NU 325 Exam 1 (PDF) | (Updated) Health Assessment
Exam-Style Questions — 200 Questions
Section 1: Health History and Interviewing (Questions 1-17)
1 During a health history interview, a patient provides a vague description of their chief complaint, stating 'I just
feel unwell.' Which interviewing technique is most appropriate to clarify the nature and onset of the symptom
while avoiding leading the patient?
A) Ask 'Do you feel nauseous or dizzy?' to narrow down possibilities.
B) Use open-ended probing: 'Tell me more about what you mean by feeling unwell.'
C) Proceed to the review of systems to systematically identify affected areas.
D) Reassure the patient and ask about recent life stressors.
Answer: B
Rationale: Open-ended probing encourages the patient to elaborate without imposing the interviewer's assumptions.
Option A is leading and may bias responses. Option C bypasses clarification, risking incomplete data. Option D
may be appropriate later but does not clarify the symptom first.
2 A nurse is conducting a health history with a patient who has limited English proficiency. An interpreter is
present. Which action by the nurse best ensures accurate communication and patient autonomy?
A) Direct all questions to the interpreter, who then translates to the patient.
B) Maintain eye contact with the patient while speaking, and allow the interpreter to translate.
C) Use simple English phrases and rely on family members to interpret.
D) Avoid sensitive topics to minimize cultural discomfort.
Answer: B
Rationale: Maintaining eye contact with the patient respects their personhood and builds rapport, while the
interpreter facilitates accurate translation. Option A disengages the patient. Option C risks inaccurate translation
and breaches confidentiality. Option D may omit crucial health information.
3 When documenting the health history, a nurse records the patient's statement: 'I have had chest pain for three
days.' Which component of the PQRST mnemonic is being documented?
A) Provocative/Palliative factors
B) Quality of the symptom
C) Region/Radiation
D) Temporal onset
Answer: D
Rationale: Temporal onset refers to when the symptom began and its duration. 'For three days' describes the time
course. Option A would include what makes it better or worse. Option B describes the sensation (e.g., sharp, dull).
Option C describes location and spread.
4 A patient reports a history of hypertension but cannot recall the specific blood pressure readings or medications.
Which approach is most effective for obtaining accurate data?
A) Ask the patient to estimate the duration of hypertension and list any medications they remember.
B) Request permission to contact the patient's previous healthcare provider for records.
C) Document the history as 'unknown' and proceed with the physical assessment.
D) Use a standardized questionnaire to prompt recall.
,Answer: B
Rationale: Contacting previous providers is the most reliable method to obtain accurate medical history when
patient recall is poor. Option A relies on potentially inaccurate memory. Option C may miss critical data. Option D
may help but is less reliable than direct records.
5 During the social history portion of an interview, a patient discloses occasional marijuana use. The nurse's best
response is to:
A) Document the disclosure and ask about frequency, mode, and context of use.
B) Advise the patient to stop using marijuana due to health risks.
C) Avoid further questions to prevent making the patient uncomfortable.
D) Inform the patient that marijuana use is illegal and must be reported.
Answer: A
Rationale: Nonjudgmental exploration of substance use provides essential health data and builds trust. Option B
may be premature and damage rapport. Option C misses important assessment information. Option D is incorrect in
many jurisdictions and may violate confidentiality unless legally required.
6 A nurse is interviewing a patient who becomes tearful when discussing a recent diagnosis. Which therapeutic
communication technique is most appropriate?
A) Offer a tissue and say, 'It's okay, many people feel this way.'
B) Silently hand a tissue and allow the patient to compose themselves before continuing.
C) Change the subject to a less emotional topic.
D) Say, 'I understand this is difficult, but we need to finish the history.'
Answer: B
Rationale: Silent presence and offering a tissue conveys empathy without disrupting the patient's emotional
processing. Option A may minimize feelings. Option C avoids the issue. Option D dismisses the patient's emotions
and may damage rapport.
7 When assessing a patient's functional health pattern, which question is most relevant to the 'health
perception-health management' pattern?
A) How do you typically cope with stress?
B) What do you do to stay healthy?
C) How would you describe your relationships with family?
D) What is your typical daily diet?
Answer: B
Rationale: Health perception-health management pattern focuses on the patient's perceived health status and health
practices. Option B directly addresses health maintenance behaviors. Option A relates to coping/stress tolerance.
Option C relates to role-relationship pattern. Option D relates to nutritional-metabolic pattern.
