Advanced Health Assessment & Diagnostic
Reasoning – Latest 2025/2026 Exam Prep &
Study Guide
Subjective Data - correct answerThings the pt tells you
Objective data - correct answerWhat your seeing, observing, or examining
The chief compliant should use the ____ - correct answerPatient's own words
History of present illness nomics - correct answer-OLDCARTS (onset, location,
duration, characteristics, aggravating/alleviating, radiation, timing, severity)
-OPQRST (onset, provocation, quality, radiation, severity, timing)
Concerning health history findings - correct answer-Changes in weight
-Fatigue or weakness
-Fever, chills, and night sweats
Concerning health history findings: changes in weight - correct answer-Rapid or gradual
- rapid changes over a few days suggest changes in fluid, not tissue
-Weight gain: nutrition vs. medical causes
-Weight loss: medical vs. psychosocial causes
Concerning health history findings: fatigue and weakness - correct answerMedical vs.
psychosocial
Fatigue - correct answerA sense of weariness or loss of energy
Weakness - correct answerA demonstrable loss of muscle muscle power
Concerning health history findings: fever, chills, and night sweats - correct answer-Ask
about exposure to illness or any recent travel
-Some medications may cause elevated temperature
What are the types of pain? - correct answer-Nociceptive (somatic)
-Neuropathic
-Idiopathic
-Psychogenic
-Chronic
,Nociceptive (somatic) - correct answer-Damage to tissue or viscera but sensory nerves
intact
-Described as dull, pressing, pulling, throbbing, boring, spasmodic, or colicky
Neuropathic - correct answer-Direct trauma to the peripheral or central nervous system
-Described as shock like, stabbing, burning, pins and needles
Idiopathic - correct answerNo identifiable etiology
Psychogenic - correct answerRelated to factors that influence the patient's report of pain
(psychiatric conditions, personality and coping style, cultural norms, social support
systems)
ChronicN - correct answer-Not due to cancer or illness lasting > 3-6 months
-Lasting > 1 month beyond the course of an illness
-Recurring at intervals over months or years
All notes should start with the following documentation: - correct answer-Date of
encounter
-Patient name (age is also important)
-Informant and reliability
SOAP format - correct answer-Subjective
-Objective
-Assessment
-Plan
BMI - correct answer-Weight (lbs) x 700/height (inches)
-Weight (kgs)/height (m^2)
BMI: underweight - correct answer< 18.5
BMI: normal - correct answer18.5 - 24.9
BMI: overweight - correct answer25-29.9
BMI: obesity - correct answer-I: 30 - 34.9
-II: 35 - 39.9
BMI: extreme obesity - correct answerIII: > (or equal to) 40
Orthostasis - correct answerSystolic BP drops >20 mm Hg or diastolic BP drops >10
mm Hg
Heart rate and rhythm - correct answer-Count 30 seconds (if rate is 50-90 and rhythm
regular)
, -Count 60 seconds (if rate is <50 or >90 and/or rhythm is irregular)
Respiratory rate - correct answer-Normal rate: 12-20 breaths/minute
-Count for a full 60 seconds
-Observe
Rhythm: regular, irregular
Depth: shallow, gasping
Effort: normal, labored
A patient presents with a 6-day history of rapid weight gain. The most likely explanation
is:
-A. Dysphagia
-B. Excessive absorption of nutrients
-C. Diabetes mellitus
-D. Accumulation of body fluids - correct answerD
A patient presents a routine check-up. You see that the patient's vital signs have
already been recorded as follows: T 98.4 F, HR 74, R 18, BP 180/98 What would be the
MOST appropriate action related to this patient's vital signs?
-A. The blood pressure should be repeated at the next visit
-B. Repeat the blood pressure and verify in contralateral arm
-C. Check the heart rate again to see if it is regular
-D. Listen to the patient's lungs for adventitious sounds - correct answerB
Your patient presents with a chief complaint of chest pain. Which of the following would
be the most appropriate first question/statement?
-A. Tell me about your chest pain
-B. Does your pain radiate to any other area?
-C. How many steps can you climb before the pain begins?
-D. Do you have any nausea/vomiting/diarrhea?
-E. When did your pain start? - correct answerA
In which of the following sections would you use the OLDCARTS mnemonic to attain
the required information?
