NUR 216 EXAM 2 SPRING-SUMMER 2026 ARIZONA COLLEGE OF
NURSING (MODULES 1-3) QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
Health Assessment Foundations & The Nursing Process
General Survey, Vital Signs & Pain Assessment
Skin, Hair, and Nails Assessment
Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat (HEENT) Assessment
Cardiovascular & Peripheral Vascular Assessment
Respiratory System Assessment
Nutritional Assessment
Cultural Competence & Patient Education
Introduction
This comprehensive examination assesses the health assessment
knowledge, clinical reasoning, and diagnostic skills required of
nursing students at Arizona College of Nursing. The assessment
evaluates proficiency in the nursing process, physical examination
techniques, and interpretation of normal and abnormal findings
across body systems. Items are presented in multiple-choice and
scenario-based formats designed to simulate realistic clinical
encounters. Emphasis is placed on head-to-toe assessment,
differentiation of normal from pathological findings, and
integration of diagnostic data to formulate accurate clinical
impressions. The examination challenges candidates to apply
evidence-based assessment principles, cultural humility, and critical
thinking to deliver safe and effective patient-centered care.
Section One: Questions 1–100
1. A nurse is collecting data from a patient who reports abdominal
pain. Which of the following is an example of subjective data?
,A. The patient's abdomen is distended.
B. The patient reports a burning pain in the epigastric region.
C. The patient's bowel sounds are hypoactive.
D. The patient's skin is warm and dry.
🟢 B. The patient reports a burning pain in the epigastric region.
🔴 RATIONALE: Subjective data includes information the patient
reports, such as feelings, thoughts, and perceptions. Pain is a
subjective experience. Distension, bowel sounds, and skin
temperature are objective findings that the nurse observes or
measures.
2. During a health history interview, the patient states, "I have this
burning pain in my chest that gets worse after I eat." This
information is an example of:
A. Objective data
B. Subjective data
C. A nursing diagnosis
D. A medical diagnosis
🟢 B. Subjective data
🔴 RATIONALE: The patient's description of their pain is
subjective data—information the patient reports that cannot be
directly observed or measured by the nurse.
3. The nurse is preparing to perform a physical examination on a
patient. Which sequence of assessment techniques should the
nurse use for the abdomen?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D. Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
,🟢 B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
🔴 RATIONALE: For the abdomen, auscultation is performed
before palpation and percussion to avoid altering bowel sounds
through physical manipulation. The correct sequence is
inspection, auscultation, percussion, then palpation.
4. When performing a complete physical examination, which
sequence should the nurse follow for each body system?
A. Auscultation, percussion, palpation, inspection
B. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
C. Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
D. Percussion, inspection, auscultation, palpation
🟢 B. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
🔴 RATIONALE: The standard sequence for most body systems is
inspection first, followed by palpation, percussion, and
auscultation. The exception is the abdomen, where auscultation
precedes palpation and percussion.
5. A nurse is conducting a health history interview with a patient
who is hard of hearing. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Speak loudly and rapidly to ensure the patient hears.
B. Face the patient directly and speak clearly at a normal volume.
C. Write all questions on paper and avoid verbal communication.
D. Use complex medical terminology to be precise.
🟢 B. Face the patient directly and speak clearly at a normal
volume.
🔴 RATIONALE: Facing the patient allows them to read lips and
see facial expressions. Speaking clearly at a normal volume is
, more effective than shouting, which can distort sound. Avoiding
verbal communication entirely is unnecessary and impractical.
6. During a patient interview, the nurse notices the patient is
avoiding eye contact. What is the most appropriate
interpretation of this behavior?
A. The patient is definitely lying about their symptoms.
B. The patient may be shy, anxious, or from a culture where eye
contact is considered disrespectful.
C. The patient is angry with the nurse.
D. The patient has a visual impairment.
🟢 B. The patient may be shy, anxious, or from a culture where
eye contact is considered disrespectful.
🔴 RATIONALE: Avoiding eye contact can have many meanings,
including shyness, anxiety, or cultural norms. The nurse should not
assume the patient is lying or angry. This behavior should be
explored with cultural sensitivity.
