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HEALTH ASSESSMENT FOR NURSING PRACTICE (8TH EDITION) EXAM 2026 SOLVED
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100 %
Health Assessment for Nursing Practice (8th Edition) – Questions with Detailed
Rationales
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 health history.
D) Ask the patient to provide his current medications.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The patient is reporting a potentially life-threatening emergency. The nurse's
priority is to collect focused data for a focused assessment, which begins with a
comprehensive health history to determine the urgency of the situation.
Q2. Which situation illustrates a screening assessment?
A) A patient visits a clinic for the first time and the nurse collects basic information on
his or her health status.
B) A patient is admitted to the hospital with chest pain and the nurse collects subjective
and objective data.
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C) A patient is seen in the emergency department after a motor vehicle accident.
D) A patient is being assessed for a specific complaint of abdominal pain.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A screening assessment is performed for a patient who is visiting a health
care facility for the first time or when there is a need to screen for a specific problem. It
is a brief assessment that includes basic information about the patient's health status.
Q3. Which statement best describes health assessment?
A) It is a physical examination performed by the physician.
B) It is a systematic collection of subjective and objective data about a patient's health
status.
C) It is the same as a nursing diagnosis.
D) It is only performed in the hospital setting.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Health assessment is a systematic collection of subjective and objective
data about a patient's health status, which allows the nurse to identify the patient's
health problems and needs.
Q4. A patient is admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. The nurse conducts an
assessment and determines that the patient has a productive cough, fever, and
increased respiratory rate. The nurse is using which component of the nursing
process?
A) Planning
B) Implementation
C) Assessment
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process and involves collecting
subjective and objective data about the patient's health status. The nurse is collecting
data about the patient's symptoms and vital signs.
Q5. Which of the following is an example of subjective data?
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A) Blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg
B) Patient's report of abdominal pain
C) Temperature of 101°F
D) Observation of a rash
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective data are the patient's verbal descriptions of their health
problems. The patient's report of abdominal pain is subjective data. Objective data are
observable and measurable findings such as vital signs and physical examination
findings.
Interviewing Patients to Obtain a Health History (Q6–Q12)
Q6. A nurse is preparing to conduct a health history with a patient who is hard of
hearing. Which action is most appropriate?
A) Speak loudly and rapidly to ensure the patient hears.
B) Use a professional interpreter.
C) Face the patient directly and speak clearly in a normal tone.
D) Skip the health history and proceed with the physical examination.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When a patient is hard of hearing, the nurse should face the patient directly,
speak clearly in a normal tone (not shout), and reduce background noise. Using a
professional interpreter is for language barriers, not hearing impairment.
Q7. During a health history interview, the patient states, "I have been feeling very
tired lately." Which type of data is this?
A) Objective data
B) Subjective data
C) Assessment data
D) Diagnostic data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The patient's statement about feeling tired is subjective data—information
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the patient reports about their own health status. Objective data would be observable
findings such as decreased energy during the examination.
Q8. Which technique should the nurse use to encourage a patient to provide more
detail about a symptom?
A) Interrupt the patient to keep the interview on track
B) Use open-ended questions and active listening
C) Ask yes/no questions to obtain specific information
D) Avoid eye contact to reduce patient anxiety
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Open-ended questions and active listening encourage the patient to
describe their symptoms in more detail. Yes/no questions are useful for specific details
but do not encourage elaboration.
Q9. A nurse is obtaining a health history from a 78-year-old patient who has
memory impairment. Which approach is most appropriate?
A) Ask the patient to recall all childhood illnesses.
B) Include a family member or caregiver to help provide information.
C) Skip the health history and focus on the physical examination.
D) Complete the health history over multiple sessions.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For patients with memory impairment, including a family member or
caregiver helps ensure accurate information. The nurse should still involve the patient
as much as possible.
Q10. A nurse is conducting an interview with a patient from a different cultural
background. Which action best demonstrates cultural competence?
A) Assuming the patient shares the nurse's cultural values.
B) Asking the patient about their cultural beliefs and health practices.
C) Avoiding discussion of cultural differences.
