,NR 304 Health Assessment II Exam
Prep — Comprehensive Review +
Practice MCQs — Chamberlain College
of Nursing 2025/2026
1. A nurse is obtaining a health history from a new patient. Which question best utilizes open-ended
questioning to encourage the patient to describe their present illness?
A. "Do you have pain in your chest?"
B. "Have you taken any medication for this?"
C. "Can you tell me more about what brought you to the hospital today?"
D. "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions allow the patient to elaborate on their experience without restricting them
to a "yes" or "no" answer, providing richer data for the history of present illness (HPI). Options A and D are
closed-ended, and option B is a focused yes/no question.
2. When documenting the review of systems (ROS), the nurse notes that the patient reports "no chest pain,
shortness of breath, or palpitations." In which section of the chart should this information be recorded?
A. History of Present Illness (HPI)
B. Past Medical History (PMH)
C. Review of Systems (ROS)
D. Chief Complaint
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: The ROS is a systematic review of symptoms organized by body system. Documenting the absence of
specific symptoms is a standard part of the ROS.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient from a different cultural background who avoids eye contact during the
interview. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
A. Ask the patient why they will not look at the nurse
B. Gently instruct the patient that eye contact is necessary for communication
C. Respect the cultural difference and proceed with the interview
D. Document that the patient appears deceptive
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In many cultures, avoiding eye contact is a sign of respect, not dishonesty or disinterest. The nurse
must demonstrate cultural competence and respect these norms.
4. Which component of the health history focuses on the patient's lifestyle habits, such as smoking, alcohol
use, and exercise?
A. Past Medical History
B. Family History
C. Social History
D. Review of Systems
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: The Social History includes information about the patient's lifestyle, occupation, hobbies, and habits
(smoking, alcohol, substance use), which significantly impact health risks.
5. A nurse is using the "OLD CARTS" mnemonic to assess a patient's pain. What does the "T" stand for?
A. Type
B. Timing
C. Tenderness
D. Treatment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: OLD CARTS stands for Onset, Location, Duration, Characteristics, Aggravating/Alleviating factors,
Radiation, Timing, and Severity. Timing refers to when the pain occurs (e.g., constant, intermittent).
6. During a physical examination, the nurse notices a discrepancy between what the patient says and what the
medical records state. What is the best action to validate this data?
A. Ignore the discrepancy and document the patient's current statement
B. Ask the patient, "I noticed some information differs from your previous records; can we clarify this?"
C. Assume the medical records are correct
D. Confront the patient about lying
Correct Answer: B
Prep — Comprehensive Review +
Practice MCQs — Chamberlain College
of Nursing 2025/2026
1. A nurse is obtaining a health history from a new patient. Which question best utilizes open-ended
questioning to encourage the patient to describe their present illness?
A. "Do you have pain in your chest?"
B. "Have you taken any medication for this?"
C. "Can you tell me more about what brought you to the hospital today?"
D. "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions allow the patient to elaborate on their experience without restricting them
to a "yes" or "no" answer, providing richer data for the history of present illness (HPI). Options A and D are
closed-ended, and option B is a focused yes/no question.
2. When documenting the review of systems (ROS), the nurse notes that the patient reports "no chest pain,
shortness of breath, or palpitations." In which section of the chart should this information be recorded?
A. History of Present Illness (HPI)
B. Past Medical History (PMH)
C. Review of Systems (ROS)
D. Chief Complaint
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: The ROS is a systematic review of symptoms organized by body system. Documenting the absence of
specific symptoms is a standard part of the ROS.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient from a different cultural background who avoids eye contact during the
interview. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
A. Ask the patient why they will not look at the nurse
B. Gently instruct the patient that eye contact is necessary for communication
C. Respect the cultural difference and proceed with the interview
D. Document that the patient appears deceptive
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In many cultures, avoiding eye contact is a sign of respect, not dishonesty or disinterest. The nurse
must demonstrate cultural competence and respect these norms.
4. Which component of the health history focuses on the patient's lifestyle habits, such as smoking, alcohol
use, and exercise?
A. Past Medical History
B. Family History
C. Social History
D. Review of Systems
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: The Social History includes information about the patient's lifestyle, occupation, hobbies, and habits
(smoking, alcohol, substance use), which significantly impact health risks.
5. A nurse is using the "OLD CARTS" mnemonic to assess a patient's pain. What does the "T" stand for?
A. Type
B. Timing
C. Tenderness
D. Treatment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: OLD CARTS stands for Onset, Location, Duration, Characteristics, Aggravating/Alleviating factors,
Radiation, Timing, and Severity. Timing refers to when the pain occurs (e.g., constant, intermittent).
6. During a physical examination, the nurse notices a discrepancy between what the patient says and what the
medical records state. What is the best action to validate this data?
A. Ignore the discrepancy and document the patient's current statement
B. Ask the patient, "I noticed some information differs from your previous records; can we clarify this?"
C. Assume the medical records are correct
D. Confront the patient about lying
Correct Answer: B
