Page 1 of 107
HEALTH ASSESSMENT FOR NURSING PRACTICE, 8TH EDITION
(WILSON & GIDDENS) EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
QUESTIONS DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
Health Assessment for Nursing Practice, 8th Edition (Wilson & Giddens) — Exam Questions
with Rationales
Summarized 10-Point Exam Coverage
Foundations of health assessment — importance, types of assessment, health history
interviewing, techniques and equipment.
General inspection, vital signs, and cultural competence — measurement of vital signs, ethnic,
cultural, and spiritual considerations.
Pain assessment, mental health, and abusive behavior assessment.
Nutritional assessment and skin, hair, and nails.
Head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat (HEENT).
Respiratory system and cardiovascular system.
Abdomen and gastrointestinal system, musculoskeletal system, and neurologic system.
Breasts and axillae, reproductive system, and perineum (female and male).
Health assessment across the life span — infant, child, adolescent, pregnant patient, and older
adult.
Synthesis and application — conducting a head-to-toe examination, documenting findings, and
adapting assessment to the ill patient.
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Section 1: Foundations of Health Assessment (Questions 1–40)
Q1. A patient comes to the emergency department and tells the triage nurse that he is
"having a heart attack." What is the nurse's top priority at this time?
A. Determine the patient's personal data and insurance coverage.
B. Ask the patient to take a seat in the waiting room until his name is called.
C. Request that a nurse collect data for a comprehensive history.
D. Ask a nurse to start a focused assessment of this patient now.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse needs to begin an assessment as soon as possible that is focused on this
patient's cardiovascular system. The type of health assessment performed by the nurse is also
driven by patient need. Personal data and insurance information can wait until after the patient
is assessed, and a comprehensive history is not indicated at this time.
Q2. Which situation illustrates a screening assessment?
A. A patient visits an obstetric clinic for the first time and the nurse conducts a detailed history
and physical examination.
B. A hospital sponsors a health fair at a local mall and provides cholesterol and blood pressure
checks to mall patrons.
C. The nurse in an urgent care center checks the blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature of
a patient who just twisted her ankle.
D. A patient newly admitted to a long-term care facility receives a comprehensive admission
assessment.
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Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A screening assessment is performed for the purpose of disease detection.
Cholesterol and blood pressure checks at a health fair are examples of screening for
cardiovascular disease risk.
Q3. For which person is a screening assessment indicated?
A. The person who is having a heart attack
B. The person who is admitted to a long-term care facility
C. The person who is recovering in the hospital from surgery
D. The person who needs diabetes mellitus testing
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A screening assessment is performed for the purpose of disease detection, in this
case diabetes mellitus. A shift assessment is most appropriate for the person recovering from
surgery, and a comprehensive assessment is performed during admission to a facility.
Q4. A nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment. Which technique should the nurse
use to assess the abdomen?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Palpation, inspection, auscultation, percussion
D. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For abdominal assessment, auscultation is performed before palpation and
percussion to avoid altering bowel sounds.
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Q5. The nurse is using the technique of palpation during a physical examination. Which
assessment finding is obtained by palpation?
A. A heart murmur
B. An enlarged liver
C. Crackles in the lungs
D. Bowel sounds
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Palpation uses the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature, moisture, organ
location and size, and any swelling or masses. An enlarged liver is detected by palpation.
Q6. Which equipment is used to assess deep tendon reflexes?
A. Goniometer
B. Reflex hammer
C. Tuning fork
D. Otoscope
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A reflex hammer is used to assess deep tendon reflexes by striking the tendon and
observing the response.
Q7. A nurse is performing percussion during a physical examination. Which sound is expected
over normal lung tissue?
A. Tympany
B. Dullness
C. Resonance
D. Flatness
HEALTH ASSESSMENT FOR NURSING PRACTICE, 8TH EDITION
(WILSON & GIDDENS) EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
QUESTIONS DETAILED RATIONALES GRADED A+
Health Assessment for Nursing Practice, 8th Edition (Wilson & Giddens) — Exam Questions
with Rationales
Summarized 10-Point Exam Coverage
Foundations of health assessment — importance, types of assessment, health history
interviewing, techniques and equipment.
General inspection, vital signs, and cultural competence — measurement of vital signs, ethnic,
cultural, and spiritual considerations.
Pain assessment, mental health, and abusive behavior assessment.
Nutritional assessment and skin, hair, and nails.
Head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat (HEENT).
Respiratory system and cardiovascular system.
Abdomen and gastrointestinal system, musculoskeletal system, and neurologic system.
Breasts and axillae, reproductive system, and perineum (female and male).
Health assessment across the life span — infant, child, adolescent, pregnant patient, and older
adult.
Synthesis and application — conducting a head-to-toe examination, documenting findings, and
adapting assessment to the ill patient.
,Page 2 of 107
Section 1: Foundations of Health Assessment (Questions 1–40)
Q1. A patient comes to the emergency department and tells the triage nurse that he is
"having a heart attack." What is the nurse's top priority at this time?
A. Determine the patient's personal data and insurance coverage.
B. Ask the patient to take a seat in the waiting room until his name is called.
C. Request that a nurse collect data for a comprehensive history.
D. Ask a nurse to start a focused assessment of this patient now.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The nurse needs to begin an assessment as soon as possible that is focused on this
patient's cardiovascular system. The type of health assessment performed by the nurse is also
driven by patient need. Personal data and insurance information can wait until after the patient
is assessed, and a comprehensive history is not indicated at this time.
Q2. Which situation illustrates a screening assessment?
A. A patient visits an obstetric clinic for the first time and the nurse conducts a detailed history
and physical examination.
B. A hospital sponsors a health fair at a local mall and provides cholesterol and blood pressure
checks to mall patrons.
C. The nurse in an urgent care center checks the blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature of
a patient who just twisted her ankle.
D. A patient newly admitted to a long-term care facility receives a comprehensive admission
assessment.
,Page 3 of 107
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A screening assessment is performed for the purpose of disease detection.
Cholesterol and blood pressure checks at a health fair are examples of screening for
cardiovascular disease risk.
Q3. For which person is a screening assessment indicated?
A. The person who is having a heart attack
B. The person who is admitted to a long-term care facility
C. The person who is recovering in the hospital from surgery
D. The person who needs diabetes mellitus testing
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A screening assessment is performed for the purpose of disease detection, in this
case diabetes mellitus. A shift assessment is most appropriate for the person recovering from
surgery, and a comprehensive assessment is performed during admission to a facility.
Q4. A nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment. Which technique should the nurse
use to assess the abdomen?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Palpation, inspection, auscultation, percussion
D. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For abdominal assessment, auscultation is performed before palpation and
percussion to avoid altering bowel sounds.
, Page 4 of 107
Q5. The nurse is using the technique of palpation during a physical examination. Which
assessment finding is obtained by palpation?
A. A heart murmur
B. An enlarged liver
C. Crackles in the lungs
D. Bowel sounds
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Palpation uses the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature, moisture, organ
location and size, and any swelling or masses. An enlarged liver is detected by palpation.
Q6. Which equipment is used to assess deep tendon reflexes?
A. Goniometer
B. Reflex hammer
C. Tuning fork
D. Otoscope
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A reflex hammer is used to assess deep tendon reflexes by striking the tendon and
observing the response.
Q7. A nurse is performing percussion during a physical examination. Which sound is expected
over normal lung tissue?
A. Tympany
B. Dullness
C. Resonance
D. Flatness
