NR-509 Advanced Physical
Assessment
Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage the patient to describe
symptoms in their own words and are particularly useful early in the
interview.
3. A patient reports abdominal pain. Which question best assesses
the onset of the symptom?
A. "How severe is the pain?"
B. "What were you doing when the pain began?"
C. "Does the pain radiate?"
D. "What makes it better?"
Answer: B
Rationale: Onset concerns when and under what circumstances the
symptom began. Asking what the patient was doing when it started
helps establish onset and context.
4. Which component of OLDCARTS evaluates the location of a
symptom?
A. O
B. L
C. C
D. T
Answer: B
Rationale: OLDCARTS commonly represents Onset, Location,
, NR-509 Advanced Physical Assessment
100-Question Comprehensive Practice Midterm
Format: A–D options • Correct answer • Detailed rationale
Questions 1–20: Health History & Interviewing
1. Which approach is most appropriate when beginning a comprehensive health history?
A. Begin with a detailed review of systems
B. Ask the patient why they came in today
C. Begin with the family medical history
D. Immediately perform the physical examination
Answer: B
Rationale: The chief concern or reason for the visit establishes the patient's primary agenda. The
clinician can then explore the history of the present illness and other components systematically.
2. Which question is an example of an open-ended question?
A. "Does your chest hurt?"
B. "Is the pain sharp?"
C. "Tell me what happened when the pain started."
D. "Does the pain occur after exercise?"
Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage the patient to describe symptoms in their own
words and are particularly useful early in the interview.
3. A patient reports abdominal pain. Which question best assesses the onset of the
symptom?
A. "How severe is the pain?"
B. "What were you doing when the pain began?"
C. "Does the pain radiate?"
D. "What makes it better?"
,Answer: B
Rationale: Onset concerns when and under what circumstances the symptom began. Asking
what the patient was doing when it started helps establish onset and context.
4. Which component of OLDCARTS evaluates the location of a symptom?
A. O
B. L
C. C
D. T
Answer: B
Rationale: OLDCARTS commonly represents Onset, Location, Duration, Character,
Aggravating/Alleviating factors, Radiation, Timing, and Severity.
5. A patient describes pain as "burning." Which characteristic is being assessed?
A. Location
B. Severity
C. Quality
D. Timing
Answer: C
Rationale: Quality or character describes how the symptom feels, such as burning, stabbing,
aching, pressure, or throbbing.
6. Which technique best demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. Interrupting to clarify every statement
B. Asking multiple questions simultaneously
C. Maintaining appropriate eye contact and using attentive silence
D. Changing the subject when the patient becomes emotional
Answer: C
Rationale: Active listening includes appropriate eye contact, attentive posture, silence,
reflection, and clarification.
, 7. Which statement is most appropriate when discussing a sensitive health concern?
A. "You don't have anything to worry about."
B. "Why would you do that?"
C. "I ask these questions of all my patients because they can affect your health."
D. "You should have mentioned this earlier."
Answer: C
Rationale: Normalizing sensitive questions reduces embarrassment and encourages accurate
disclosure without judgment.
8. Which information belongs in the social history?
A. Current medications
B. Immunization record
C. Tobacco, alcohol, and recreational drug use
D. Previous surgeries
Answer: C
Rationale: Social history includes lifestyle and social factors such as tobacco, alcohol, substance
use, occupation, living situation, sexual history when relevant, and safety.
9. Which family-history finding is particularly important when assessing cardiovascular
risk?
A. Mother's seasonal allergies
B. Father's myocardial infarction at age 48
C. Sister's appendectomy
D. Brother's childhood fracture
Answer: B
Rationale: Premature coronary artery disease in a first-degree relative is an important
cardiovascular risk factor.
10. A patient says, "I have been feeling tired lately." What is the best initial response?
Assessment
Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage the patient to describe
symptoms in their own words and are particularly useful early in the
interview.
3. A patient reports abdominal pain. Which question best assesses
the onset of the symptom?
A. "How severe is the pain?"
B. "What were you doing when the pain began?"
C. "Does the pain radiate?"
D. "What makes it better?"
Answer: B
Rationale: Onset concerns when and under what circumstances the
symptom began. Asking what the patient was doing when it started
helps establish onset and context.
4. Which component of OLDCARTS evaluates the location of a
symptom?
A. O
B. L
C. C
D. T
Answer: B
Rationale: OLDCARTS commonly represents Onset, Location,
, NR-509 Advanced Physical Assessment
100-Question Comprehensive Practice Midterm
Format: A–D options • Correct answer • Detailed rationale
Questions 1–20: Health History & Interviewing
1. Which approach is most appropriate when beginning a comprehensive health history?
A. Begin with a detailed review of systems
B. Ask the patient why they came in today
C. Begin with the family medical history
D. Immediately perform the physical examination
Answer: B
Rationale: The chief concern or reason for the visit establishes the patient's primary agenda. The
clinician can then explore the history of the present illness and other components systematically.
2. Which question is an example of an open-ended question?
A. "Does your chest hurt?"
B. "Is the pain sharp?"
C. "Tell me what happened when the pain started."
D. "Does the pain occur after exercise?"
Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage the patient to describe symptoms in their own
words and are particularly useful early in the interview.
3. A patient reports abdominal pain. Which question best assesses the onset of the
symptom?
A. "How severe is the pain?"
B. "What were you doing when the pain began?"
C. "Does the pain radiate?"
D. "What makes it better?"
,Answer: B
Rationale: Onset concerns when and under what circumstances the symptom began. Asking
what the patient was doing when it started helps establish onset and context.
4. Which component of OLDCARTS evaluates the location of a symptom?
A. O
B. L
C. C
D. T
Answer: B
Rationale: OLDCARTS commonly represents Onset, Location, Duration, Character,
Aggravating/Alleviating factors, Radiation, Timing, and Severity.
5. A patient describes pain as "burning." Which characteristic is being assessed?
A. Location
B. Severity
C. Quality
D. Timing
Answer: C
Rationale: Quality or character describes how the symptom feels, such as burning, stabbing,
aching, pressure, or throbbing.
6. Which technique best demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. Interrupting to clarify every statement
B. Asking multiple questions simultaneously
C. Maintaining appropriate eye contact and using attentive silence
D. Changing the subject when the patient becomes emotional
Answer: C
Rationale: Active listening includes appropriate eye contact, attentive posture, silence,
reflection, and clarification.
, 7. Which statement is most appropriate when discussing a sensitive health concern?
A. "You don't have anything to worry about."
B. "Why would you do that?"
C. "I ask these questions of all my patients because they can affect your health."
D. "You should have mentioned this earlier."
Answer: C
Rationale: Normalizing sensitive questions reduces embarrassment and encourages accurate
disclosure without judgment.
8. Which information belongs in the social history?
A. Current medications
B. Immunization record
C. Tobacco, alcohol, and recreational drug use
D. Previous surgeries
Answer: C
Rationale: Social history includes lifestyle and social factors such as tobacco, alcohol, substance
use, occupation, living situation, sexual history when relevant, and safety.
9. Which family-history finding is particularly important when assessing cardiovascular
risk?
A. Mother's seasonal allergies
B. Father's myocardial infarction at age 48
C. Sister's appendectomy
D. Brother's childhood fracture
Answer: B
Rationale: Premature coronary artery disease in a first-degree relative is an important
cardiovascular risk factor.
10. A patient says, "I have been feeling tired lately." What is the best initial response?
