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NURS 3209 HEALTH EXAM — COMPREHENSIVE 2026/2027
COMPLETE (100) CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.
NURS
Prepare for the NURS 3209 Health Exam Practice with a focused study resource
designed to reinforce foundational concepts in holistic nursing and health. It supports
review of health assessment, health promotion, disease prevention, nutrition, patient
education, and nursing interventions related to health maintenance across the
lifespan. This resource is best suited for NURS 3209 nursing students and healthcare
learners preparing for health and holistic nursing assessments.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
SECTION 1: VITAL SIGNS & HEALTH ASSESSMENT (Questions 1-15)
1. A nurse is assessing a client's vital signs. Which of the following is the
normal range for an adult's resting heart rate?
a) 40-60 bpm
b) 60-100 bpm
c) 80-120 bpm
d) 100-140 bpm
Answer: b) 60-100 bpm
Rationale: The normal resting heart rate for an adult is 60-100 bpm.
Bradycardia is defined as <60 bpm, and tachycardia is >100 bpm. Athletes
may have resting heart rates below 60 bpm.
2. A nurse is assessing a client's blood pressure. Which of the following is
the normal range for systolic blood pressure in an adult?
a) 90-120 mmHg
b) 120-140 mmHg
c) 140-160 mmHg
d) 160-180 mmHg
Answer: a) 90-120 mmHg
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Rationale: Normal systolic blood pressure is <120 mmHg. Elevated is 120-
129 mmHg; Stage 1 hypertension is 130-139 mmHg; Stage 2 hypertension is
≥140 mmHg.
3. A nurse is assessing a client's respiratory rate. Which of the following is
the normal range for an adult's resting respiratory rate?
a) 8-12 breaths/min
b) 12-20 breaths/min
c) 20-28 breaths/min
d) 28-36 breaths/min
Answer: b) 12-20 breaths/min
Rationale: The normal resting respiratory rate for an adult is 12-20
breaths/min. Bradypnea is <12 breaths/min, and tachypnea is >20
breaths/min.
4. A nurse is assessing a client's temperature. Which of the following
routes provides the most accurate core temperature?
a) Axillary
b) Oral
c) Rectal
d) Temporal
Answer: c) Rectal
Rationale: Rectal temperature is considered the most accurate core
temperature. Axillary is the least accurate. Oral and temporal are less invasive
but may be affected by external factors.
5. A nurse is assessing a client's pain. Which of the following is the most
reliable indicator of pain?
a) Vital signs
b) Behavioral changes
c) The client's self-report
d) Family report
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Answer: c) The client's self-report
Rationale: The client's self-report is the most reliable indicator of pain. Pain is
subjective, and the client's description of pain should be the primary source
of assessment. "Pain is what the patient says it is."
6. A nurse is assessing a client's body mass index (BMI). Which of the
following BMI ranges is classified as "overweight"?
a) <18.5
b) 18.5-24.9
c) 25.0-29.9
d) ≥30.0
Answer: c) 25.0-29.9
Rationale: BMI classifications are: Underweight (<18.5), Normal (18.5-24.9),
Overweight (25.0-29.9), Obese (≥30.0).
7. A nurse is assessing a client's pulse. Which of the following
characteristics should the nurse assess?
a) Rate only
b) Rate, rhythm, and strength
c) Rhythm only
d) Strength only
Answer: b) Rate, rhythm, and strength
Rationale: Pulse assessment includes rate (number of beats per minute),
rhythm (regular or irregular), and strength (amplitude, 0-4 scale). The carotid,
brachial, radial, femoral, popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis pulses
are commonly assessed.
8. A nurse is assessing a client's oxygen saturation using a pulse oximeter.
Which of the following is the normal range for SpO2?
a) 85-89%
b) 90-94%
c) 95-100%
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d) 100%
Answer: c) 95-100%
Rationale: Normal SpO2 is 95-100%. SpO2 <90% indicates hypoxemia and
requires intervention. Clients with COPD may have lower baseline SpO2 (88-
92%).
9. A nurse is assessing a client's capillary refill time. Which of the
following is the normal capillary refill time?
a) <2 seconds
b) 2-3 seconds
c) 3-5 seconds
d) >5 seconds
Answer: a) <2 seconds
Rationale: Normal capillary refill time is less than 2 seconds. Prolonged
capillary refill (>2 seconds) may indicate decreased peripheral perfusion.
10. A nurse is assessing a client's skin turgor. Which of the following is the
most appropriate location to assess skin turgor in an older adult?
a) Forearm
b) Sternum or forehead
c) Abdomen
d) Lower leg
Answer: b) Sternum or forehead
Rationale: In older adults, skin turgor is best assessed over the sternum or
forehead because skin elasticity decreases with age and the forearm is less
reliable. Decreased skin turgor indicates dehydration.
11. A nurse is assessing a client's nutritional status. Which of the
following laboratory values is the most sensitive indicator of acute
protein-energy malnutrition?
a) Serum albumin
b) Prealbumin
NURS 3209 HEALTH EXAM — COMPREHENSIVE 2026/2027
COMPLETE (100) CURRENT TESTING QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES.
