NR 302: HEALTH ASSESSMENT I
EXAM 1 REVIEW & PRACTICE
QUESTIONS
CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF NURSING / 280
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
Section 1: Evidence-Based Assessment & Critical Diagnostic
Reasoning (Questions 1–15)
1. Which of the following client statements or clinical findings is classified as
subjective data?
A. Apical heart rate of 98 beats per minute.
B. "My left leg feels like pins and needles whenever I sit down."
C. Capillary refill time of less than 2 seconds in all nailbeds.
D. 2 cm circular erythematous macule over the right scapula.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective data are what the patient says about themselves, including
symptoms and feelings. The statement about pins and needles is the patient's
personal perception. The other options are objective data that the nurse observes or
measures.
2. A nurse gathers data from a nonverbal adult client's spouse regarding daily
nutritional intake. What type of data source does the spouse represent?
A. Primary objective data
B. Primary subjective data
C. Secondary subjective data
D. Objective baseline data
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Secondary data come from sources other than the patient (family,
medical records). It is still subjective because it represents another person's
perceptions.
,3. A 68-year-old client is admitted to an assisted living facility. The nurse
collects a complete biographical health profile, past medical/surgical history,
nutritional review, functional assessment, and performs a head-to-toe physical
examination. Which database is this?
A. Emergency database
B. Complete (Total Health) database
C. Focused database
D. Episodic database
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A complete (total health) database includes a complete health history and
a full physical examination, forming a baseline for future assessments.
4. A client arrives at an outpatient clinic 3 weeks after starting amlodipine for
stage 1 hypertension. The nurse reassesses blood pressure, checks for lower
extremity edema, and asks about dizzy spells. What database type is being
constructed?
A. Follow-up database
B. Emergency database
C. Complete database
D. Comprehensive database
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A follow-up database is used to evaluate a previously identified problem
at regular intervals, such as monitoring a patient's response to a new medication.
5. Which of the following is categorized as a first-level priority clinical problem?
A. Severe surgical site pain rated 9/10 two hours post-appendectomy.
B. Sudden onset of acute confusion and lethargy in an older adult client.
C. Complete upper airway obstruction caused by a foreign body.
D. Serum sodium level of 131 mEq/L in a client on hydrochlorothiazide.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: First-level priority problems are life-threatening and require immediate
intervention. Complete airway obstruction is an immediate threat to life.
6. Which clinical finding represents a second-level priority problem requiring
prompt nursing intervention?
A. An absence of breath sounds in the right lung with tracheal deviation.
B. Ventricular fibrillation noted on the cardiac telemetry monitor.
C. Blood glucose level of 42 mg/dL in a conscious but diaphoretic diabetic client.
D. Lack of client knowledge regarding low-cholesterol dietary choices.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Second-level priority problems are those that are next in urgency and
,require prompt intervention to prevent further deterioration, such as a dangerously
low blood glucose level.
7. Which is the best description of health as defined in current nursing practice?
A. Health is the absence of disease.
B. Health is a dynamic process toward optimal functioning.
C. Health depends on an interaction of mind, body, and spirit within the
environment.
D. Health is the state of optimal functioning or well-being.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The holistic model views health as the interdependent functioning of
mind, body, and spirit as a whole within the environment. This definition recognizes
that health is not merely the absence of disease.
8. What is the primary purpose of the nursing health assessment?
A. To diagnose medical conditions
B. To establish a baseline of patient health status
C. To collect holistic data to formulate a nursing diagnosis
D. To evaluate treatment effectiveness
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The primary purpose of health assessment is to collect holistic, subjective
and objective data to determine a patient's overall level of functioning and formulate
nursing diagnoses.
9. Which of the following are components of the nursing process? (Select all
that apply)
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
E. Evaluation
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D, E
Rationale: The nursing process consists of five steps: Assessment, Diagnosis,
Outcome Identification/Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation.
10. A nurse obtains information about a patient from a family member because
the patient is unable to speak. This source of data is considered:
A. Primary, subjective
B. Secondary, subjective
C. Primary, objective
D. Secondary, objective
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Secondary data come from sources other than the patient (family,
medical records). It is still subjective because it represents another person's
perceptions.
11. Which of the following are examples of objective data? (Select all that
apply)
A. Blood pressure 110/70
B. Height 68 inches
C. Patient reports feeling nauseated
D. Skin is warm and dry
E. Patient states, "I have a headache."
Correct Answers: A, B, D
Rationale: Objective data are measurable and observable facts obtained by the
nurse during the physical examination. Subjective data are what the patient says
about themselves.
12. A nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment. According to the
standard sequence, in which order should the nurse perform the techniques of
inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation?
A. Palpation, Inspection, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
C. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
D. Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The standard sequence for a physical assessment is inspection, palpation,
percussion, and auscultation. However, for the abdomen, auscultation is performed
before palpation and percussion to prevent altering bowel sounds.
13. A nurse asks a patient, "Tell me about your pain." This is an example of
which type of question?
A. Closed-ended question
B. Leading question
C. Open-ended question
D. Multiple-choice question
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions allow the patient to describe their experience in
their own words, providing richer assessment data.
14. A nurse is performing a cultural assessment. Which of the following is the
most important first step?
