NR 509 Week 8 Final Exam Final Exam
Questions and 100% Correct Answers Latest
2025/2026 Update
ECTION I: HEALTH HISTORY & INTERVIEWING
1. A nurse practitioner is obtaining a comprehensive health history from a new
patient. Which component should be addressed FIRST during the interview?
A. Review of systems
B. Family medical history
C. Chief complaint and reason for seeking care
D. Functional assessment
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The chief complaint identifies the primary reason the patient is seeking care
and serves as the foundation for the history of present illness. While family history,
review of systems, and functional status are all important components of a
comprehensive assessment, they are collected after establishing the patient's primary
concern. Starting with the chief complaint ensures the interview remains patient-
centered and efficient.
2. A patient tells the nurse practitioner, "I've been having this burning pain in my
stomach after I eat." This information is best classified as:
,A. Objective data
B. Subjective data
C. Diagnostic data
D. Laboratory data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective data are the patient's verbal descriptions of their own symptoms,
feelings, and perceptions that cannot be independently verified by the examiner. The
patient's report of "burning pain" is a classic example of subjective data. Objective data
are measurable and observable findings obtained through physical examination,
laboratory studies, or diagnostic tests.
3. During an interview, a patient avoids eye contact, provides short responses, and
appears tense. Which action by the nurse practitioner is most appropriate?
A. Assume the patient is withholding information
B. Continue asking rapid-fire questions to obtain more data
C. Use open-ended questions and focus on establishing rapport
D. Document the patient as uncooperative and proceed quickly
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Avoidance of eye contact, brief answers, and tension may result from anxiety,
cultural differences, discomfort, or fear. Establishing trust and using open-ended
questions encourages communication and yields a more accurate assessment. Labeling
the patient as uncooperative or rushing the interview would likely worsen the situation
and compromise the therapeutic relationship.
4. The nurse practitioner documents: "Patient reports chest pain that radiates to
the left jaw and arm, associated with diaphoresis and nausea." This information
belongs in which section of the health history?
A. Chief complaint
B. History of present illness
,C. Review of systems
D. Past medical history
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The History of Present Illness (HPI) is a chronological, detailed expansion of
the chief complaint using the seven attributes of a symptom (location, quality,
quantity/severity, timing, setting, aggravating/alleviating factors, and associated
manifestations). The description of radiation, associated symptoms, and character of the
pain belongs in the HPI. The Chief Complaint would simply be "chest pain." The Review
of Systems is a comprehensive head-to-toe inventory of symptoms by body system.
5. Which mnemonic is used for comprehensive psychosocial assessment of
adolescents?
A. OLD CARTS
B. CAGE
C. HEEADSSS
D. PQRST
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: HEEADSSS (Home, Education/Employment, Eating, Activities, Drugs,
Sexuality, Suicide/Depression) is the standard psychosocial assessment tool for
adolescents. OLD CARTS and PQRST are used for pain and symptom analysis. CAGE is a
screening tool for alcohol use disorder in adults.
6. A 52-year-old male presents with substernal chest pressure that occurs with
exertion and resolves with rest. What is the most appropriate INITIAL question to
further characterize this symptom?
A. "Can you point to the exact spot with one finger?"
B. "What were you doing when it started, and how long did it last?"
C. "Does the pain radiate to your jaw or left arm?"
D. "Have you taken nitroglycerin for this?"
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Asking about the activity at onset and duration helps differentiate stable
angina from unstable angina or other cardiac conditions. This focuses on the "context"
and "timing" of the symptom as part of the OLDCARTS mnemonic. While radiation and
relieving factors are important, establishing the pattern of occurrence and duration is
the most critical initial step in characterizing exertional chest pain.
7. Which of the following is an example of objective data?
A. Patient reports headache
B. Patient states feeling anxious
C. 2.5 cm scar on the right lower forearm
D. Patient describes nausea
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Objective data are directly observable and measurable by the examiner. A
scar can be seen, measured, and documented, making it objective. Patient reports of
headache, anxiety, and nausea are subjective data obtained from the patient's verbal
report and cannot be independently verified by the examiner.
8. A patient reports, "My mother died of breast cancer at age 42." This information
belongs in which section of the health history?
A. Past medical history
B. Review of systems
C. Family history
D. Social history
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Family history documents health conditions in first-degree relatives (parents,
siblings, children), including age of onset and cause of death. This information is critical
for assessing genetic risk and determining appropriate screening recommendations.
Past medical history refers to the patient's own illnesses. Review of systems is a
symptom inventory. Social history includes lifestyle and environmental factors.
