NUR 209 COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH
ASSESSMENT EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS (LATEST
), (A+ GUARANTEE).
1. During a health history, a patient states, ‘I have been having a lot of pain in my belly for
two days.’ In which section of the health history should the nurse document this information?
A. Review of Systems
B. Past Medical History
C. Functional Assessment
D. Reason for Seeking Care
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The ‘Reason for Seeking Care’ (formerly Chief Complaint) is a
brief statement in the patient’s own words describing the reason for the visit.
2. When performing a physical examination, which technique should the nurse always
perform first, except when assessing the abdomen?
A. Palpation
B. Percussion
C. Inspection
,D. Auscultation
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Inspection is the first step of the physical examination for all
systems except the abdomen, where auscultation follows inspection to avoid altering bowel
sounds.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient’s blood pressure and uses a cuff that is too narrow for the
patient’s arm. What effect will this have on the blood pressure reading?
A. The reading will be falsely low.
B. The reading will be falsely high.
C. The reading will be accurate if the patient is supine.
D. Only the diastolic pressure will be affected.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Using a blood pressure cuff that is too small or narrow results in
a falsely high blood pressure reading because it requires more pressure to occlude the
artery.
4. While assessing a patient’s skin, the nurse notes a lesion that is elevated, solid, and less
than 1 cm in diameter. How should the nurse document this finding?
A. Macule
B. Plaque
, C. Pustule
D. Papule
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A papule is a solid, elevated, circumscribed lesion less than 1 cm
in diameter. A macule is flat; a pustule contains pus; a plaque is larger than 1 cm.
5. The nurse is assessing a patient for clubbing of the fingernails. Which angle of the nail base
would indicate early clubbing?
A. 160 degrees
B. 120 degrees
C. 180 degrees
D. 45 degrees
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The normal nail base angle is 160 degrees. In early clubbing, the
angle flattens to 180 degrees, often indicating chronic hypoxia.
6. During an assessment of the head and neck, the nurse notes that the patient’s trachea is
deviated to the left. This finding could indicate which of the following?
A. Left-sided atelectasis
B. Right-sided pneumothorax
C. Normal anatomical variation
ASSESSMENT EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS (LATEST
), (A+ GUARANTEE).
1. During a health history, a patient states, ‘I have been having a lot of pain in my belly for
two days.’ In which section of the health history should the nurse document this information?
A. Review of Systems
B. Past Medical History
C. Functional Assessment
D. Reason for Seeking Care
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The ‘Reason for Seeking Care’ (formerly Chief Complaint) is a
brief statement in the patient’s own words describing the reason for the visit.
2. When performing a physical examination, which technique should the nurse always
perform first, except when assessing the abdomen?
A. Palpation
B. Percussion
C. Inspection
,D. Auscultation
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Inspection is the first step of the physical examination for all
systems except the abdomen, where auscultation follows inspection to avoid altering bowel
sounds.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient’s blood pressure and uses a cuff that is too narrow for the
patient’s arm. What effect will this have on the blood pressure reading?
A. The reading will be falsely low.
B. The reading will be falsely high.
C. The reading will be accurate if the patient is supine.
D. Only the diastolic pressure will be affected.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Using a blood pressure cuff that is too small or narrow results in
a falsely high blood pressure reading because it requires more pressure to occlude the
artery.
4. While assessing a patient’s skin, the nurse notes a lesion that is elevated, solid, and less
than 1 cm in diameter. How should the nurse document this finding?
A. Macule
B. Plaque
, C. Pustule
D. Papule
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A papule is a solid, elevated, circumscribed lesion less than 1 cm
in diameter. A macule is flat; a pustule contains pus; a plaque is larger than 1 cm.
5. The nurse is assessing a patient for clubbing of the fingernails. Which angle of the nail base
would indicate early clubbing?
A. 160 degrees
B. 120 degrees
C. 180 degrees
D. 45 degrees
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: The normal nail base angle is 160 degrees. In early clubbing, the
angle flattens to 180 degrees, often indicating chronic hypoxia.
6. During an assessment of the head and neck, the nurse notes that the patient’s trachea is
deviated to the left. This finding could indicate which of the following?
A. Left-sided atelectasis
B. Right-sided pneumothorax
C. Normal anatomical variation
