MARYVILLE ADVANCED HEALTH ASSESSMENT KEY POINTS EXAM
4. COMPLETE TEST EXAM WITH ACCURATE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS, ALL ANSWERS ARE 100% VERIFIED (LATEST UPDATE
2025/2026) RATED A+.
HPI questions for a patient with a chief complaint of an abdominal pain -
CORRECT ANSWERS -onset and duration: sudden or gradual, persistent
-character: dull, sharp, stab, cramp
-location: at time of onset, change over time, radiates to another area, superficial or deep
-associated symptoms: n/v, diarrhea, constipation, flatus, belching, jaundice, change in
girth, weight changes.
-relationship to: menstrual cycle, change in menses, intercourse, urination, defecation,
inspiration, change in body position, change in food or alcohol intake, stress, time of day,
trauma.
-recent stool characteristics: color, consistency, odor, and frequency.
-urinary characteristics: frequency, color, volume consistent with intake, force of stream,
ease of starting stream, ability to empty bladder.
-Medications: high doses of aspirin, steroids, NSAIDS
HPI questions for a patient with a chief complaint of indigestion - CORRECT ANS: -
character: feeling of fullness, heartburn, discomfort, excessive belching, flatulence, loss
of appetite, severe pain.
-location: localized or general, radiating to the arms or shoulders.
-relationship to: amount, timing of food intake, menses
-onset of symptoms: time of day or night, sudden or gradual.
-symptoms relieved by: antacids, change in diet, rest, or activity.
-medications: antacids (calcium carbonate, H2 blockers, PPIs)
HPI questions for patient with a chief complaint of nausea - CORRECT ANS: -
-associated with: vomiting, particular stimuli such as time of day, activities, odors, food
intake, menses.
-medications: antiemetics
HPI questions for a patient with a chief complaint of vomiting - CORRECT ANS: -character:
nature (color, bright red blood, coffee grounds, bilious, undigested food particles),
,quantity, duration, frequency, ability to keep liquids or food in stomach.
-associated symptoms: constipation, diarrhea, fever, chills, headache, nausea, weight
loss, abdominal pain or cramping, heartburn.
HPI questions for a patient with the chief complaint of diarrhea - CORRECT ANS: -
character: watery, copious, explosive, color, presence of blood, mucus, undigested food,
oil, or fat, odor, number of times per day, duration, change in pattern.
-associated symptoms: fever, chills, thirst, weight loss, abdominal pain or cramping, fecal
incontinence.
-relationship to: amount, type and timing of food intake, stressful life events or daily
stressors.
-travel history and or ill contacts
-Medications: laxatives or stool softeners, antidiarrheals
HPI questions for the patient with the chief complaint of constipation - CORRECT ANS: -
character: presence of bright red blood, black or tarry, diarrhea alternating with
constipation, accompanied by pain or discomfort
-pattern: last BM, pain with defecation, change in consistency or the size of the stool.
-diet: recent change in diet, intake of fiber, change in fluid intake
-medications: laxatives, stool softeners, diuretics, iron
HPI questions for the patient with jaundice - CORRECT ANS: -onset and duration
-color of stools or urine
-associated with abdominal pain, chills, fever
-exposure to hepatitis, use of recreational drugs, high risk sexual activity
-medications: high doses of acetaminophen, antipsychotics, antiepileptics, antibiotics
HPI questions for the patient with fecal incontinence - CORRECT ANS: -
-character: stool characteristics, timing in relation to meals, number of episodes per day,
occurring with or without warning sensations
-associated with: use of laxatives, presence of underlying disease
,HPI questions for the patient with dysuria - CORRECT ANS: -character: location
(suprapubic, distal urethra), pain or burning, frequency or volume changes
-associated fever or other systemic signs of illness: bacterial infection, tuberculosis,
fungal or viral infection, parasitic infection
-increased frequency of sexual intercourse or high risk sexual activity.
-changes in the amount of fluid intake
HPI questions for patients with urinary frequency - CORRECT ANS: -
-change in pattern or volume
-associated with other characteristics: urgency hematuria, incontinence, nocturia,
increased thirst, weight loss
-change in urinary stream: dribbling
HPI questions for patient with urinary incontinence - CORRECT ANS: -
-character: amount and frequency, constant or intermittent, dribbling vs frank
incontinence
-associated with urgency, previous surgery, coughing, sneezing, walking up the stairs,
nocturia, menopause
-medications: diuretics
HPI questions for patient with hematuria - CORRECT ANS: -character: color (bright red,
rusty brown, cola-colored) present at the beginning, end, or throughout voiding.