D) Using only Western medical terminology.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT FOR NURSING PRACTICE (8TH EDITION) EXAM 2026 SOLVED
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100 %
Health Assessment for Nursing Practice (8th Edition) – Questions with Detailed
Rationales
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 health history.
D) Ask the patient to provide his current medications.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The patient is reporting a potentially life-threatening emergency. The nurse's
priority is to collect focused data for a focused assessment, which begins with a
comprehensive health history to determine the urgency of the situation.
Q2. Which situation illustrates a screening assessment?
A) A patient visits a clinic for the first time and the nurse collects basic information on
his or her health status.
B) A patient is admitted to the hospital with chest pain and the nurse collects subjective
and objective data.
, Page 2 of 82
C) A patient is seen in the emergency department after a motor vehicle accident.
D) A patient is being assessed for a specific complaint of abdominal pain.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A screening assessment is performed for a patient who is visiting a health
care facility for the first time or when there is a need to screen for a specific problem. It
is a brief assessment that includes basic information about the patient's health status.
Q3. Which statement best describes health assessment?
A) It is a physical examination performed by the physician.
B) It is a systematic collection of subjective and objective data about a patient's health
status.
C) It is the same as a nursing diagnosis.
D) It is only performed in the hospital setting.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Health assessment is a systematic collection of subjective and objective
data about a patient's health status, which allows the nurse to identify the patient's
health problems and needs.
Q4. A patient is admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. The nurse conducts an
assessment and determines that the patient has a productive cough, fever, and
increased respiratory rate. The nurse is using which component of the nursing
process?
A) Planning
B) Implementation
C) Assessment
D) Evaluation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process and involves collecting
subjective and objective data about the patient's health status. The nurse is collecting
data about the patient's symptoms and vital signs.
Q5. Which of the following is an example of subjective data?
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A) Blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg
B) Patient's report of abdominal pain
C) Temperature of 101°F
D) Observation of a rash
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective data are the patient's verbal descriptions of their health
problems. The patient's report of abdominal pain is subjective data. Objective data are
observable and measurable findings such as vital signs and physical examination
findings.
Interviewing Patients to Obtain a Health History (Q6–Q12)
Q6. A nurse is preparing to conduct a health history with a patient who is hard of
hearing. Which action is most appropriate?
A) Speak loudly and rapidly to ensure the patient hears.
B) Use a professional interpreter.
C) Face the patient directly and speak clearly in a normal tone.
D) Skip the health history and proceed with the physical examination.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When a patient is hard of hearing, the nurse should face the patient directly,
speak clearly in a normal tone (not shout), and reduce background noise. Using a
professional interpreter is for language barriers, not hearing impairment.
Q7. During a health history interview, the patient states, "I have been feeling very
tired lately." Which type of data is this?
A) Objective data
B) Subjective data
C) Assessment data
D) Diagnostic data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The patient's statement about feeling tired is subjective data—information
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the patient reports about their own health status. Objective data would be observable
findings such as decreased energy during the examination.
Q8. Which technique should the nurse use to encourage a patient to provide more
detail about a symptom?
A) Interrupt the patient to keep the interview on track
B) Use open-ended questions and active listening
C) Ask yes/no questions to obtain specific information
D) Avoid eye contact to reduce patient anxiety
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Open-ended questions and active listening encourage the patient to
describe their symptoms in more detail. Yes/no questions are useful for specific details
but do not encourage elaboration.
Q9. A nurse is obtaining a health history from a 78-year-old patient who has
memory impairment. Which approach is most appropriate?
A) Ask the patient to recall all childhood illnesses.
B) Include a family member or caregiver to help provide information.
C) Skip the health history and focus on the physical examination.
D) Complete the health history over multiple sessions.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For patients with memory impairment, including a family member or
caregiver helps ensure accurate information. The nurse should still involve the patient
as much as possible.
Q10. A nurse is conducting an interview with a patient from a different cultural
background. Which action best demonstrates cultural competence?
A) Assuming the patient shares the nurse's cultural values.
B) Asking the patient about their cultural beliefs and health practices.
C) Avoiding discussion of cultural differences.
D) Using only Western medical terminology.
