NURS 5220 SOAP Note Assignment 1 | 2026/2027 Updated | With Complete Solutions - UTA
NURS 5220 SOAP Note Assignment 1
2026/2027 Updated | With Complete Solutions | University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
60 questions aligned with UTA NURS 5220 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning curriculum standards:
SOAP note format and structure, subjective and objective data collection, assessment and diagnostic reasoning, plan
development, professional documentation, interprofessional communication, and cultural competence. Cognitive mix: 25%
recall, 55% application, 20% analysis. Latest 2026/2027 update.
Solutions: Answer +
Format: Multiple Choice
Total Questions: 60 Sections: 5 detailed clinical rationale
(A-D), one correct
per question
Section 1: Subjective Data Collection (Q1-Q15)
History of Presenting Illness (OLDCART), Past Medical History, Family History, Social History, Review of Systems,
and Medications/Allergies
Q1: When completing the History of Present Illness (HPI) section of a SOAP note, which set of elements is
correctly obtained using the OLDCART mnemonic?
A. Onset, Level of consciousness, Duration, Characteristics, Allergies, Radiation, Temperature, Risk
factors
B. Occupation, Location, Diet, Characteristics, Aggravating factors, Relief measures, Timing, Severity
C. Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating/Alleviating factors, Radiation, Timing, Severity
[CORRECT]
D. Order of events, Location, Diagnosis, Comorbidities, Adherence, Referrals, Treatment, Review of
systems
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: OLDCART stands for Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating/Alleviating factors,
Radiation, Timing, and Severity, which is the standardized framework used in NURS 5220 to fully characterize
each symptom in the HPI. The first option substitutes unrelated elements such as level of consciousness, allergies,
and temperature that belong in other parts of the database, not the symptom analysis. The second option replaces
Onset with Occupation and inserts Diet, both of which belong in the social history. The fourth option mixes in
diagnosis, referrals, and review of systems, which are documentation components that never belong inside the HPI
narrative.
NURS 5220 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning | UTA | 60 Questions 1
,NURS 5220 SOAP Note Assignment 1 | 2026/2027 Updated | With Complete Solutions - UTA
Q2: A 58-year-old man presents with chest discomfort. Which HPI documentation best applies the
OLDCART framework?
A. Patient ambulates slowly to the exam table and appears diaphoretic
B. BP 156/94 mmHg, HR 96, RR 20, SpO2 97% on room air
C. Denies fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, and shortness of breath
D. Chest pressure began 2 days ago, is substernal, tight in quality, 8/10 in severity, worsens with
exertion, radiates to the left jaw, and each episode lasts about 10 minutes [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct entry captures onset, location, duration, character, severity, aggravating factors, radiation,
and timing in one complete HPI narrative, which is exactly what UTA graders expect in the S section. The first
option describes observable behavior, which belongs in the general survey portion of Objective data. The second
option lists vital signs, which are objective measurements rather than symptom history. The third option is a
review of systems entry with pertinent negatives that supplements, but does not replace, characterization of the
presenting symptom.
Q3: A nursing student is sorting database entries for a SOAP note. Which finding is subjective data?
A. Patient reports the chest pain feels like pressure and rates it 8/10 [CORRECT]
B. Blood pressure 158/94 mmHg measured in the right arm
C. S4 gallop auscultated at the cardiac apex
D. Diaphoresis noted on the forehead and palms
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Subjective data are symptoms, which are sensations, perceptions, and statements reported by the
patient that the examiner cannot verify through observation, such as the patient description of pressure and the
8/10 pain rating. The blood pressure reading, the auscultated S4 gallop, and the observed diaphoresis are all
objective data that the examiner confirms through measurement or the senses. Confusing these two categories is
one of the most common SOAP note errors penalized in NURS 5220. Correct classification matters because the S
and O sections serve different roles in clinical reasoning and in legal documentation.
Q4: During the HPI interview, the nurse practitioner asks, "Does anything make the headache better, such as
resting in a dark room or taking medication?" Which OLDCART element is being assessed?
A. Timing
B. Radiation
C. Duration
D. Alleviating factors [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Questions about what improves or relieves a symptom assess the Alleviating factors element of
OLDCART, the A in Aggravating/Alleviating factors, while questions about what worsens it address the
aggravating side of the same element. Timing addresses pattern and frequency, such as constant versus
intermittent occurrence. Radiation asks whether the symptom spreads to other areas, and duration quantifies how
long each episode lasts. Distinguishing these elements is a frequently tested documentation competency because
each element must be explicitly documented in the HPI.
NURS 5220 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning | UTA | 60 Questions 2
, NURS 5220 SOAP Note Assignment 1 | 2026/2027 Updated | With Complete Solutions - UTA
Q5: Which chief complaint entry is documented correctly?
