,NU 518 Final Exam | Advanced Nursing Assessment (2026)
Q&A | University of South Alabama
1. Which action should the advanced practice nurse take first when beginning a
comprehensive health assessment?
A) Palpate the abdomen for tenderness
B) Auscultate the heart and lungs
C) Inspect the client’s overall appearance and symmetry
D) Percuss the posterior chest
Correct Answer: Inspect the client’s overall appearance and symmetry
Rationale: Inspection is the foundational first step of the physical examination
because it provides baseline data about appearance, skin color, symmetry, and
body habitus before any hands-on techniques are performed. Palpation,
percussion, and auscultation follow inspection in the standard examination
sequence, except in the abdomen where auscultation precedes percussion and
palpation.
2. A client reports chest pain that began two days ago and is located in the center
of the chest. Which component of the OLD CARTS mnemonic is being addressed
when the nurse asks about the location?
A) Onset
B) Location
C) Duration
D) Severity
,Correct Answer: Location
Rationale: OLD CARTS stands for Onset, Location, Duration, Characteristics,
Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing/Treatment, and Severity. Asking
where the pain is located addresses the Location component and helps identify the
anatomical region or source of the symptom.
3. Which section of a SOAP note contains the client’s chief complaint and history
of present illness?
A) Subjective
B) Objective
C) Assessment
D) Plan
Correct Answer: Subjective
Rationale: The Subjective section captures information reported by the client,
including the chief complaint, history of present illness, symptoms, and personal
history. Objective data are measurable findings from the examination, laboratory
tests, and imaging. Assessment reflects clinical interpretation, and Plan outlines
the management strategy.
4. Which screening tool is used to identify alcohol use disorder?
A) PHQ-9
B) CAGE questionnaire
C) MMSE
D) Braden Scale
, Correct Answer: CAGE questionnaire
Rationale: CAGE stands for Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener, and it is
a brief screening tool for alcohol use disorder. A positive response to two or more
items warrants further assessment. The PHQ-9 screens for depression, the MMSE
assesses cognition, and the Braden Scale predicts pressure injury risk.
5. Which component of the health history is the client’s primary reason for seeking
care, preferably stated in the client’s own words?
A) Review of systems
B) Past medical history
C) Chief complaint
D) Family history
Correct Answer: Chief complaint
Rationale: The chief complaint is a brief statement, preferably in the client’s
own words, that describes the primary reason for the visit. It should be
documented in quotation marks when possible. The review of systems covers
symptoms by body system, past medical history records previous illnesses, and
family history documents hereditary risks.
6. Which statement best describes the purpose of the review of systems?
A) To document the client’s past surgeries and hospitalizations
B) To systematically assess symptoms across each body system
C) To record the client’s family history of chronic disease
D) To identify the client’s cultural beliefs about health
Q&A | University of South Alabama
1. Which action should the advanced practice nurse take first when beginning a
comprehensive health assessment?
A) Palpate the abdomen for tenderness
B) Auscultate the heart and lungs
C) Inspect the client’s overall appearance and symmetry
D) Percuss the posterior chest
Correct Answer: Inspect the client’s overall appearance and symmetry
Rationale: Inspection is the foundational first step of the physical examination
because it provides baseline data about appearance, skin color, symmetry, and
body habitus before any hands-on techniques are performed. Palpation,
percussion, and auscultation follow inspection in the standard examination
sequence, except in the abdomen where auscultation precedes percussion and
palpation.
2. A client reports chest pain that began two days ago and is located in the center
of the chest. Which component of the OLD CARTS mnemonic is being addressed
when the nurse asks about the location?
A) Onset
B) Location
C) Duration
D) Severity
,Correct Answer: Location
Rationale: OLD CARTS stands for Onset, Location, Duration, Characteristics,
Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing/Treatment, and Severity. Asking
where the pain is located addresses the Location component and helps identify the
anatomical region or source of the symptom.
3. Which section of a SOAP note contains the client’s chief complaint and history
of present illness?
A) Subjective
B) Objective
C) Assessment
D) Plan
Correct Answer: Subjective
Rationale: The Subjective section captures information reported by the client,
including the chief complaint, history of present illness, symptoms, and personal
history. Objective data are measurable findings from the examination, laboratory
tests, and imaging. Assessment reflects clinical interpretation, and Plan outlines
the management strategy.
4. Which screening tool is used to identify alcohol use disorder?
A) PHQ-9
B) CAGE questionnaire
C) MMSE
D) Braden Scale
, Correct Answer: CAGE questionnaire
Rationale: CAGE stands for Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener, and it is
a brief screening tool for alcohol use disorder. A positive response to two or more
items warrants further assessment. The PHQ-9 screens for depression, the MMSE
assesses cognition, and the Braden Scale predicts pressure injury risk.
5. Which component of the health history is the client’s primary reason for seeking
care, preferably stated in the client’s own words?
A) Review of systems
B) Past medical history
C) Chief complaint
D) Family history
Correct Answer: Chief complaint
Rationale: The chief complaint is a brief statement, preferably in the client’s
own words, that describes the primary reason for the visit. It should be
documented in quotation marks when possible. The review of systems covers
symptoms by body system, past medical history records previous illnesses, and
family history documents hereditary risks.
6. Which statement best describes the purpose of the review of systems?
A) To document the client’s past surgeries and hospitalizations
B) To systematically assess symptoms across each body system
C) To record the client’s family history of chronic disease
D) To identify the client’s cultural beliefs about health