A. Learn about the patient's specific cultural practices
EXAM 1 REVIEW & PRACTICE
QUESTIONS
CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF NURSING / 280
PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS AND RATIONALES
Section 1: Evidence-Based Assessment & Critical Diagnostic
Reasoning (Questions 1–15)
1. Which of the following client statements or clinical findings is classified as
subjective data?
A. Apical heart rate of 98 beats per minute.
B. "My left leg feels like pins and needles whenever I sit down."
C. Capillary refill time of less than 2 seconds in all nailbeds.
D. 2 cm circular erythematous macule over the right scapula.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Subjective data are what the patient says about themselves, including
symptoms and feelings. The statement about pins and needles is the patient's
personal perception. The other options are objective data that the nurse observes or
measures.
2. A nurse gathers data from a nonverbal adult client's spouse regarding daily
nutritional intake. What type of data source does the spouse represent?
A. Primary objective data
B. Primary subjective data
C. Secondary subjective data
D. Objective baseline data
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Secondary data come from sources other than the patient (family,
medical records). It is still subjective because it represents another person's
perceptions.
,3. A 68-year-old client is admitted to an assisted living facility. The nurse
collects a complete biographical health profile, past medical/surgical history,
nutritional review, functional assessment, and performs a head-to-toe physical
examination. Which database is this?
A. Emergency database
B. Complete (Total Health) database
C. Focused database
D. Episodic database
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A complete (total health) database includes a complete health history and
a full physical examination, forming a baseline for future assessments.
4. A client arrives at an outpatient clinic 3 weeks after starting amlodipine for
stage 1 hypertension. The nurse reassesses blood pressure, checks for lower
extremity edema, and asks about dizzy spells. What database type is being
constructed?
A. Follow-up database
B. Emergency database
C. Complete database
D. Comprehensive database
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A follow-up database is used to evaluate a previously identified problem
at regular intervals, such as monitoring a patient's response to a new medication.
5. Which of the following is categorized as a first-level priority clinical problem?
A. Severe surgical site pain rated 9/10 two hours post-appendectomy.
B. Sudden onset of acute confusion and lethargy in an older adult client.
C. Complete upper airway obstruction caused by a foreign body.
D. Serum sodium level of 131 mEq/L in a client on hydrochlorothiazide.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: First-level priority problems are life-threatening and require immediate
intervention. Complete airway obstruction is an immediate threat to life.
6. Which clinical finding represents a second-level priority problem requiring
prompt nursing intervention?
A. An absence of breath sounds in the right lung with tracheal deviation.
B. Ventricular fibrillation noted on the cardiac telemetry monitor.
C. Blood glucose level of 42 mg/dL in a conscious but diaphoretic diabetic client.
D. Lack of client knowledge regarding low-cholesterol dietary choices.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Second-level priority problems are those that are next in urgency and
,require prompt intervention to prevent further deterioration, such as a dangerously
low blood glucose level.
7. Which is the best description of health as defined in current nursing practice?
A. Health is the absence of disease.
B. Health is a dynamic process toward optimal functioning.
C. Health depends on an interaction of mind, body, and spirit within the
environment.
D. Health is the state of optimal functioning or well-being.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The holistic model views health as the interdependent functioning of
mind, body, and spirit as a whole within the environment. This definition recognizes
that health is not merely the absence of disease.
8. What is the primary purpose of the nursing health assessment?
A. To diagnose medical conditions
B. To establish a baseline of patient health status
C. To collect holistic data to formulate a nursing diagnosis
D. To evaluate treatment effectiveness
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The primary purpose of health assessment is to collect holistic, subjective
and objective data to determine a patient's overall level of functioning and formulate
nursing diagnoses.
9. Which of the following are components of the nursing process? (Select all
that apply)
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Implementation
E. Evaluation
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D, E
Rationale: The nursing process consists of five steps: Assessment, Diagnosis,
Outcome Identification/Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation.
10. A nurse obtains information about a patient from a family member because
the patient is unable to speak. This source of data is considered:
A. Primary, subjective
B. Secondary, subjective
C. Primary, objective
D. Secondary, objective
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Secondary data come from sources other than the patient (family,
medical records). It is still subjective because it represents another person's
perceptions.
11. Which of the following are examples of objective data? (Select all that
apply)
A. Blood pressure 110/70
B. Height 68 inches
C. Patient reports feeling nauseated
D. Skin is warm and dry
E. Patient states, "I have a headache."
Correct Answers: A, B, D
Rationale: Objective data are measurable and observable facts obtained by the
nurse during the physical examination. Subjective data are what the patient says
about themselves.
12. A nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment. According to the
standard sequence, in which order should the nurse perform the techniques of
inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation?
A. Palpation, Inspection, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
C. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
D. Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The standard sequence for a physical assessment is inspection, palpation,
percussion, and auscultation. However, for the abdomen, auscultation is performed
before palpation and percussion to prevent altering bowel sounds.
13. A nurse asks a patient, "Tell me about your pain." This is an example of
which type of question?
A. Closed-ended question
B. Leading question
C. Open-ended question
D. Multiple-choice question
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions allow the patient to describe their experience in
their own words, providing richer assessment data.
14. A nurse is performing a cultural assessment. Which of the following is the
most important first step?
A. Learn about the patient's specific cultural practices