A. CC: Myocardial infarction
B. CC: Probable angina pectoris, rule out acute coronary syndrome
C. CC: "I have a squeezing pain in the middle of my chest that started this morning." [CORRECT]
D. CC: Chest discomfort, hypertension, anxiety, and a request for lab work
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The chief complaint should be a brief statement, in the patient own words and enclosed in quotation
marks, that identifies why the patient is seeking care today. The correct option captures the patient actual words
with quality, location, and onset. The first two options place diagnostic conclusions in the chief complaint, but
diagnoses belong in the Assessment section after data synthesis. The fourth option turns the chief complaint into a
problem list, which blurs the distinction between the presenting concern and the comprehensive database.
Q6: A 62-year-old woman with knee pain reports hypertension, a hysterectomy in 2018, childhood measles,
and a cholecystectomy in 2010. Where should the hysterectomy be documented?
A. History of Present Illness, as a contributing factor to the knee pain
B. Past Medical History, under surgical history [CORRECT]
C. Review of Systems, gastrointestinal section
D. Family History, under first-degree relatives
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Past surgeries, including hysterectomy and cholecystectomy, are documented in the Past Medical
History section under surgical history with the procedure and the year performed. The HPI is reserved for analysis
of the current presenting illness, which in this case is the knee pain. The Review of Systems records current
symptom review rather than past operations, and the Family History records illnesses in biological relatives rather
than the patient own procedures. Placing historical data in the wrong section is a common assignment deduction
because organized data placement demonstrates the systematic collection expected in NURS 5220.
Q7: A 44-year-old man is evaluated for blood pressures of 148/92 and 150/96 on two separate visits. Which
family history finding most directly strengthens the working diagnosis of essential hypertension?
A. Paternal grandfather died at age 88 from pneumonia
B. Cousin diagnosed with epilepsy at age 30
C. Father diagnosed with hypertension at age 40 and a brother who had a myocardial infarction at 49
[CORRECT]
D. Maternal aunt treated for hypothyroidism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Essential hypertension clusters in families, and premature cardiovascular disease in first-degree
relatives, here a father with early hypertension and a brother with a myocardial infarction before age 50, directly
supports both the diagnosis and elevated cardiovascular risk stratification. The other options involve
second-degree relatives or conditions with no recognized familial link to hypertension. Family history
documentation should specify the relative, the condition, and the age at diagnosis because those details drive risk
assessment and screening decisions documented in the Plan. Vague entries such as "heart disease runs in the
family" are a documented grading deduction.
NURS 5220 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning | UTA | 60 Questions 3
NURS 5220 SOAP Note Assignment 1
2026/2027 Updated | With Complete Solutions | University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)
60 questions aligned with UTA NURS 5220 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning curriculum standards:
SOAP note format and structure, subjective and objective data collection, assessment and diagnostic reasoning, plan
development, professional documentation, interprofessional communication, and cultural competence. Cognitive mix: 25%
recall, 55% application, 20% analysis. Latest 2026/2027 update.
Solutions: Answer +
Format: Multiple Choice
Total Questions: 60 Sections: 5 detailed clinical rationale
(A-D), one correct
per question
Section 1: Subjective Data Collection (Q1-Q15)
History of Presenting Illness (OLDCART), Past Medical History, Family History, Social History, Review of Systems,
and Medications/Allergies
Q1: When completing the History of Present Illness (HPI) section of a SOAP note, which set of elements is
correctly obtained using the OLDCART mnemonic?
A. Onset, Level of consciousness, Duration, Characteristics, Allergies, Radiation, Temperature, Risk
factors
B. Occupation, Location, Diet, Characteristics, Aggravating factors, Relief measures, Timing, Severity
C. Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating/Alleviating factors, Radiation, Timing, Severity
[CORRECT]
D. Order of events, Location, Diagnosis, Comorbidities, Adherence, Referrals, Treatment, Review of
systems
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: OLDCART stands for Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating/Alleviating factors,
Radiation, Timing, and Severity, which is the standardized framework used in NURS 5220 to fully characterize
each symptom in the HPI. The first option substitutes unrelated elements such as level of consciousness, allergies,
and temperature that belong in other parts of the database, not the symptom analysis. The second option replaces
Onset with Occupation and inserts Diet, both of which belong in the social history. The fourth option mixes in
diagnosis, referrals, and review of systems, which are documentation components that never belong inside the HPI
narrative.
NURS 5220 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning | UTA | 60 Questions 1
,NURS 5220 SOAP Note Assignment 1 | 2026/2027 Updated | With Complete Solutions - UTA
Q2: A 58-year-old man presents with chest discomfort. Which HPI documentation best applies the
OLDCART framework?