Questions and 100% Correct Answers Latest
2025/2026 Update
ECTION I: HEALTH HISTORY & INTERVIEWING
1. A nurse practitioner is obtaining a comprehensive health history from a new
patient. Which component should be addressed FIRST during the interview?
A. Review of systems
B. Family medical history
C. Chief complaint and reason for seeking care
D. Functional assessment
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The chief complaint identifies the primary reason the patient is seeking care
and serves as the foundation for the history of present illness. While family history,
review of systems, and functional status are all important components of a
comprehensive assessment, they are collected after establishing the patient's primary
concern. Starting with the chief complaint ensures the interview remains patient-
centered and efficient.
2. A patient tells the nurse practitioner, "I've been having this burning pain in my
stomach after I eat." This information is best classified as:
,A. Objective data
B. Subjective data
C. Diagnostic data
D. Laboratory data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective data are the patient's verbal descriptions of their own symptoms,
feelings, and perceptions that cannot be independently verified by the examiner. The
patient's report of "burning pain" is a classic example of subjective data. Objective data
are measurable and observable findings obtained through physical examination,
laboratory studies, or diagnostic tests.
3. During an interview, a patient avoids eye contact, provides short responses, and
appears tense. Which action by the nurse practitioner is most appropriate?
A. Assume the patient is withholding information
B. Continue asking rapid-fire questions to obtain more data
C. Use open-ended questions and focus on establishing rapport
D. Document the patient as uncooperative and proceed quickly
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Avoidance of eye contact, brief answers, and tension may result from anxiety,
cultural differences, discomfort, or fear. Establishing trust and using open-ended
questions encourages communication and yields a more accurate assessment. Labeling
the patient as uncooperative or rushing the interview would likely worsen the situation
and compromise the therapeutic relationship.
4. The nurse practitioner documents: "Patient reports chest pain that radiates to
the left jaw and arm, associated with diaphoresis and nausea." This information
belongs in which section of the health history?
A. Chief complaint
B. History of present illness
,C. Review of systems
D. Past medical history
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The History of Present Illness (HPI) is a chronological, detailed expansion of
the chief complaint using the seven attributes of a symptom (location, quality,
quantity/severity, timing, setting, aggravating/alleviating factors, and associated
manifestations). The description of radiation, associated symptoms, and character of the
pain belongs in the HPI. The Chief Complaint would simply be "chest pain." The Review
of Systems is a comprehensive head-to-toe inventory of symptoms by body system.
5. Which mnemonic is used for comprehensive psychosocial assessment of
adolescents?
A. OLD CARTS
B. CAGE
C. HEEADSSS
D. PQRST
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: HEEADSSS (Home, Education/Employment, Eating, Activities, Drugs,
Sexuality, Suicide/Depression) is the standard psychosocial assessment tool for
adolescents. OLD CARTS and PQRST are used for pain and symptom analysis. CAGE is a
screening tool for alcohol use disorder in adults.
6. A 52-year-old male presents with substernal chest pressure that occurs with
exertion and resolves with rest. What is the most appropriate INITIAL question to
further characterize this symptom?
A. "Can you point to the exact spot with one finger?"
B. "What were you doing when it started, and how long did it last?"
C. "Does the pain radiate to your jaw or left arm?"
D. "Have you taken nitroglycerin for this?"
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Asking about the activity at onset and duration helps differentiate stable
angina from unstable angina or other cardiac conditions. This focuses on the "context"
and "timing" of the symptom as part of the OLDCARTS mnemonic. While radiation and
relieving factors are important, establishing the pattern of occurrence and duration is
the most critical initial step in characterizing exertional chest pain.
7. Which of the following is an example of objective data?
A. Patient reports headache
B. Patient states feeling anxious
C. 2.5 cm scar on the right lower forearm
D. Patient describes nausea
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Objective data are directly observable and measurable by the examiner. A
scar can be seen, measured, and documented, making it objective. Patient reports of
headache, anxiety, and nausea are subjective data obtained from the patient's verbal
report and cannot be independently verified by the examiner.
8. A patient reports, "My mother died of breast cancer at age 42." This information
belongs in which section of the health history?
A. Past medical history
B. Review of systems
C. Family history
D. Social history
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Family history documents health conditions in first-degree relatives (parents,
siblings, children), including age of onset and cause of death. This information is critical
for assessing genetic risk and determining appropriate screening recommendations.
Past medical history refers to the patient's own illnesses. Review of systems is a
symptom inventory. Social history includes lifestyle and environmental factors.