Page 1 of 62
NURS 5220 EXAM 2 – 2026 HEALTH ASSESSMENT
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON - ADVANCED 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. 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–
50)
1. A patient presents with chest pain. Which question best explores the quality of the
symptom?
A. "Where is the pain?"
B. "Can you describe the sensation?"
C. "How long does it last?"
D. "What makes it worse?"
Rationale: Quality asks about character (sharp, dull, burning, crushing).
2. The mnemonic OLD CARTS stands for?
A. Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing,
Severity
B. Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors,
Timing, Severity
C. Observation, Location, Duration, Cause, Aggravation, Relief, Timing, Symptoms
D. Onset, Length, Description, Cause, Aggravation, Relief, Treatment, Severity
Rationale: OLD CARTS is a standard mnemonic for symptom analysis.
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3. A patient reports "dizziness." Which question helps differentiate vertigo from
presyncope?
A. "Do you feel lightheaded?"
B. "Do you feel like you or the room is spinning?"
C. "Do you feel faint?"
D. "Is it worse when you stand up?"
Rationale: Vertigo = sensation of movement; presyncope = lightheadedness.
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4. The review of systems (ROS) is best described as?
A. Past medical history
B. A systematic inventory of body systems
C. Family history
D. Social history
Rationale: ROS is a head-to-toe symptom inquiry.
5. A patient reports a family history of breast cancer. Which additional information is
most important?
A. Age of diagnosis
B. Age of diagnosis and first-degree vs second-degree relative
C. Treatment received
D. Current health status
Rationale: Early age and first-degree relative increase risk.
6. Which question is most appropriate to assess a patient's functional status?
A. "Do you have any diseases?"
B. "Can you bathe, dress, and prepare meals independently?"
C. "What medications do you take?"
D. "Do you smoke?"
Rationale: ADLs and IADLs assess functional status.
7. A patient avoids answering questions about alcohol use. Which approach is best?
A. Skip the question
B. Ask again in a nonjudgmental way; explain why it matters
C. Assume no use
D. Ask family member
Rationale: Nonjudgmental, therapeutic approach builds trust.
8. The CAGE questionnaire screens for?
A. Depression
B. Alcohol use disorder
C. Anxiety
D. Dementia
Rationale: CAGE: Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener.
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9. A patient reports "black stools." This should be documented as?
A. Hematochezia
B. Melena
C. Hemoptysis
D. Hematemesis
Rationale: Melena = black tarry stool from upper GI bleeding.
10. A patient reports coughing up blood. This is documented as?
A. Hematemesis
B. Hemoptysis
C. Epistaxis
D. Hematochezia
Rationale: Hemoptysis = coughing blood from respiratory tract.
11. Which question best screens for depression in a busy primary care visit?
A. "Are you sad?"
B. "Over the past 2 weeks, have you felt down, depressed, or hopeless?"
C. "Do you have suicidal thoughts?"
D. "How is your sleep?"
*Rationale: PHQ-2 is validated; first question screens for depression.*
12. A patient reports "chest pain that feels like an elephant sitting on my chest." This
describes?
A. Quality
B. Quality
C. Location
D. Severity
Rationale: Sensation description = quality.
13. The past medical history should include all EXCEPT?
A. Childhood illnesses
B. Review of systems
C. Hospitalizations
D. Surgeries
Rationale: ROS is separate from PMH.
NURS 5220 EXAM 2 – 2026 HEALTH ASSESSMENT
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT ARLINGTON - ADVANCED 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. 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–
50)
1. A patient presents with chest pain. Which question best explores the quality of the
symptom?
A. "Where is the pain?"
B. "Can you describe the sensation?"
C. "How long does it last?"
D. "What makes it worse?"
Rationale: Quality asks about character (sharp, dull, burning, crushing).
2. The mnemonic OLD CARTS stands for?
A. Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing,
Severity
B. Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors,
Timing, Severity
C. Observation, Location, Duration, Cause, Aggravation, Relief, Timing, Symptoms
D. Onset, Length, Description, Cause, Aggravation, Relief, Treatment, Severity
Rationale: OLD CARTS is a standard mnemonic for symptom analysis.
, Page 2 of 62
3. A patient reports "dizziness." Which question helps differentiate vertigo from
presyncope?
A. "Do you feel lightheaded?"
B. "Do you feel like you or the room is spinning?"
C. "Do you feel faint?"
D. "Is it worse when you stand up?"
Rationale: Vertigo = sensation of movement; presyncope = lightheadedness.
, Page 3 of 62
4. The review of systems (ROS) is best described as?
A. Past medical history
B. A systematic inventory of body systems
C. Family history
D. Social history
Rationale: ROS is a head-to-toe symptom inquiry.
5. A patient reports a family history of breast cancer. Which additional information is
most important?
A. Age of diagnosis
B. Age of diagnosis and first-degree vs second-degree relative
C. Treatment received
D. Current health status
Rationale: Early age and first-degree relative increase risk.
6. Which question is most appropriate to assess a patient's functional status?
A. "Do you have any diseases?"
B. "Can you bathe, dress, and prepare meals independently?"
C. "What medications do you take?"
D. "Do you smoke?"
Rationale: ADLs and IADLs assess functional status.
7. A patient avoids answering questions about alcohol use. Which approach is best?
A. Skip the question
B. Ask again in a nonjudgmental way; explain why it matters
C. Assume no use
D. Ask family member
Rationale: Nonjudgmental, therapeutic approach builds trust.
8. The CAGE questionnaire screens for?
A. Depression
B. Alcohol use disorder
C. Anxiety
D. Dementia
Rationale: CAGE: Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener.
, Page 4 of 62
9. A patient reports "black stools." This should be documented as?
A. Hematochezia
B. Melena
C. Hemoptysis
D. Hematemesis
Rationale: Melena = black tarry stool from upper GI bleeding.
10. A patient reports coughing up blood. This is documented as?
A. Hematemesis
B. Hemoptysis
C. Epistaxis
D. Hematochezia
Rationale: Hemoptysis = coughing blood from respiratory tract.
11. Which question best screens for depression in a busy primary care visit?
A. "Are you sad?"
B. "Over the past 2 weeks, have you felt down, depressed, or hopeless?"
C. "Do you have suicidal thoughts?"
D. "How is your sleep?"
*Rationale: PHQ-2 is validated; first question screens for depression.*
12. A patient reports "chest pain that feels like an elephant sitting on my chest." This
describes?
A. Quality
B. Quality
C. Location
D. Severity
Rationale: Sensation description = quality.
13. The past medical history should include all EXCEPT?
A. Childhood illnesses
B. Review of systems
C. Hospitalizations
D. Surgeries
Rationale: ROS is separate from PMH.
