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NURS 5220 EXAM 1 – 2026 HEALTH ASSESSMENT
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON - FOUNDATIONS
OF HEALTH ASSESSMENT COMPLETE (300) CURRENT
TESTING QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES.
NURS
Prepare for the NURS 5220 Exam 1 – Foundations of Health Assessment at the
University of Texas at Arlington with this comprehensive study resource designed to
reinforce essential health assessment principles, patient interviewing, physical
examination techniques, normal and abnormal findings, clinical reasoning,
documentation, and evidence-based advanced nursing practice. This document helps
you review key topics, assess your understanding, and identify areas that may require
additional study before the exam. Use it to strengthen your assessment skills and
build confidence through focused, organized preparation. An excellent companion for
successful NURS 5220 Exam 1 – Foundations of Health Assessment preparation.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
Section 1: The Health History & Interviewing (Questions 1–
60)
1. The most important component of the health assessment is?
A. Physical examination
B. Health history
C. Laboratory tests
D. Vital signs
Rationale: The history guides the entire assessment and diagnosis.
2. Which is an example of an open-ended question?
A. "Do you have chest pain?"
B. "Tell me about your symptoms."
C. "Is the pain sharp?"
D. "Does it hurt when you cough?"
Rationale: Open-ended questions allow patients to narrate their experience.
3. The mnemonic OLD CARTS is used to assess?
A. Family history
B. Characteristics of a symptom
C. Past medical history
D. Social history
Rationale: OLD CARTS: Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors,
Relieving factors, Timing, Severity.
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4. A patient reports chest pain that occurs with exertion and resolves with rest. This
describes?
A. Quality
B. Timing and relieving factors
C. Location
D. Severity
Rationale: Exertional onset and rest relief = timing and relieving factors.
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5. Which question best assesses the severity of a patient's pain?
A. "Is it sharp or dull?"
B. "On a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being worst, what is your pain?"
C. "Where is the pain located?"
D. "How long have you had the pain?"
Rationale: Numeric rating scale quantifies severity.
6. A patient reports "I feel like the room is spinning." This is best described as?
A. Lightheadedness
B. Vertigo
C. Presyncope
D. Dizziness
Rationale: Vertigo = sensation of movement (self or environment).
7. A patient reports "I feel like I'm going to faint when I stand up." This is?
A. Vertigo
B. Presyncope
C. Syncope
D. Disequilibrium
Rationale: Presyncope = feeling of impending faint without loss of consciousness.
8. The review of systems (ROS) is a systematic review of?
A. Past medical conditions
B. Body systems for current or past symptoms
C. Family history
D. Social history
Rationale: ROS is a head-to-toe symptom inventory.
9. Which is a component of the past medical history?
A. Occupation
B. Childhood illnesses
C. Diet
D. Living situation
Rationale: PMH includes medical, surgical, hospitalization, and immunization history.
10. A patient reports "my father had a heart attack at age 50." This should be
documented in?
A. Past medical history
B. Family history
C. Social history
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D. Review of systems
Rationale: Family history includes health of blood relatives.
11. The CAGE questionnaire screens for?
A. Depression
B. Alcohol use disorder
C. Anxiety
D. Dementia
Rationale: CAGE: Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener.
12. A patient reports "I've lost 15 pounds unintentionally in 2 months." This is a?
A. Review of systems finding
B. Constitutional symptom
C. Past medical history
D. Family history
Rationale: Unintentional weight loss is a constitutional symptom.
13. Which question is most appropriate to assess a patient's functional status?
A. "What medications do you take?"
B. "Can you bathe, dress, and prepare meals independently?"
C. "Do you have any allergies?"
D. "Have you had any surgeries?"
Rationale: ADLs and IADLs assess functional status.
14. A patient reports "I wake up gasping for air at night." This is documented as?
A. Orthopnea
B. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND)
C. Dyspnea on exertion
D. Platypnea
Rationale: PND = awakening with shortness of breath.
15. A patient reports needing to sleep propped up on three pillows to breathe
comfortably. This is?
A. PND
B. Orthopnea
C. Dyspnea
D. Tachypnea
Rationale: Orthopnea = dyspnea relieved by sitting upright.
