C. Family history
D. Review of systems
Answer: B — Characteristics of a presenting symptom
Rationale: OLDCARTS (Onset, Location, Duration, Characteristics, Aggravating
factors, Relieving factors, Timing, Severity) is a systematic framework for fully
characterizing a patient's chief complaint or presenting symptom.
Page 1
, NURS 5220 Exam 1 Q&A
3. A patient states, 'I've been so stressed lately.' The best facilitative response is:
A. 'Everyone gets stressed sometimes.'
B. 'Tell me more about what's been stressing you.'
C. 'You should try meditation.'
D. Changing the subject to avoid discomfort
Answer: B — 'Tell me more about what's been stressing you.'
Rationale: Reflective, open-ended facilitation invites the patient to elaborate,
demonstrating empathy and gathering clinically relevant psychosocial data rather
than minimizing or redirecting away from the patient's concern.
4. Which component of the health history includes information about a
patient's occupation, living situation, and support systems?
A. Review of systems
B. Social history
C. Past medical history
D. Family history
Answer: B — Social history
Rationale: The social history captures lifestyle and psychosocial factors such as
occupation, living arrangements, relationships, substance use, and support
systems that influence health status and risk.
5. During the review of systems (ROS), the examiner is primarily:
A. Performing hands-on physical examination of each body system
B. Asking a structured series of questions about each body system to identify
symptoms
C. Reviewing prior laboratory results only
D. Documenting the physical exam findings
Answer: B — Asking a structured series of questions about each body system to
identify symptoms
Rationale: The ROS is a subjective, symptom-based questioning process organized
by body system, used to identify symptoms the patient may not have mentioned
during the history of present illness.
Page 2
, NURS 5220 Exam 1 Q&A
6. A closed-ended question is most appropriate when the examiner needs to:
A. Explore the patient's emotional response to a diagnosis
B. Obtain specific, factual details efficiently, such as confirming a medication
dose
C. Build initial rapport at the start of the interview
D. Encourage the patient to share their overall health narrative
Answer: B — Obtain specific, factual details efficiently, such as confirming a
medication dose
Rationale: Closed-ended questions yield precise, focused answers and are efficient
for confirming discrete facts, whereas open-ended questions are better suited to
exploring narratives and emotional context.
7. When interviewing a patient through a medical interpreter, the examiner
should:
A. Speak directly to the interpreter rather than the patient
B. Speak directly to the patient in short, clear segments and allow time for
interpretation
C. Use complex medical terminology to save time
D. Avoid eye contact with the patient throughout the interview
Answer: B — Speak directly to the patient in short, clear segments and allow
time for interpretation
Rationale: Best practice is to address the patient directly using short, clear
statements, pausing for accurate interpretation, which preserves the therapeutic
relationship and reduces the risk of miscommunication.
8. Which is an example of a leading question that should generally be avoided?
A. 'How would you describe the pain?'
B. 'You don't smoke, do you?'
C. 'What makes the pain better or worse?'
D. 'Can you tell me when the pain started?'
Answer: B — 'You don't smoke, do you?'
Page 3
, NURS 5220 Exam 1 Q&A
Rationale: Leading questions suggest a desired answer and can bias the patient's
response; asking 'You don't smoke, do you?' pressures the patient toward denial
rather than eliciting an honest, unbiased answer.
9. The most appropriate way to ask about sensitive topics such as sexual history
or substance use is to:
A. Skip these topics unless the patient brings them up first
B. Use a nonjudgmental tone, normalize the questions, and ensure privacy
C. Ask only in front of family members for accountability
D. Use vague, indirect language to avoid discomfort
Answer: B — Use a nonjudgmental tone, normalize the questions, and ensure
privacy
Rationale: Sensitive topics require a private setting and a nonjudgmental, matter-
of-fact approach; normalizing the questions (e.g., 'I ask all my patients about...')
increases the likelihood of honest disclosure.
10. Which statement best reflects the use of 'summarization' as an interviewing
technique?
A. Restating the patient's information back to confirm understanding and
signal transition
B. Asking the patient to repeat their entire history
C. Interrupting the patient to correct inaccuracies
D. Providing the patient with a written summary at the end of the visit only
Answer: A — Restating the patient's information back to confirm understanding
and signal transition
Rationale: Summarization involves briefly restating what the patient has shared
to verify accuracy, demonstrate active listening, and provide a natural transition
point in the interview.
General Survey & Vital Signs
11. The general survey of a patient begins:
A. Only after vital signs are measured
Page 4
