NSG3160 Exam 1 Health Assessment Complete
Guide | Galen College | 2026/2027 Updated |
350+ Questions & Verified Answers | A+ Grade
Guarantee
Foundations of Health Assessment & Clinical Reasoning Practice | 2026/2027
Curriculum
Galen College of Nursing | NSG 3160 Health Assessment | Exam 1 Study Resource
PART 1: Essential Health Assessment Foundations (2026/2027)
1. The Nursing Health History – A Culturally Humble Approach (2026 ANA Crosswalk)
● Biographic data & SOGI (Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity): SOGI questions
required 2026 per Joint Commission; use open-ended "How do you describe your
gender?"
● Chief complaint (CC): Patient’s own words; avoid leading
● History of present illness (HPI): OLDCARTS updated 2026 to include "S" for Social
Determinants of Health (SDOH) – housing, food security, digital access
● Past medical/surgical/family history: incorporate 3-generation pedigree for
genetic risk flagging (BRCA, familial hypercholesterolemia)
● Functional assessment (ADLs/IADLs): add tele-health tech literacy (2026 AACN
Essential 2.2)
● Medication reconciliation: include supplements, CBD products,
wearable-delivered drugs
● Allergy documentation: specify reaction type (IgE vs intolerance) per 2026 Joint
Commission
, ● Social history: screen for climate-related displacement (new 2026 SDOH
indicator)
● Cultural & spiritual assessment: use 2026 updated ETHNIC model (E-explore,
T-treatment preferences, H-healers, N-navigation barriers, I-interpersonal
relationships, C-community resources)
2. Comprehensive Physical Exam Sequence – 2026 Evidence-Based Order
Inspection → Palpation → Percussion → Auscultation (IPPA) remains standard except:
● Abdomen: Inspect → Auscultate → Percuss → Palpate (IAPP) to avoid altering
bowel sounds
● Cardiac POCUS 2026 basic views: Parasternal Long, Parasternal Short, Apical
4-chamber – recognize gross wall-motion & ejection fraction estimation
● Connected devices: Validate home BP cuff readings against calibrated manual
device; document variance
3. Vital Signs & Pain – 5th Vital Sign 2026 Update
● Temperature: Temporal artery preferred infection-control; infrared tympanic not
used with cerumen-occluded canals
● Pulse Oximetry: Verify signal IQ on connected devices; waveform damping = poor
perfusion/read artifact
● BP 2026 AHA Guidelines:
○ Use appropriate cuff size: bladder width 40 % arm circumference, length
80 %
○ Support arm at heart level; feet flat, back supported
○ Take 2 readings 1 min apart; average documented
● Pain: Numeric scale 0–10; mandatory screening for "Pain Beliefs" (cultural) 2026
● New 2026 6th Vital Sign Pilot: "Digital Health Literacy" – quick screen (use of
patient portal, tele-health comfort)
4. Documentation Frameworks 2026
● SOAP: Add "C" for Cultural Consideration (optional 2026 pilot) → S-O-A-C-P
● Charting by Exception (CBE): Uses 2026 ANA-approved standardized normal
ranges; saves 30 % documentation time
● EHR Clinical Decision Support (CDS): Auto-flags abnormal vitals; nurse must
validate before accepting
Guide | Galen College | 2026/2027 Updated |
350+ Questions & Verified Answers | A+ Grade
Guarantee
Foundations of Health Assessment & Clinical Reasoning Practice | 2026/2027
Curriculum
Galen College of Nursing | NSG 3160 Health Assessment | Exam 1 Study Resource
PART 1: Essential Health Assessment Foundations (2026/2027)
1. The Nursing Health History – A Culturally Humble Approach (2026 ANA Crosswalk)
● Biographic data & SOGI (Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity): SOGI questions
required 2026 per Joint Commission; use open-ended "How do you describe your
gender?"
● Chief complaint (CC): Patient’s own words; avoid leading
● History of present illness (HPI): OLDCARTS updated 2026 to include "S" for Social
Determinants of Health (SDOH) – housing, food security, digital access
● Past medical/surgical/family history: incorporate 3-generation pedigree for
genetic risk flagging (BRCA, familial hypercholesterolemia)
● Functional assessment (ADLs/IADLs): add tele-health tech literacy (2026 AACN
Essential 2.2)
● Medication reconciliation: include supplements, CBD products,
wearable-delivered drugs
● Allergy documentation: specify reaction type (IgE vs intolerance) per 2026 Joint
Commission
, ● Social history: screen for climate-related displacement (new 2026 SDOH
indicator)
● Cultural & spiritual assessment: use 2026 updated ETHNIC model (E-explore,
T-treatment preferences, H-healers, N-navigation barriers, I-interpersonal
relationships, C-community resources)
2. Comprehensive Physical Exam Sequence – 2026 Evidence-Based Order
Inspection → Palpation → Percussion → Auscultation (IPPA) remains standard except:
● Abdomen: Inspect → Auscultate → Percuss → Palpate (IAPP) to avoid altering
bowel sounds
● Cardiac POCUS 2026 basic views: Parasternal Long, Parasternal Short, Apical
4-chamber – recognize gross wall-motion & ejection fraction estimation
● Connected devices: Validate home BP cuff readings against calibrated manual
device; document variance
3. Vital Signs & Pain – 5th Vital Sign 2026 Update
● Temperature: Temporal artery preferred infection-control; infrared tympanic not
used with cerumen-occluded canals
● Pulse Oximetry: Verify signal IQ on connected devices; waveform damping = poor
perfusion/read artifact
● BP 2026 AHA Guidelines:
○ Use appropriate cuff size: bladder width 40 % arm circumference, length
80 %
○ Support arm at heart level; feet flat, back supported
○ Take 2 readings 1 min apart; average documented
● Pain: Numeric scale 0–10; mandatory screening for "Pain Beliefs" (cultural) 2026
● New 2026 6th Vital Sign Pilot: "Digital Health Literacy" – quick screen (use of
patient portal, tele-health comfort)
4. Documentation Frameworks 2026
● SOAP: Add "C" for Cultural Consideration (optional 2026 pilot) → S-O-A-C-P
● Charting by Exception (CBE): Uses 2026 ANA-approved standardized normal
ranges; saves 30 % documentation time
● EHR Clinical Decision Support (CDS): Auto-flags abnormal vitals; nurse must
validate before accepting