16. A patient reports "I see double." This is documented as?
A. Amblyopia
B. Diplopia
NURS 5220 EXAM 1 – 2026 HEALTH ASSESSMENT
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON - FOUNDATIONS
OF HEALTH ASSESSMENT COMPLETE (300) CURRENT
TESTING QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES.
NURS
Prepare for the NURS 5220 Exam 1 – Foundations of Health Assessment at the
University of Texas at Arlington with this comprehensive study resource designed to
reinforce essential health assessment principles, patient interviewing, physical
examination techniques, normal and abnormal findings, clinical reasoning,
documentation, and evidence-based advanced nursing practice. This document helps
you review key topics, assess your understanding, and identify areas that may require
additional study before the exam. Use it to strengthen your assessment skills and
build confidence through focused, organized preparation. An excellent companion for
successful NURS 5220 Exam 1 – Foundations of Health Assessment preparation.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
Section 1: The Health History & Interviewing (Questions 1–
60)
1. The most important component of the health assessment is?
A. Physical examination
B. Health history
C. Laboratory tests
D. Vital signs
Rationale: The history guides the entire assessment and diagnosis.
2. Which is an example of an open-ended question?
A. "Do you have chest pain?"
B. "Tell me about your symptoms."
C. "Is the pain sharp?"
D. "Does it hurt when you cough?"
Rationale: Open-ended questions allow patients to narrate their experience.
3. The mnemonic OLD CARTS is used to assess?
A. Family history
B. Characteristics of a symptom
C. Past medical history
D. Social history
Rationale: OLD CARTS: Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors,
Relieving factors, Timing, Severity.
, Page 2 of 54
4. A patient reports chest pain that occurs with exertion and resolves with rest. This
describes?
A. Quality
B. Timing and relieving factors
C. Location
D. Severity
Rationale: Exertional onset and rest relief = timing and relieving factors.
, Page 3 of 54
5. Which question best assesses the severity of a patient's pain?
A. "Is it sharp or dull?"
B. "On a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being worst, what is your pain?"
C. "Where is the pain located?"
D. "How long have you had the pain?"
Rationale: Numeric rating scale quantifies severity.
6. A patient reports "I feel like the room is spinning." This is best described as?
A. Lightheadedness
B. Vertigo
C. Presyncope
D. Dizziness
Rationale: Vertigo = sensation of movement (self or environment).
7. A patient reports "I feel like I'm going to faint when I stand up." This is?
A. Vertigo
B. Presyncope
C. Syncope
D. Disequilibrium
Rationale: Presyncope = feeling of impending faint without loss of consciousness.
8. The review of systems (ROS) is a systematic review of?
A. Past medical conditions
B. Body systems for current or past symptoms
C. Family history
D. Social history
Rationale: ROS is a head-to-toe symptom inventory.
9. Which is a component of the past medical history?
A. Occupation
B. Childhood illnesses
C. Diet
D. Living situation
Rationale: PMH includes medical, surgical, hospitalization, and immunization history.
10. A patient reports "my father had a heart attack at age 50." This should be
documented in?
A. Past medical history
B. Family history
C. Social history
, Page 4 of 54
D. Review of systems
Rationale: Family history includes health of blood relatives.
11. The CAGE questionnaire screens for?
A. Depression
B. Alcohol use disorder
C. Anxiety
D. Dementia
Rationale: CAGE: Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener.
12. A patient reports "I've lost 15 pounds unintentionally in 2 months." This is a?
A. Review of systems finding
B. Constitutional symptom
C. Past medical history
D. Family history
Rationale: Unintentional weight loss is a constitutional symptom.
13. Which question is most appropriate to assess a patient's functional status?
A. "What medications do you take?"
B. "Can you bathe, dress, and prepare meals independently?"
C. "Do you have any allergies?"
D. "Have you had any surgeries?"
Rationale: ADLs and IADLs assess functional status.
14. A patient reports "I wake up gasping for air at night." This is documented as?
A. Orthopnea
B. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND)
C. Dyspnea on exertion
D. Platypnea
Rationale: PND = awakening with shortness of breath.
15. A patient reports needing to sleep propped up on three pillows to breathe
comfortably. This is?
A. PND
B. Orthopnea
C. Dyspnea
D. Tachypnea
Rationale: Orthopnea = dyspnea relieved by sitting upright.
16. A patient reports "I see double." This is documented as?
A. Amblyopia
B. Diplopia
