NURS550: Advanced Health Assessment
and Diagnostic Reasoning Week 1
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT ANSWERS
Chapter 1 (p 4-34) - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔FOUNDATIONS FOR CLINICAL
PROFICIENCY
1. Describe the differences between
a. A comprehensive health history/exam - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Includes all the
elements of the health history and the complete physical examination.
- Provides fundamental and personalized knowledge about the patient
- Strengthens the clinician-patient relationship
- Helps identify or rule out physical causes related to patient concerns
Provides a baseline for future assessments
-Creates a platform for health promotion through education and counseling
- Develops proficiency in the essential skills of physical examination
b. A focused health history/exam - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Assesses symptoms restricted
to a specific body system (eg. sore throat or knee pain)
Applies examination methods relevant to assessing the concern or problem as thoroughly and
carefully as possible
The patient's symptoms, age, and health history help determine the scope of the focused
examination, as does your knowledge of disease pattern
2. Identify examples of when you would obtain (2 examples for each):
a. A comprehensive health history/exam - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Is appropriate for new
patients in the office or hospital
b. A focused health history/exam - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Is appropriate for established
patients, especially during routine or urgent care visits
Addresses focused concerns or symptoms
, ( eg. sore throat or knee pain)
3. Discuss the differences between subjective and objective data - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔Subjective data: is what the patient tells you
Objective data: what you detect during the examination, laboratory information and test data
a. Provide examples of what would constitute Subjective data - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔The symptoms and history, from Chief Complaint through Review of Systems
Example: Mrs. G. is a 54-year-old hairdresser who reports pressure over her left chest "like
an elephant sitting there," which goes into her left neck and arm.
b. Provide examples of what would constitute Objective data - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔All physical examination findings, or signs
Example: Mrs. G. is an older, overweight white female, who is pleasant and cooperative.
Height 5′4′′, weight 150 lbs, BMI 26, BP 160/80, HR 96 and regular, respiratory rate 24,
temperature 97.5 °F
4. Identify what goes into each section of the comprehensive health history
a. Identifying data and source of history - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Identifying data—such
as age, gender, occupation, marital status
Source of the history—usually the patient, but can be a family member or friend, letter of
referral, or the clinical record
If appropriate, establish the source of referral, because a written report may be needed
b. Chief complaint - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔The one or more symptoms or concerns
causing the patient to seek care.
Note: make every attempt to quote the pt's own words. Eg. "my stomach hurts and I feel
awful"
c. History of present illness - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Is a complete, clear, and
chronologic description of the problems prompting the patient's visit, including the onset of
the problem, the setting in which it developed, its manifestations, and any treatments to date.
Pulls in relevant portions of the Review of Systems, called "pertinent positives and negatives"
(see p. 11)
and Diagnostic Reasoning Week 1
UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT ANSWERS
Chapter 1 (p 4-34) - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔FOUNDATIONS FOR CLINICAL
PROFICIENCY
1. Describe the differences between
a. A comprehensive health history/exam - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Includes all the
elements of the health history and the complete physical examination.
- Provides fundamental and personalized knowledge about the patient
- Strengthens the clinician-patient relationship
- Helps identify or rule out physical causes related to patient concerns
Provides a baseline for future assessments
-Creates a platform for health promotion through education and counseling
- Develops proficiency in the essential skills of physical examination
b. A focused health history/exam - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Assesses symptoms restricted
to a specific body system (eg. sore throat or knee pain)
Applies examination methods relevant to assessing the concern or problem as thoroughly and
carefully as possible
The patient's symptoms, age, and health history help determine the scope of the focused
examination, as does your knowledge of disease pattern
2. Identify examples of when you would obtain (2 examples for each):
a. A comprehensive health history/exam - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Is appropriate for new
patients in the office or hospital
b. A focused health history/exam - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Is appropriate for established
patients, especially during routine or urgent care visits
Addresses focused concerns or symptoms
, ( eg. sore throat or knee pain)
3. Discuss the differences between subjective and objective data - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔Subjective data: is what the patient tells you
Objective data: what you detect during the examination, laboratory information and test data
a. Provide examples of what would constitute Subjective data - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔The symptoms and history, from Chief Complaint through Review of Systems
Example: Mrs. G. is a 54-year-old hairdresser who reports pressure over her left chest "like
an elephant sitting there," which goes into her left neck and arm.
b. Provide examples of what would constitute Objective data - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔All physical examination findings, or signs
Example: Mrs. G. is an older, overweight white female, who is pleasant and cooperative.
Height 5′4′′, weight 150 lbs, BMI 26, BP 160/80, HR 96 and regular, respiratory rate 24,
temperature 97.5 °F
4. Identify what goes into each section of the comprehensive health history
a. Identifying data and source of history - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Identifying data—such
as age, gender, occupation, marital status
Source of the history—usually the patient, but can be a family member or friend, letter of
referral, or the clinical record
If appropriate, establish the source of referral, because a written report may be needed
b. Chief complaint - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔The one or more symptoms or concerns
causing the patient to seek care.
Note: make every attempt to quote the pt's own words. Eg. "my stomach hurts and I feel
awful"
c. History of present illness - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Is a complete, clear, and
chronologic description of the problems prompting the patient's visit, including the onset of
the problem, the setting in which it developed, its manifestations, and any treatments to date.
Pulls in relevant portions of the Review of Systems, called "pertinent positives and negatives"
(see p. 11)
