,NUS 215 Final Exam Healthcare Foundations Questions And Answers
2026/2027 Jersey College
Q1. What is the primary purpose of a comprehensive health
assessment?
A) Establish a medical diagnosis independently
B) Replace all laboratory and diagnostic testing
C) Identify only the patient's current complaint
D) Collect baseline information about health status, risks, strengths, and care
needs
Correct Answer: D) Collect baseline information about health status, risks,
strengths, and care needs
Rationale: A comprehensive assessment establishes baseline information
and identifies actual or potential healthcare needs that guide subsequent
care.
Q2. Which information is subjective assessment data?
A) Temperature of 38.1°C
B) Blood pressure of 148/88 mm Hg
C) “My chest feels tight whenever I walk upstairs.”
D) Oxygen saturation of 92%
Correct Answer: C) “My chest feels tight whenever I walk upstairs.”
Rationale: Subjective data consist of symptoms, feelings, perceptions, and
experiences reported by the patient.
Q3. Which finding represents objective data?
A) “I feel nauseated.”
B) Respiratory rate of 30/min
C) “My pain is sharp.”
D) “I have felt weak all morning.”
Correct Answer: B) Respiratory rate of 30/min
Rationale: Objective data are measurable or observable findings obtained
through examination, measurement, or testing.
Q4. A patient reports sudden severe abdominal pain. What should
occur before developing a care plan?
,A) Perform a focused assessment of the new problem
B) Select interventions based only on the diagnosis in the chart
C) Wait until the next routine assessment
D) Ask the patient to determine the cause
Correct Answer: A) Perform a focused assessment of the new problem
Rationale: An acute change requires focused assessment so relevant cues
can be collected before clinical decisions are made.
Q5. Which action best demonstrates person-centered assessment?
A) Ask only questions contained on a standard checklist
B) Include the patient's concerns, goals, preferences, and perception of
health
C) Avoid discussing social or cultural influences
D) Focus exclusively on physical findings
Correct Answer: B) Include the patient's concerns, goals, preferences, and
perception of health
Rationale: Person-centered care incorporates the individual's values,
priorities, preferences, experiences, and goals.
Q6. Which assessment finding should be validated before being
used to guide care?
A) A consistently documented temperature trend
B) A blood-pressure reading that is dramatically different from the patient's
baseline and inconsistent with the clinical presentation
C) A patient's clearly described chronic symptom
D) A laboratory result confirmed by repeat testing
Correct Answer: B) A blood-pressure reading that is dramatically different
from the patient's baseline and inconsistent with the clinical presentation
Rationale: Unexpected or inconsistent findings should be rechecked or
validated before conclusions are drawn.
Q7. Which action best protects the accuracy of a health history?
A) Ask several questions simultaneously
B) Suggest the answer the patient should provide
C) Rely entirely on family members despite an alert patient
D) Use clear questions, allow adequate response time, and clarify uncertain
information
, Correct Answer: D) Use clear questions, allow adequate response time, and
clarify uncertain information
Rationale: Clear, unbiased communication improves the reliability and
completeness of patient-reported information.
Q8. Which finding should receive priority during an assessment?
A) Chronic dry skin
B) New difficulty breathing with use of accessory muscles
C) Long-standing mild constipation
D) Request for dietary education
Correct Answer: B) New difficulty breathing with use of accessory muscles
Rationale: Acute respiratory difficulty represents an immediate threat to
oxygenation and takes priority over stable or nonurgent findings.
Q9. Why is comparison with baseline data important?
A) Baseline findings eliminate the need for reassessment
B) Changes from baseline can reveal deterioration or improvement that a
single value may not show
C) Baseline data are useful only during discharge
D) Baseline measurements replace patient reports
Correct Answer: B) Changes from baseline can reveal deterioration or
improvement that a single value may not show
Rationale: Trends and changes from baseline help identify clinically
meaningful changes in the patient's condition.
Q10. Which question is most appropriate when beginning a health
history?
A) “You don't smoke, do you?”
B) “Why didn't you seek care sooner?”
C) “What brought you in today, and what concerns you most?”
D) “Is your problem serious?”
Correct Answer: C) “What brought you in today, and what concerns you
most?”
Rationale: Open-ended, nonjudgmental questions encourage the patient to
describe concerns in their own words.