-associated symptoms: flank or costovertebral pain, passage of wormlike clots, pain on
voiding
-alternate possibilities: ingestion of foods containing red vegetable dyes, ingestion of
laxatives containing phenolphthalein
-medications: aspirin, NSAIDS, anticoagulants, diuretics, antibiotics
Changes in the abdomen with pregnant patients - CORRECT ANS: -
-striae from stretched skin
-abdominal muscles have less tone
-2nd trimester lower esophageal sphincter pressure decreases=GERD
-gastric emptying does not change but gastro transit time is prolonged leading to
constipation.
-gallbladder can distend, decreased emptying time and change in tone. This can lead to
, the development of gallstones.
-bladder sensitivity increased=frequency and urgency
-colon is displaced leading to increased constipation and flatus.
Changes in the abdomen with older patients - CORRECT ANS: -motility of the intestine is
slower
-reduced circulation to the intestine
-digestive enzymes and protective mucus decrease in the intestinal tract
-liver size decreases after fifty years of age.
-the liver loses the ability to metabolize certain drugs
What is the proper order of the abdominal exam? - CORRECT ANS: -
Inspection, auscultation, percuss, and palpate
Order is different from other systems so examiner does not alter the frequency of bowel
sounds.
How would you inspect the abdomen? - CORRECT ANS: -patient should be seated.
-assess symmetry while patient is breathing and holding breath.
-patients bladder should be emptied.
Four Quadrants of the abdomen - CORRECT ANS: - see picture
Nine quadrants of abdomen - CORRECT ANS: - see picture
How should NP be situated during abdominal exam? - CORRECT ANS: -
first seated at patients’ side, then standing behind patient.
Unexpected findings of abdominal inspection - CORRECT ANS: -
-umbilicus displaced, inflamed, swollen, or bulging.
-any distention, bulges or masses
-jaundice, cyanosis, redness
4. COMPLETE TEST EXAM WITH ACCURATE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS, ALL ANSWERS ARE 100% VERIFIED (LATEST UPDATE
2025/2026) RATED A+.
HPI questions for a patient with a chief complaint of an abdominal pain -
CORRECT ANSWERS -onset and duration: sudden or gradual, persistent
-character: dull, sharp, stab, cramp
-location: at time of onset, change over time, radiates to another area, superficial or deep
-associated symptoms: n/v, diarrhea, constipation, flatus, belching, jaundice, change in
girth, weight changes.
-relationship to: menstrual cycle, change in menses, intercourse, urination, defecation,
inspiration, change in body position, change in food or alcohol intake, stress, time of day,
trauma.
-recent stool characteristics: color, consistency, odor, and frequency.
-urinary characteristics: frequency, color, volume consistent with intake, force of stream,
ease of starting stream, ability to empty bladder.
-Medications: high doses of aspirin, steroids, NSAIDS
HPI questions for a patient with a chief complaint of indigestion - CORRECT ANS: -
character: feeling of fullness, heartburn, discomfort, excessive belching, flatulence, loss
of appetite, severe pain.
-location: localized or general, radiating to the arms or shoulders.
-relationship to: amount, timing of food intake, menses
-onset of symptoms: time of day or night, sudden or gradual.
-symptoms relieved by: antacids, change in diet, rest, or activity.
-medications: antacids (calcium carbonate, H2 blockers, PPIs)
HPI questions for patient with a chief complaint of nausea - CORRECT ANS: -
-associated with: vomiting, particular stimuli such as time of day, activities, odors, food
intake, menses.
-medications: antiemetics
HPI questions for a patient with a chief complaint of vomiting - CORRECT ANS: -character:
nature (color, bright red blood, coffee grounds, bilious, undigested food particles),
,quantity, duration, frequency, ability to keep liquids or food in stomach.
-associated symptoms: constipation, diarrhea, fever, chills, headache, nausea, weight
loss, abdominal pain or cramping, heartburn.