NURS
Prepare for the NURS 3209 Health Exam Practice with a focused study resource
designed to reinforce foundational concepts in holistic nursing and health. It supports
review of health assessment, health promotion, disease prevention, nutrition, patient
education, and nursing interventions related to health maintenance across the
lifespan. This resource is best suited for NURS 3209 nursing students and healthcare
learners preparing for health and holistic nursing assessments.
MULTIPLE CHOICE.
SECTION 1: VITAL SIGNS & HEALTH ASSESSMENT (Questions 1-15)
1. A nurse is assessing a client's vital signs. Which of the following is the
normal range for an adult's resting heart rate?
a) 40-60 bpm
b) 60-100 bpm
c) 80-120 bpm
d) 100-140 bpm
Answer: b) 60-100 bpm
Rationale: The normal resting heart rate for an adult is 60-100 bpm.
Bradycardia is defined as <60 bpm, and tachycardia is >100 bpm. Athletes
may have resting heart rates below 60 bpm.
2. A nurse is assessing a client's blood pressure. Which of the following is
the normal range for systolic blood pressure in an adult?
a) 90-120 mmHg
b) 120-140 mmHg
c) 140-160 mmHg
d) 160-180 mmHg
Answer: a) 90-120 mmHg
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Rationale: Normal systolic blood pressure is <120 mmHg. Elevated is 120-
129 mmHg; Stage 1 hypertension is 130-139 mmHg; Stage 2 hypertension is
≥140 mmHg.
3. A nurse is assessing a client's respiratory rate. Which of the following is
the normal range for an adult's resting respiratory rate?
a) 8-12 breaths/min
b) 12-20 breaths/min
c) 20-28 breaths/min
d) 28-36 breaths/min
Answer: b) 12-20 breaths/min
Rationale: The normal resting respiratory rate for an adult is 12-20
breaths/min. Bradypnea is <12 breaths/min, and tachypnea is >20
breaths/min.
4. A nurse is assessing a client's temperature. Which of the following
routes provides the most accurate core temperature?
a) Axillary
b) Oral
c) Rectal
d) Temporal
Answer: c) Rectal
Rationale: Rectal temperature is considered the most accurate core
temperature. Axillary is the least accurate. Oral and temporal are less invasive
but may be affected by external factors.
5. A nurse is assessing a client's pain. Which of the following is the most
reliable indicator of pain?
a) Vital signs
b) Behavioral changes
c) The client's self-report
d) Family report
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Answer: c) The client's self-report
Rationale: The client's self-report is the most reliable indicator of pain. Pain is
subjective, and the client's description of pain should be the primary source
of assessment. "Pain is what the patient says it is."
6. A nurse is assessing a client's body mass index (BMI). Which of the
following BMI ranges is classified as "overweight"?
a) <18.5
b) 18.5-24.9
c) 25.0-29.9
d) ≥30.0
Answer: c) 25.0-29.9
Rationale: BMI classifications are: Underweight (<18.5), Normal (18.5-24.9),
Overweight (25.0-29.9), Obese (≥30.0).
7. A nurse is assessing a client's pulse. Which of the following
characteristics should the nurse assess?
a) Rate only
b) Rate, rhythm, and strength
c) Rhythm only
d) Strength only
Answer: b) Rate, rhythm, and strength
Rationale: Pulse assessment includes rate (number of beats per minute),
rhythm (regular or irregular), and strength (amplitude, 0-4 scale). The carotid,
brachial, radial, femoral, popliteal, posterior tibial, and dorsalis pedis pulses
are commonly assessed.
8. A nurse is assessing a client's oxygen saturation using a pulse oximeter.
Which of the following is the normal range for SpO2?
a) 85-89%
b) 90-94%
c) 95-100%
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d) 100%
Answer: c) 95-100%
Rationale: Normal SpO2 is 95-100%. SpO2 <90% indicates hypoxemia and
requires intervention. Clients with COPD may have lower baseline SpO2 (88-
92%).
9. A nurse is assessing a client's capillary refill time. Which of the
following is the normal capillary refill time?
a) <2 seconds
b) 2-3 seconds
c) 3-5 seconds
d) >5 seconds
Answer: a) <2 seconds
Rationale: Normal capillary refill time is less than 2 seconds. Prolonged
capillary refill (>2 seconds) may indicate decreased peripheral perfusion.
10. A nurse is assessing a client's skin turgor. Which of the following is the
most appropriate location to assess skin turgor in an older adult?
a) Forearm
b) Sternum or forehead
c) Abdomen
d) Lower leg
Answer: b) Sternum or forehead
Rationale: In older adults, skin turgor is best assessed over the sternum or
forehead because skin elasticity decreases with age and the forearm is less
reliable. Decreased skin turgor indicates dehydration.
11. A nurse is assessing a client's nutritional status. Which of the
following laboratory values is the most sensitive indicator of acute
protein-energy malnutrition?
a) Serum albumin
b) Prealbumin
