NR-302: Health Assessment I question
and answer with rationales 2025
1. Which step of the nursing process involves gathering data
about the patient’s health status?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Evaluation
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process,
where data is collected from the patient through interviews,
observations, and physical examination.
2. Which of the following is an example of objective data?
A. Patient states “I feel dizzy”
B. Blood pressure reading of 120/80 mmHg
C. Patient reports headache
D. Reports of nausea
Rationale: Objective data is measurable and observable, such as
vital signs, unlike subjective data that comes from patient’s
feelings.
3. What is the best source of primary data during a health
assessment?
A. The patient
,B. The patient’s family
C. The medical record
D. The nurse’s observation
Rationale: The patient is the most reliable and direct source of
primary data whenever possible.
4. Which part of the stethoscope is best for auscultating high-
pitched sounds like breath sounds?
A. Bell
B. Diaphragm
C. Earpieces
D. Tubing
Rationale: The diaphragm of the stethoscope is designed for
high-pitched sounds such as lung, bowel, and normal heart
sounds.
5. What is the correct order of physical examination
techniques for the abdomen?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D. Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
Rationale: For the abdomen, auscultation comes before
palpation or percussion to avoid altering bowel sounds.
6. Which of the following is considered a normal respiratory
rate for an adult?
,A. 10 breaths per minute
B. 16 breaths per minute
C. 24 breaths per minute
D. 28 breaths per minute
Rationale: The normal adult respiratory rate ranges from 12 to
20 breaths per minute.
7. Which term refers to a yellow discoloration of the skin due
to elevated bilirubin levels?
A. Cyanosis
B. Pallor
C. Jaundice
D. Erythema
Rationale: Jaundice results from excess bilirubin in the blood,
causing yellowing of the skin and sclera.
8. Which cranial nerve is tested when assessing visual acuity?
A. Cranial nerve III
B. Cranial nerve IV
C. Cranial nerve II
D. Cranial nerve VI
Rationale: The optic nerve (cranial nerve II) transmits visual
information from the retina to the brain.
9. What is the normal range for an adult’s oral temperature?
A. 95.0–96.5°F (35.0–35.8°C)
B. 97.0–98.0°F (36.1–36.6°C)
, C. 97.6–99.6°F (36.4–37.5°C)
D. 100.0–101.5°F (37.8–38.6°C)
Rationale: Normal oral temperature is approximately 97.6–
99.6°F.
10. Which type of percussion note is expected over normal
lung tissue?
A. Flat
B. Dull
C. Resonant
D. Tympanic
Rationale: Resonance is the normal percussion sound heard
over healthy lung tissue.
11. Which pulse site is commonly used for routine adult
assessment?
A. Brachial
B. Femoral
C. Radial
D. Carotid
Rationale: The radial pulse is easily accessible and commonly
used for routine pulse assessment in adults.
12. What does the Glasgow Coma Scale assess?
A. Blood pressure
B. Respiratory status
and answer with rationales 2025
1. Which step of the nursing process involves gathering data
about the patient’s health status?
A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Evaluation
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process,
where data is collected from the patient through interviews,
observations, and physical examination.
2. Which of the following is an example of objective data?
A. Patient states “I feel dizzy”
B. Blood pressure reading of 120/80 mmHg
C. Patient reports headache
D. Reports of nausea
Rationale: Objective data is measurable and observable, such as
vital signs, unlike subjective data that comes from patient’s
feelings.
3. What is the best source of primary data during a health
assessment?
A. The patient
,B. The patient’s family
C. The medical record
D. The nurse’s observation
Rationale: The patient is the most reliable and direct source of
primary data whenever possible.
4. Which part of the stethoscope is best for auscultating high-
pitched sounds like breath sounds?
A. Bell
B. Diaphragm
C. Earpieces
D. Tubing
Rationale: The diaphragm of the stethoscope is designed for
high-pitched sounds such as lung, bowel, and normal heart
sounds.
5. What is the correct order of physical examination
techniques for the abdomen?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D. Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
Rationale: For the abdomen, auscultation comes before
palpation or percussion to avoid altering bowel sounds.
6. Which of the following is considered a normal respiratory
rate for an adult?
,A. 10 breaths per minute
B. 16 breaths per minute
C. 24 breaths per minute
D. 28 breaths per minute
Rationale: The normal adult respiratory rate ranges from 12 to
20 breaths per minute.
7. Which term refers to a yellow discoloration of the skin due
to elevated bilirubin levels?
A. Cyanosis
B. Pallor
C. Jaundice
D. Erythema
Rationale: Jaundice results from excess bilirubin in the blood,
causing yellowing of the skin and sclera.
8. Which cranial nerve is tested when assessing visual acuity?
A. Cranial nerve III
B. Cranial nerve IV
C. Cranial nerve II
D. Cranial nerve VI
Rationale: The optic nerve (cranial nerve II) transmits visual
information from the retina to the brain.
9. What is the normal range for an adult’s oral temperature?
A. 95.0–96.5°F (35.0–35.8°C)
B. 97.0–98.0°F (36.1–36.6°C)
, C. 97.6–99.6°F (36.4–37.5°C)
D. 100.0–101.5°F (37.8–38.6°C)
Rationale: Normal oral temperature is approximately 97.6–
99.6°F.
10. Which type of percussion note is expected over normal
lung tissue?
A. Flat
B. Dull
C. Resonant
D. Tympanic
Rationale: Resonance is the normal percussion sound heard
over healthy lung tissue.
11. Which pulse site is commonly used for routine adult
assessment?
A. Brachial
B. Femoral
C. Radial
D. Carotid
Rationale: The radial pulse is easily accessible and commonly
used for routine pulse assessment in adults.
12. What does the Glasgow Coma Scale assess?
A. Blood pressure
B. Respiratory status