A. Patient ambulates slowly to the exam table and appears diaphoretic
B. BP 156/94 mmHg, HR 96, RR 20, SpO2 97% on room air
C. Denies fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, and shortness of breath
D. Chest pressure began 2 days ago, is substernal, tight in quality, 8/10 in severity, worsens with
exertion, radiates to the left jaw, and each episode lasts about 10 minutes [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct entry captures onset, location, duration, character, severity, aggravating factors, radiation,
and timing in one complete HPI narrative, which is exactly what UTA graders expect in the S section. The first
option describes observable behavior, which belongs in the general survey portion of Objective data. The second
option lists vital signs, which are objective measurements rather than symptom history. The third option is a
review of systems entry with pertinent negatives that supplements, but does not replace, characterization of the
presenting symptom.
Q3: A nursing student is sorting database entries for a SOAP note. Which finding is subjective data?
A. Patient reports the chest pain feels like pressure and rates it 8/10 [CORRECT]
B. Blood pressure 158/94 mmHg measured in the right arm
C. S4 gallop auscultated at the cardiac apex
D. Diaphoresis noted on the forehead and palms
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Subjective data are symptoms, which are sensations, perceptions, and statements reported by the
patient that the examiner cannot verify through observation, such as the patient description of pressure and the
8/10 pain rating. The blood pressure reading, the auscultated S4 gallop, and the observed diaphoresis are all
objective data that the examiner confirms through measurement or the senses. Confusing these two categories is
one of the most common SOAP note errors penalized in NURS 5220. Correct classification matters because the S
and O sections serve different roles in clinical reasoning and in legal documentation.
Q4: During the HPI interview, the nurse practitioner asks, "Does anything make the headache better, such as
resting in a dark room or taking medication?" Which OLDCART element is being assessed?
A. Timing
B. Radiation
C. Duration
D. Alleviating factors [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Questions about what improves or relieves a symptom assess the Alleviating factors element of
OLDCART, the A in Aggravating/Alleviating factors, while questions about what worsens it address the
aggravating side of the same element. Timing addresses pattern and frequency, such as constant versus
intermittent occurrence. Radiation asks whether the symptom spreads to other areas, and duration quantifies how
long each episode lasts. Distinguishing these elements is a frequently tested documentation competency because
each element must be explicitly documented in the HPI.
NURS 5220 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning | UTA | 60 Questions 2
, NURS 5220 SOAP Note Assignment 1 | 2026/2027 Updated | With Complete Solutions - UTA
Q5: Which chief complaint entry is documented correctly?
A. CC: Myocardial infarction
B. CC: Probable angina pectoris, rule out acute coronary syndrome
C. CC: "I have a squeezing pain in the middle of my chest that started this morning." [CORRECT]
D. CC: Chest discomfort, hypertension, anxiety, and a request for lab work
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The chief complaint should be a brief statement, in the patient own words and enclosed in quotation
marks, that identifies why the patient is seeking care today. The correct option captures the patient actual words
with quality, location, and onset. The first two options place diagnostic conclusions in the chief complaint, but
diagnoses belong in the Assessment section after data synthesis. The fourth option turns the chief complaint into a
problem list, which blurs the distinction between the presenting concern and the comprehensive database.
Q6: A 62-year-old woman with knee pain reports hypertension, a hysterectomy in 2018, childhood measles,
and a cholecystectomy in 2010. Where should the hysterectomy be documented?
A. History of Present Illness, as a contributing factor to the knee pain
B. Past Medical History, under surgical history [CORRECT]
C. Review of Systems, gastrointestinal section
D. Family History, under first-degree relatives
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Past surgeries, including hysterectomy and cholecystectomy, are documented in the Past Medical
History section under surgical history with the procedure and the year performed. The HPI is reserved for analysis
of the current presenting illness, which in this case is the knee pain. The Review of Systems records current
symptom review rather than past operations, and the Family History records illnesses in biological relatives rather
than the patient own procedures. Placing historical data in the wrong section is a common assignment deduction
because organized data placement demonstrates the systematic collection expected in NURS 5220.
Q7: A 44-year-old man is evaluated for blood pressures of 148/92 and 150/96 on two separate visits. Which
family history finding most directly strengthens the working diagnosis of essential hypertension?
A. Paternal grandfather died at age 88 from pneumonia
B. Cousin diagnosed with epilepsy at age 30
C. Father diagnosed with hypertension at age 40 and a brother who had a myocardial infarction at 49
[CORRECT]
D. Maternal aunt treated for hypothyroidism
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Essential hypertension clusters in families, and premature cardiovascular disease in first-degree
relatives, here a father with early hypertension and a brother with a myocardial infarction before age 50, directly
supports both the diagnosis and elevated cardiovascular risk stratification. The other options involve
second-degree relatives or conditions with no recognized familial link to hypertension. Family history
documentation should specify the relative, the condition, and the age at diagnosis because those details drive risk
assessment and screening decisions documented in the Plan. Vague entries such as "heart disease runs in the
family" are a documented grading deduction.
NURS 5220 Advanced Health Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning | UTA | 60 Questions 3
