NU 518 Exam 1 Practice Questions & Answers
(Verified Update)
This comprehensive study guide covers the core domains tested on NU 518 Exam
1: Advanced Health Assessment at the University of South Alabama. It
includesoriginal practice questions with detailed rationales, organized by topic:
The Clinical Encounter, Health History, Interviewing Techniques, Physical
Examination, Special Populations, and Clinical Reasoning.
The exam content spans advanced health assessment, pathophysiology,
pharmacology, and clinical decision-making, with a focus on the clinical encounter
sequence, comprehensive health history, cultural humility, and physical
assessment techniques.
Section 1: The Clinical Encounter
Q1. What is the correct sequence of the clinical encounter?
A. Performing physical exam → Gathering information →
Initiating the encounter → Explaining and planning → Closing
B. Initiating the encounter → Gathering information →
Performing physical exam → Explaining and planning → Closing
C. Gathering information → Initiating the encounter →
Explaining and planning → Performing physical exam → Closing
D. Initiating the encounter → Performing physical exam →
Gathering information → Explaining and planning → Closing
Answer: B
Rationale: The sequence of the clinical encounter is: (1)
,Initiating the encounter—setting the stage, greeting the patient,
and establishing initial rapport; (2) Gathering information—
initial information gathering, exploring the patient's
perspectives of illness, and exploring biomedical perspectives;
(3) Performing the physical examination; (4) Explaining and
planning—providing the correct amounts and types of
information, negotiating a plan of action, and shared decision-
making; (5) Closing the encounter—exploring the patient's
perspective and finalizing the visit.
Q2. What is the primary purpose of a comprehensive health
history?
A. To establish a diagnosis without testing
B. To replace the physical examination
C. To gather subjective data to guide care
D. To document only the chief complaint
Answer: C
Rationale: The primary purpose of a comprehensive health
history is to gather subjective data that guides clinical care. It
provides a complete baseline assessment for new patients and
helps identify health risks, concerns, and needs. It does not
replace the physical examination or establish a diagnosis
without testing.
Q3. For which of the following patients would a comprehensive
health history be 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 is indicated for new
patients establishing care, as it provides a complete baseline
assessment. Patients with acute, focused complaints typically
require a problem-focused history rather than a comprehensive
evaluation.
Q4. Which of the following is NOT a component of the
comprehensive health history?
A. Review of systems
B. Physical examination
C. Present illness
D. Personal and social history
Answer: B
Rationale: The health history components include the chief
complaint, history of present illness, past medical history, family
history, personal and social history, and review of systems. The
, physical examination is a separate component of the overall
patient assessment, not part of the health history itself.
Q5. The following information is recorded in the health history:
"Patient denies chest pain, palpitations, orthopnea, and
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea." Which category does it belong
to?
A. Chief complaint
B. Family history
C. Personal and social history
D. Review of systems
Answer: D
Rationale: Review of systems involves asking about symptoms
related to each body system. Questions about chest pain,
palpitations, orthopnea, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
pertain to the cardiovascular system and are part of the review
of systems.
Q6. The following information is recorded in the health history:
"The patient was hospitalized and treated for an asthma
exacerbation last year. The patient has never been intubated."
Which category does it belong to?
A. Past history
B. Personal and social history
C. Present illness
D. Chief complaint
(Verified Update)
This comprehensive study guide covers the core domains tested on NU 518 Exam
1: Advanced Health Assessment at the University of South Alabama. It
includesoriginal practice questions with detailed rationales, organized by topic:
The Clinical Encounter, Health History, Interviewing Techniques, Physical
Examination, Special Populations, and Clinical Reasoning.
The exam content spans advanced health assessment, pathophysiology,
pharmacology, and clinical decision-making, with a focus on the clinical encounter
sequence, comprehensive health history, cultural humility, and physical
assessment techniques.
Section 1: The Clinical Encounter
Q1. What is the correct sequence of the clinical encounter?
A. Performing physical exam → Gathering information →
Initiating the encounter → Explaining and planning → Closing
B. Initiating the encounter → Gathering information →
Performing physical exam → Explaining and planning → Closing
C. Gathering information → Initiating the encounter →
Explaining and planning → Performing physical exam → Closing
D. Initiating the encounter → Performing physical exam →
Gathering information → Explaining and planning → Closing
Answer: B
Rationale: The sequence of the clinical encounter is: (1)
,Initiating the encounter—setting the stage, greeting the patient,
and establishing initial rapport; (2) Gathering information—
initial information gathering, exploring the patient's
perspectives of illness, and exploring biomedical perspectives;
(3) Performing the physical examination; (4) Explaining and
planning—providing the correct amounts and types of
information, negotiating a plan of action, and shared decision-
making; (5) Closing the encounter—exploring the patient's
perspective and finalizing the visit.
Q2. What is the primary purpose of a comprehensive health
history?
A. To establish a diagnosis without testing
B. To replace the physical examination
C. To gather subjective data to guide care
D. To document only the chief complaint
Answer: C
Rationale: The primary purpose of a comprehensive health
history is to gather subjective data that guides clinical care. It
provides a complete baseline assessment for new patients and
helps identify health risks, concerns, and needs. It does not
replace the physical examination or establish a diagnosis
without testing.
Q3. For which of the following patients would a comprehensive
health history be 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 is indicated for new
patients establishing care, as it provides a complete baseline
assessment. Patients with acute, focused complaints typically
require a problem-focused history rather than a comprehensive
evaluation.
Q4. Which of the following is NOT a component of the
comprehensive health history?
A. Review of systems
B. Physical examination
C. Present illness
D. Personal and social history
Answer: B
Rationale: The health history components include the chief
complaint, history of present illness, past medical history, family
history, personal and social history, and review of systems. The
, physical examination is a separate component of the overall
patient assessment, not part of the health history itself.
Q5. The following information is recorded in the health history:
"Patient denies chest pain, palpitations, orthopnea, and
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea." Which category does it belong
to?
A. Chief complaint
B. Family history
C. Personal and social history
D. Review of systems
Answer: D
Rationale: Review of systems involves asking about symptoms
related to each body system. Questions about chest pain,
palpitations, orthopnea, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
pertain to the cardiovascular system and are part of the review
of systems.
Q6. The following information is recorded in the health history:
"The patient was hospitalized and treated for an asthma
exacerbation last year. The patient has never been intubated."
Which category does it belong to?
A. Past history
B. Personal and social history
C. Present illness
D. Chief complaint