CHAPTER 2 — CLINICAL JUDGMENT AND THE NURSING PROCESS
2026/2027 Jersey College
Q1. What is the primary purpose of a comprehensive health
assessment?
A) Establish a medical diagnosis independently
B) Replace all laboratory and diagnostic testing
C) Identify only the patient's current complaint
D) Collect baseline information about health status, risks, strengths, and care
needs
Correct Answer: D) Collect baseline information about health status, risks,
strengths, and care needs
Rationale: A comprehensive assessment establishes baseline information
and identifies actual or potential healthcare needs that guide subsequent
care.
Q2. Which information is subjective assessment data?
A) Temperature of 38.1°C
B) Blood pressure of 148/88 mm Hg
C) “My chest feels tight whenever I walk upstairs.”
D) Oxygen saturation of 92%
Correct Answer: C) “My chest feels tight whenever I walk upstairs.”
Rationale: Subjective data consist of symptoms, feelings, perceptions, and
experiences reported by the patient.
Q3. Which finding represents objective data?
A) “I feel nauseated.”
B) Respiratory rate of 30/min
C) “My pain is sharp.”
D) “I have felt weak all morning.”
Correct Answer: B) Respiratory rate of 30/min
Rationale: Objective data are measurable or observable findings obtained
through examination, measurement, or testing.
Q4. A patient reports sudden severe abdominal pain. What should
occur before developing a care plan?
,A) Perform a focused assessment of the new problem
B) Select interventions based only on the diagnosis in the chart
C) Wait until the next routine assessment
D) Ask the patient to determine the cause
Correct Answer: A) Perform a focused assessment of the new problem
Rationale: An acute change requires focused assessment so relevant cues
can be collected before clinical decisions are made.
Q5. Which action best demonstrates person-centered assessment?
A) Ask only questions contained on a standard checklist
B) Include the patient's concerns, goals, preferences, and perception of
health
C) Avoid discussing social or cultural influences
D) Focus exclusively on physical findings
Correct Answer: B) Include the patient's concerns, goals, preferences, and
perception of health
Rationale: Person-centered care incorporates the individual's values,
priorities, preferences, experiences, and goals.
Q6. Which assessment finding should be validated before being
used to guide care?
A) A consistently documented temperature trend
B) A blood-pressure reading that is dramatically different from the patient's
baseline and inconsistent with the clinical presentation
C) A patient's clearly described chronic symptom
D) A laboratory result confirmed by repeat testing
Correct Answer: B) A blood-pressure reading that is dramatically different
from the patient's baseline and inconsistent with the clinical presentation
Rationale: Unexpected or inconsistent findings should be rechecked or
validated before conclusions are drawn.
Q7. Which action best protects the accuracy of a health history?
A) Ask several questions simultaneously
B) Suggest the answer the patient should provide
C) Rely entirely on family members despite an alert patient
D) Use clear questions, allow adequate response time, and clarify uncertain
information
, Correct Answer: D) Use clear questions, allow adequate response time, and
clarify uncertain information
Rationale: Clear, unbiased communication improves the reliability and
completeness of patient-reported information.
Q8. Which finding should receive priority during an assessment?
A) Chronic dry skin
B) New difficulty breathing with use of accessory muscles
C) Long-standing mild constipation
D) Request for dietary education
Correct Answer: B) New difficulty breathing with use of accessory muscles
Rationale: Acute respiratory difficulty represents an immediate threat to
oxygenation and takes priority over stable or nonurgent findings.
Q9. Why is comparison with baseline data important?
A) Baseline findings eliminate the need for reassessment
B) Changes from baseline can reveal deterioration or improvement that a
single value may not show
C) Baseline data are useful only during discharge
D) Baseline measurements replace patient reports
Correct Answer: B) Changes from baseline can reveal deterioration or
improvement that a single value may not show
Rationale: Trends and changes from baseline help identify clinically
meaningful changes in the patient's condition.
Q10. Which question is most appropriate when beginning a health
history?
A) “You don't smoke, do you?”
B) “Why didn't you seek care sooner?”
C) “What brought you in today, and what concerns you most?”
D) “Is your problem serious?”
Correct Answer: C) “What brought you in today, and what concerns you
most?”
Rationale: Open-ended, nonjudgmental questions encourage the patient to
describe concerns in their own words.
CHAPTER 2 — CLINICAL JUDGMENT AND THE NURSING PROCESS