-A. Chief complaint
-B. History of present illness
-C. Social history
-D. Personal history
-E. Review of systems - correct answerB
Identify if the following are subjective or objective
-A. The patient presented with a chief complaint of fever for the last 6 days ----B.The
patient is well groomed and appears withdrawn
-C.You obtained vital signs at this visit
-D.The patient denies ever smoking, admits to 2-12oz beers daily, and denies any illicit
drug use
Reasoning – Latest 2025/2026 Exam Prep &
Study Guide
Subjective Data - correct answerThings the pt tells you
Objective data - correct answerWhat your seeing, observing, or examining
The chief compliant should use the ____ - correct answerPatient's own words
History of present illness nomics - correct answer-OLDCARTS (onset, location,
duration, characteristics, aggravating/alleviating, radiation, timing, severity)
-OPQRST (onset, provocation, quality, radiation, severity, timing)
Concerning health history findings - correct answer-Changes in weight
-Fatigue or weakness
-Fever, chills, and night sweats
Concerning health history findings: changes in weight - correct answer-Rapid or gradual
- rapid changes over a few days suggest changes in fluid, not tissue
-Weight gain: nutrition vs. medical causes
-Weight loss: medical vs. psychosocial causes
Concerning health history findings: fatigue and weakness - correct answerMedical vs.
psychosocial
Fatigue - correct answerA sense of weariness or loss of energy
Weakness - correct answerA demonstrable loss of muscle muscle power
Concerning health history findings: fever, chills, and night sweats - correct answer-Ask
about exposure to illness or any recent travel
-Some medications may cause elevated temperature
What are the types of pain? - correct answer-Nociceptive (somatic)
-Neuropathic
-Idiopathic
-Psychogenic
-Chronic
,Nociceptive (somatic) - correct answer-Damage to tissue or viscera but sensory nerves
intact
-Described as dull, pressing, pulling, throbbing, boring, spasmodic, or colicky
Neuropathic - correct answer-Direct trauma to the peripheral or central nervous system
-Described as shock like, stabbing, burning, pins and needles
Idiopathic - correct answerNo identifiable etiology
Psychogenic - correct answerRelated to factors that influence the patient's report of pain
(psychiatric conditions, personality and coping style, cultural norms, social support
systems)
ChronicN - correct answer-Not due to cancer or illness lasting > 3-6 months
-Lasting > 1 month beyond the course of an illness
-Recurring at intervals over months or years
All notes should start with the following documentation: - correct answer-Date of
encounter
-Patient name (age is also important)
-Informant and reliability
SOAP format - correct answer-Subjective
-Objective
-Assessment
-Plan
BMI - correct answer-Weight (lbs) x 700/height (inches)
-Weight (kgs)/height (m^2)
BMI: underweight - correct answer< 18.5
BMI: normal - correct answer18.5 - 24.9
BMI: overweight - correct answer25-29.9
BMI: obesity - correct answer-I: 30 - 34.9
-II: 35 - 39.9
BMI: extreme obesity - correct answerIII: > (or equal to) 40
Orthostasis - correct answerSystolic BP drops >20 mm Hg or diastolic BP drops >10
mm Hg
Heart rate and rhythm - correct answer-Count 30 seconds (if rate is 50-90 and rhythm
regular)
, -Count 60 seconds (if rate is <50 or >90 and/or rhythm is irregular)
Respiratory rate - correct answer-Normal rate: 12-20 breaths/minute
-Count for a full 60 seconds
-Observe
Rhythm: regular, irregular
Depth: shallow, gasping
Effort: normal, labored
A patient presents with a 6-day history of rapid weight gain. The most likely explanation
is:
-A. Dysphagia
-B. Excessive absorption of nutrients
-C. Diabetes mellitus
-D. Accumulation of body fluids - correct answerD
A patient presents a routine check-up. You see that the patient's vital signs have
already been recorded as follows: T 98.4 F, HR 74, R 18, BP 180/98 What would be the
MOST appropriate action related to this patient's vital signs?
-A. The blood pressure should be repeated at the next visit
-B. Repeat the blood pressure and verify in contralateral arm
-C. Check the heart rate again to see if it is regular
-D. Listen to the patient's lungs for adventitious sounds - correct answerB
Your patient presents with a chief complaint of chest pain. Which of the following would
be the most appropriate first question/statement?
-A. Tell me about your chest pain
-B. Does your pain radiate to any other area?
-C. How many steps can you climb before the pain begins?
-D. Do you have any nausea/vomiting/diarrhea?
-E. When did your pain start? - correct answerA
In which of the following sections would you use the OLDCARTS mnemonic to attain
the required information?
-A. Chief complaint
-B. History of present illness
-C. Social history
-D. Personal history
-E. Review of systems - correct answerB
Identify if the following are subjective or objective
-A. The patient presented with a chief complaint of fever for the last 6 days ----B.The
patient is well groomed and appears withdrawn
-C.You obtained vital signs at this visit
-D.The patient denies ever smoking, admits to 2-12oz beers daily, and denies any illicit
drug use
