Verified Edition) Advanced Health Assessment and
Diagnostic Reasoning With Skills Lab – Summer–Fall
Semester
Overview
This comprehensive 100-question midterm exam covers all essential domains tested in Grand
Canyon University’s NUR-634 course, reflecting real clinical reasoning and advanced
assessment standards expected of graduate nursing students.
Each question includes the correct answer and concise rationale to strengthen understanding
and preparation for both written and clinical assessments.
Exam Coverage
Physical Assessment Techniques
Neurologic, Cardiopulmonary, and Musculoskeletal Systems
Male & Female Reproductive Health
Psychiatric and Cognitive Evaluation
Diagnostic Reasoning and SOAP Documentation
Clinical Decision-Making Scenarios
Section 1 – General Assessment Foundations
1. When documenting a SOAP note, which component should include
the patient’s direct quotes?
A. Objective
B. Assessment
C. Plan
D. Subjective
✅ Answer: D
Rationale: The subjective portion records the patient’s own words
(chief complaint, history).
, 2. Which of the following statements best describes the “chief
complaint”?
A. Nurse’s impression of the problem
B. The patient’s main reason for seeking care, in quotes
C. The provider’s diagnosis
D. Objective data collected during assessment
✅ Answer: B
3. When assessing a 45-year-old woman with fatigue, which question
best explores the symptom?
A. “Are you tired?”
B. “Tell me what you mean by fatigue and when it occurs.”
✅ Answer: B
Rationale: Open-ended, clarifying questions yield accurate symptom
description.
4. The best position for examining the posterior thorax is:
A. Supine
B. Prone
C. Sitting upright
D. Lateral decubitus
✅ Answer: C
5. Which sequence represents the correct order of physical-exam
techniques (except for the abdomen)?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
✅ Answer: A
🧠 Section 2 – Mental-Status and Behavioral Assessment
6. A patient says, “Nothing ever goes right for me; life is just
miserable.” The most likely mood disorder is:
A. Dysthymic disorder