7. While admitting a patient, the nurse observes the patient is
wearing a jeweled cross and states, "Great look. I can see that
your religious beliefs are important to you." This is an example
of:
A. Establishing rapport
B. Making an assumption
C. Therapeutic communication
D. Objective data collection
🟢 A. Establishing rapport
🔴 RATIONALE: Acknowledging and respecting the patient's
religious symbols helps establish rapport and demonstrates
NURSING (MODULES 1-3) QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
Health Assessment Foundations & The Nursing Process
General Survey, Vital Signs & Pain Assessment
Skin, Hair, and Nails Assessment
Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat (HEENT) Assessment
Cardiovascular & Peripheral Vascular Assessment
Respiratory System Assessment
Nutritional Assessment
Cultural Competence & Patient Education
Introduction
This comprehensive examination assesses the health assessment
knowledge, clinical reasoning, and diagnostic skills required of
nursing students at Arizona College of Nursing. The assessment
evaluates proficiency in the nursing process, physical examination
techniques, and interpretation of normal and abnormal findings
across body systems. Items are presented in multiple-choice and
scenario-based formats designed to simulate realistic clinical
encounters. Emphasis is placed on head-to-toe assessment,
differentiation of normal from pathological findings, and
integration of diagnostic data to formulate accurate clinical
impressions. The examination challenges candidates to apply
evidence-based assessment principles, cultural humility, and critical
thinking to deliver safe and effective patient-centered care.
Section One: Questions 1–100
1. A nurse is collecting data from a patient who reports abdominal
pain. Which of the following is an example of subjective data?
,A. The patient's abdomen is distended.
B. The patient reports a burning pain in the epigastric region.
C. The patient's bowel sounds are hypoactive.
D. The patient's skin is warm and dry.
🟢 B. The patient reports a burning pain in the epigastric region.
🔴 RATIONALE: Subjective data includes information the patient
reports, such as feelings, thoughts, and perceptions. Pain is a
subjective experience. Distension, bowel sounds, and skin
temperature are objective findings that the nurse observes or
measures.
2. During a health history interview, the patient states, "I have this
burning pain in my chest that gets worse after I eat." This
information is an example of:
A. Objective data
B. Subjective data
C. A nursing diagnosis
D. A medical diagnosis
🟢 B. Subjective data
🔴 RATIONALE: The patient's description of their pain is
subjective data—information the patient reports that cannot be
directly observed or measured by the nurse.
3. The nurse is preparing to perform a physical examination on a
patient. Which sequence of assessment techniques should the
nurse use for the abdomen?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D. Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
,🟢 B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
🔴 RATIONALE: For the abdomen, auscultation is performed
before palpation and percussion to avoid altering bowel sounds
through physical manipulation. The correct sequence is
inspection, auscultation, percussion, then palpation.
4. When performing a complete physical examination, which
sequence should the nurse follow for each body system?
A. Auscultation, percussion, palpation, inspection
B. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
C. Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
D. Percussion, inspection, auscultation, palpation
🟢 B. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
🔴 RATIONALE: The standard sequence for most body systems is
inspection first, followed by palpation, percussion, and
auscultation. The exception is the abdomen, where auscultation
precedes palpation and percussion.
5. A nurse is conducting a health history interview with a patient
who is hard of hearing. Which action should the nurse take?
A. Speak loudly and rapidly to ensure the patient hears.
B. Face the patient directly and speak clearly at a normal volume.
C. Write all questions on paper and avoid verbal communication.
D. Use complex medical terminology to be precise.
🟢 B. Face the patient directly and speak clearly at a normal
volume.
🔴 RATIONALE: Facing the patient allows them to read lips and
see facial expressions. Speaking clearly at a normal volume is
, more effective than shouting, which can distort sound. Avoiding
verbal communication entirely is unnecessary and impractical.
6. During a patient interview, the nurse notices the patient is
avoiding eye contact. What is the most appropriate
interpretation of this behavior?
A. The patient is definitely lying about their symptoms.
B. The patient may be shy, anxious, or from a culture where eye
contact is considered disrespectful.
C. The patient is angry with the nurse.
D. The patient has a visual impairment.
🟢 B. The patient may be shy, anxious, or from a culture where
eye contact is considered disrespectful.
🔴 RATIONALE: Avoiding eye contact can have many meanings,
including shyness, anxiety, or cultural norms. The nurse should not
assume the patient is lying or angry. This behavior should be
explored with cultural sensitivity.
7. While admitting a patient, the nurse observes the patient is
wearing a jeweled cross and states, "Great look. I can see that
your religious beliefs are important to you." This is an example
of:
A. Establishing rapport
B. Making an assumption
C. Therapeutic communication
D. Objective data collection
🟢 A. Establishing rapport
🔴 RATIONALE: Acknowledging and respecting the patient's
religious symbols helps establish rapport and demonstrates
