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Health Assessment Midterm Practice Exam (Original) EXAM | Latest Update |
Original Questions & Answers with Detailed Rationales | Graded A+
Exam Focus: Comprehensive review of health history,
interviewing, general survey, vital signs, and head-to-toe
physical assessment across all body systems.
Section 1: Health History & Interviewing
1. For which of the following patients would a comprehensive
health history be most appropriate?
A) A new patient with the chief complaint of "I sprained my
ankle"
B) An established patient with the chief complaint of "I have an
upper respiratory infection"
C) A new patient with the chief complaint of "I am here to
establish care"
D) A new patient with the chief complaint of "I cut my hand"
Answer: C
Rationale: A comprehensive health history includes a full
review of systems, past medical history, family history, and
social history. It is indicated for new patients establishing care
to develop a complete baseline health status. Patients with
acute, focused problems warrant a problem-focused or episodic
history rather than a comprehensive one.
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2. The components of the health history include all of the
following EXCEPT:
A) Review of systems
B) Thorax and lungs
C) Present illness
D) Personal and social items
Answer: B
Rationale: The thorax and lungs are part of the physical
examination, not part of the health history. The components of
a complete health history include the chief complaint, history of
present illness, past medical history, family history, personal and
social history, and review of systems.
3. Is the following information subjective or objective? "Mr.
M. has shortness of breath that has persisted for the past 10
days; it is worse with activity and relieved by rest."
A) Subjective
B) Objective
Answer: A
Rationale: This is information given by the patient about the
circumstances of his chief complaint. It represents the patient's
perception and description of symptoms, which is subjective
data. It does not represent an objective observation or
measurement by the examiner.
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4. Is the following information subjective or objective? "Mr.
M. has a respiratory rate of 32 and a pulse rate of 120."
A) Subjective
B) Objective
Answer: B
Rationale: This is a measurable, observable finding obtained by
the examiner. It represents objective data that can be verified
and quantified.
5. During an interview, which question is considered open-
ended?
A) "Are you in pain?"
B) "Do you smoke?"
C) "Tell me about your health concerns."
D) "Is the pain sharp?"
Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage detailed patient
responses and allow the patient to describe their experience in
their own words. The other options are closed-ended questions
that can be answered with a simple yes or no.
6. The primary purpose of a head-to-toe assessment is to:
A) Diagnose disease
B) Establish a baseline
C) Replace diagnostic tests
D) Confirm medical orders
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Answer: B
Rationale: A systematic head-to-toe assessment establishes
baseline data for comparison with future assessments, enabling
the detection of changes in the patient's condition over time.
7. Which component of the health history explores past
illnesses and surgeries?
A) Chief complaint
B) History of present illness
C) Past medical history
D) Review of systems
Answer: C
Rationale: Past medical history includes prior conditions,
surgeries, hospitalizations, and immunizations. The chief
complaint is the reason for the visit; the history of present
illness details the current problem; the review of systems
screens for symptoms across body systems.
8. Which of the following is an example of subjective data?
A) Blood pressure 120/80 mmHg
B) "I feel nauseated and dizzy."
C) Heart rate 88 beats per minute
D) Lungs clear to auscultation
Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective data are the client's verbal description of
Health Assessment Midterm Practice Exam (Original) EXAM | Latest Update |
Original Questions & Answers with Detailed Rationales | Graded A+
Exam Focus: Comprehensive review of health history,
interviewing, general survey, vital signs, and head-to-toe
physical assessment across all body systems.
Section 1: Health History & Interviewing
1. For which of the following patients would a comprehensive
health history be most appropriate?
A) A new patient with the chief complaint of "I sprained my
ankle"
B) An established patient with the chief complaint of "I have an
upper respiratory infection"
C) A new patient with the chief complaint of "I am here to
establish care"
D) A new patient with the chief complaint of "I cut my hand"
Answer: C
Rationale: A comprehensive health history includes a full
review of systems, past medical history, family history, and
social history. It is indicated for new patients establishing care
to develop a complete baseline health status. Patients with
acute, focused problems warrant a problem-focused or episodic
history rather than a comprehensive one.
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/performance
2. The components of the health history include all of the
following EXCEPT:
A) Review of systems
B) Thorax and lungs
C) Present illness
D) Personal and social items
Answer: B
Rationale: The thorax and lungs are part of the physical
examination, not part of the health history. The components of
a complete health history include the chief complaint, history of
present illness, past medical history, family history, personal and
social history, and review of systems.
3. Is the following information subjective or objective? "Mr.
M. has shortness of breath that has persisted for the past 10
days; it is worse with activity and relieved by rest."
A) Subjective
B) Objective
Answer: A
Rationale: This is information given by the patient about the
circumstances of his chief complaint. It represents the patient's
perception and description of symptoms, which is subjective
data. It does not represent an objective observation or
measurement by the examiner.
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/performance
4. Is the following information subjective or objective? "Mr.
M. has a respiratory rate of 32 and a pulse rate of 120."
A) Subjective
B) Objective
Answer: B
Rationale: This is a measurable, observable finding obtained by
the examiner. It represents objective data that can be verified
and quantified.
5. During an interview, which question is considered open-
ended?
A) "Are you in pain?"
B) "Do you smoke?"
C) "Tell me about your health concerns."
D) "Is the pain sharp?"
Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage detailed patient
responses and allow the patient to describe their experience in
their own words. The other options are closed-ended questions
that can be answered with a simple yes or no.
6. The primary purpose of a head-to-toe assessment is to:
A) Diagnose disease
B) Establish a baseline
C) Replace diagnostic tests
D) Confirm medical orders
, https://www.stuvia.com/user/performance
Answer: B
Rationale: A systematic head-to-toe assessment establishes
baseline data for comparison with future assessments, enabling
the detection of changes in the patient's condition over time.
7. Which component of the health history explores past
illnesses and surgeries?
A) Chief complaint
B) History of present illness
C) Past medical history
D) Review of systems
Answer: C
Rationale: Past medical history includes prior conditions,
surgeries, hospitalizations, and immunizations. The chief
complaint is the reason for the visit; the history of present
illness details the current problem; the review of systems
screens for symptoms across body systems.
8. Which of the following is an example of subjective data?
A) Blood pressure 120/80 mmHg
B) "I feel nauseated and dizzy."
C) Heart rate 88 beats per minute
D) Lungs clear to auscultation
Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective data are the client's verbal description of
