Advanced Health Assessment Exam
1. A 59 year old patients tells the nurse practitioner that he thinks he must
have ulcerative colitis. He has been having "black stools" for the last 24 hours.
How would the nurse practitioner best document THE FACTS for his reason
for seeking care?
A) JM is a 59 year old male here for having "black stools" for the past 24 hours.
B) JM came into the clinic complaining of black stools for the past 24 hours.
C) JM is a 59 year old male here for "ulcerative colitis."
D) JM, a 59 year old male, states he has ulcerative colitis and wants it checked.-
Ans: A) JM is a 59 year old male here for having "black stools" for the past 24
hours.
Chief Complaint(s) The one or more symptoms or concerns causing the patient to
seek care. Make every effort to quote the patient's own words.
2. A patient tells the nurse practitioner that she has had abdominal pain for the
past week. What would be the best response by the nurse practitioner?
A) We'll talk more about that later in the interview."
B) "Have you ever had any children?"
C) "What have you had to eat in the last 4 hours?"
,D) "Can you point to where it hurts?" Ans: D) "Can you point to where it hurts?
Each principle symptom should be well-characterized, with descriptions of location;
along with the other seven attributes. Location Ans: Ask the patient to point to the
pain because lay terms may not be specific enough to localize the site of origin.
3. A 29-year-old woman tells the nurse that she has "excruciating pain" in her
back. Which of the following would be an appropriate response by the nurse
to her statement?
A) "How does your family react to your pain?"
B) "That must be terrible. You probably pinched a nerve."
C) "I've had back pain myself and it can be excruciating."
D) "How would you say the pain affects your ability to do your daily ac-
tivities?" Ans: D) "How would you say the pain affects your ability to do your
daily activities?"
Inquire about the effects of pain on the patient's daily activities, mood, sleep, work,
and sexual activity.
4. In recording the childhood illnesses of a patient who denies having had any,
which of the following notes by the nurse would be most accurate?
A) Patient denies usual childhood illnesses.
,B) Patient states he was a "very healthy" child.
C) Patient states sister had measles, but he didn't.
, D) Patient denies measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, pertussis, rheumatic
fever, and polio. Ans: D) Patient denies measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox,
pertus- sis, rheumatic fever, and polio.
Childhood illnesses include measles, rubella, mumps, whooping cough, rheumatic
fever, scarlet fever, and polio. They are included in the past history.
5. A patient tells the nurse that he is allergic to penicillin. What would be the
nurse's best response to this information?
A) "Are you allergic to any other drugs?"
B) "How often have you received penicillin?"
C) "I'll write your allergy on your chart so you won't receive any."
D) "Please describe what happens to you when you take penicillin." Ans: D)
"Please describe what happens to you when you take penicillin."
Allergies, including specific reactions to each medication, such as rash or nausea,
must be recorded.
6. The nurse is taking a family history. Important diseases or problems to ask
the patient about include Ans:
A) emphysema.
B) head trauma.
1. A 59 year old patients tells the nurse practitioner that he thinks he must
have ulcerative colitis. He has been having "black stools" for the last 24 hours.
How would the nurse practitioner best document THE FACTS for his reason
for seeking care?
A) JM is a 59 year old male here for having "black stools" for the past 24 hours.
B) JM came into the clinic complaining of black stools for the past 24 hours.
C) JM is a 59 year old male here for "ulcerative colitis."
D) JM, a 59 year old male, states he has ulcerative colitis and wants it checked.-
Ans: A) JM is a 59 year old male here for having "black stools" for the past 24
hours.
Chief Complaint(s) The one or more symptoms or concerns causing the patient to
seek care. Make every effort to quote the patient's own words.
2. A patient tells the nurse practitioner that she has had abdominal pain for the
past week. What would be the best response by the nurse practitioner?
A) We'll talk more about that later in the interview."
B) "Have you ever had any children?"
C) "What have you had to eat in the last 4 hours?"
,D) "Can you point to where it hurts?" Ans: D) "Can you point to where it hurts?
Each principle symptom should be well-characterized, with descriptions of location;
along with the other seven attributes. Location Ans: Ask the patient to point to the
pain because lay terms may not be specific enough to localize the site of origin.
3. A 29-year-old woman tells the nurse that she has "excruciating pain" in her
back. Which of the following would be an appropriate response by the nurse
to her statement?
A) "How does your family react to your pain?"
B) "That must be terrible. You probably pinched a nerve."
C) "I've had back pain myself and it can be excruciating."
D) "How would you say the pain affects your ability to do your daily ac-
tivities?" Ans: D) "How would you say the pain affects your ability to do your
daily activities?"
Inquire about the effects of pain on the patient's daily activities, mood, sleep, work,
and sexual activity.
4. In recording the childhood illnesses of a patient who denies having had any,
which of the following notes by the nurse would be most accurate?
A) Patient denies usual childhood illnesses.
,B) Patient states he was a "very healthy" child.
C) Patient states sister had measles, but he didn't.
, D) Patient denies measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, pertussis, rheumatic
fever, and polio. Ans: D) Patient denies measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox,
pertus- sis, rheumatic fever, and polio.
Childhood illnesses include measles, rubella, mumps, whooping cough, rheumatic
fever, scarlet fever, and polio. They are included in the past history.
5. A patient tells the nurse that he is allergic to penicillin. What would be the
nurse's best response to this information?
A) "Are you allergic to any other drugs?"
B) "How often have you received penicillin?"
C) "I'll write your allergy on your chart so you won't receive any."
D) "Please describe what happens to you when you take penicillin." Ans: D)
"Please describe what happens to you when you take penicillin."
Allergies, including specific reactions to each medication, such as rash or nausea,
must be recorded.
6. The nurse is taking a family history. Important diseases or problems to ask
the patient about include Ans:
A) emphysema.
B) head trauma.