HPI questions for a patient with the chief complaint of diarrhea - CORRECT ANS: -
character: watery, copious, explosive, color, presence of blood, mucus, undigested food,
oil, or fat, odor, number of times per day, duration, change in pattern.
-associated symptoms: fever, chills, thirst, weight loss, abdominal pain or cramping, fecal
incontinence.
-relationship to: amount, type and timing of food intake, stressful life events or daily
stressors.
-travel history and or ill contacts
-Medications: laxatives or stool softeners, antidiarrheals
HPI questions for the patient with the chief complaint of constipation - CORRECT ANS: -
character: presence of bright red blood, black or tarry, diarrhea alternating with
constipation, accompanied by pain or discomfort
-pattern: last BM, pain with defecation, change in consistency or the size of the stool.
-diet: recent change in diet, intake of fiber, change in fluid intake
-medications: laxatives, stool softeners, diuretics, iron
HPI questions for the patient with jaundice - CORRECT ANS: -onset and duration
-color of stools or urine
-associated with abdominal pain, chills, fever
-exposure to hepatitis, use of recreational drugs, high risk sexual activity
-medications: high doses of acetaminophen, antipsychotics, antiepileptics, antibiotics
HPI questions for the patient with fecal incontinence - CORRECT ANS: -
-character: stool characteristics, timing in relation to meals, number of episodes per day,
occurring with or without warning sensations
-associated with: use of laxatives, presence of underlying disease
,HPI questions for the patient with dysuria - CORRECT ANS: -character: location
(suprapubic, distal urethra), pain or burning, frequency or volume changes
-associated fever or other systemic signs of illness: bacterial infection, tuberculosis,
fungal or viral infection, parasitic infection
-increased frequency of sexual intercourse or high risk sexual activity.
-changes in the amount of fluid intake
HPI questions for patients with urinary frequency - CORRECT ANS: -
-change in pattern or volume
-associated with other characteristics: urgency hematuria, incontinence, nocturia,
increased thirst, weight loss
-change in urinary stream: dribbling
HPI questions for patient with urinary incontinence - CORRECT ANS: -
-character: amount and frequency, constant or intermittent, dribbling vs frank
incontinence
-associated with urgency, previous surgery, coughing, sneezing, walking up the stairs,
nocturia, menopause
-medications: diuretics
HPI questions for patient with hematuria - CORRECT ANS: -character: color (bright red,
rusty brown, cola-colored) present at the beginning, end, or throughout voiding.
-associated symptoms: flank or costovertebral pain, passage of wormlike clots, pain on
voiding
-alternate possibilities: ingestion of foods containing red vegetable dyes, ingestion of
laxatives containing phenolphthalein
-medications: aspirin, NSAIDS, anticoagulants, diuretics, antibiotics
Changes in the abdomen with pregnant patients - CORRECT ANS: -
-striae from stretched skin
-abdominal muscles have less tone
-2nd trimester lower esophageal sphincter pressure decreases=GERD
-gastric emptying does not change but gastro transit time is prolonged leading to
constipation.
-gallbladder can distend, decreased emptying time and change in tone. This can lead to
, the development of gallstones.
-bladder sensitivity increased=frequency and urgency
-colon is displaced leading to increased constipation and flatus.
Changes in the abdomen with older patients - CORRECT ANS: -motility of the intestine is
slower
-reduced circulation to the intestine
-digestive enzymes and protective mucus decrease in the intestinal tract
-liver size decreases after fifty years of age.
-the liver loses the ability to metabolize certain drugs
What is the proper order of the abdominal exam? - CORRECT ANS: -
Inspection, auscultation, percuss, and palpate
Order is different from other systems so examiner does not alter the frequency of bowel
sounds.
How would you inspect the abdomen? - CORRECT ANS: -patient should be seated.
-assess symmetry while patient is breathing and holding breath.
-patients bladder should be emptied.
Four Quadrants of the abdomen - CORRECT ANS: - see picture
Nine quadrants of abdomen - CORRECT ANS: - see picture
How should NP be situated during abdominal exam? - CORRECT ANS: -
first seated at patients’ side, then standing behind patient.
Unexpected findings of abdominal inspection - CORRECT ANS: -
-umbilicus displaced, inflamed, swollen, or bulging.
-any distention, bulges or masses
-jaundice, cyanosis, redness