8 A patient presents with multiple vague symptoms and a history of multiple visits to different providers. Which
interviewing strategy is most appropriate to efficiently gather data without reinforcing somatization?
A) Use a structured review of systems to cover all possible symptoms.
B) Ask open-ended questions about the patient's understanding of their health problems.
C) Limit the interview to the chief complaint and past medical history.
D) Confront the patient about the inconsistency of symptoms.
Answer: B
Rationale: Exploring the patient's perspective helps understand their concerns and avoids reinforcing excessive
symptom focus. Option A may encourage listing of symptoms. Option C may miss important context. Option D is
,confrontational and damages rapport.
9 A nurse is taking a health history from a patient who is a recent immigrant. Which question best assesses for
potential environmental health risks?
A) Do you feel safe in your current living situation?
B) What kind of work did you do in your home country?
C) Have you been exposed to any chemicals or pollutants at home or work?
D) Do you have any allergies?
Answer: C
Rationale: Directly asking about chemical or pollutant exposure targets environmental health risks. Option A
addresses safety but is broader. Option B may be relevant but does not specifically assess exposure. Option D is
about allergies, not environmental hazards.
10 When documenting the health history, the nurse writes: 'Patient states she has a history of asthma, diagnosed at
age 10, last exacerbation 2 years ago, uses albuterol PRN.' This documentation reflects which component of the
health history?
A) Chief complaint
B) Past medical history
C) Review of systems
D) History of present illness
Answer: B
Rationale: Past medical history includes chronic illnesses, diagnoses, and treatments. This entry describes asthma
diagnosis and management. Option A is the reason for visit. Option C is a systematic inquiry about current
symptoms. Option D details the current illness episode.
11 A clinician is conducting a health history interview with a patient who displays a flat affect, avoids eye contact,
and gives monosyllabic responses. The clinician suspects the patient may be experiencing psychological
distress. Which interviewing technique is most appropriate to encourage disclosure without causing the patient
to feel defensive?
A) Using closed-ended questions to obtain specific factual information quickly.
B) Employing silence and nonverbal cues such as nodding to allow the patient time to elaborate.
C) Confronting the patient directly about their lack of engagement to promote honesty.
D) Asking multiple questions in succession to cover all health domains efficiently.
Answer: B
Rationale: Silence and attentive nonverbal cues create a safe space for the patient to share at their own pace,
reducing perceived pressure. Closed-ended questions limit disclosure, confrontation may increase defensiveness,
and rapid questioning can overwhelm the patient.
12 During a health history interview, a patient describes a symptom as 'a sharp, stabbing pain that comes and
goes.' The clinician notes the patient uses the word 'sharp' but does not elaborate further. Which of the
following responses best demonstrates the use of probing to clarify the quality of the symptom?
A) "You said the pain is sharp. Can you tell me more about what 'sharp' feels like?"
B) "Is the pain more like a knife or like a needle?"
C) "Does anything make the pain better or worse?"
D) "How long does each episode of sharp pain last?"
Answer: A
Rationale: This open-ended probe invites the patient to elaborate on the quality of pain without leading them.
, Option B is a leading question that limits the response to two options. Options C and D address aggravating factors
and duration, not quality.
13 A clinician is interviewing a patient who recently immigrated and speaks English as a second language. The
patient appears anxious and frequently looks at the interpreter. Which action by the clinician best demonstrates
culturally sensitive interviewing?
A) Directing all questions to the interpreter and avoiding eye contact with the patient to reduce pressure.
B) Addressing the patient directly while using the interpreter for translation, maintaining occasional eye contact.
C) Asking the interpreter to summarize the patient's responses after the interview to save time.
D) Using medical jargon to ensure precision, and asking the interpreter to simplify if needed.
Answer: B
Rationale: Addressing the patient directly respects their autonomy and builds rapport; the interpreter serves as a
conduit. Avoiding eye contact (A) may seem dismissive, summarizing afterward (C) risks missing nuances, and
jargon (D) can confuse the translation process.
14 A patient reports having 'trouble sleeping' but cannot specify duration or triggers. The clinician suspects the
symptom may be related to undiagnosed depression. Which interviewing strategy is most effective for
gathering information about the patient's mood while maintaining neutrality?
A) Asking, "Do you feel sad or depressed?"
B) Using a validated screening tool like the PHQ-9 during the interview.
C) Asking open-endedly, "How would you describe your mood lately?"
D) Suggesting, "Many people with sleep problems feel stressed; is that the case for you?"
Answer: C
Rationale: An open-ended question about mood allows the patient to describe their experience without being led.
Option A is a closed, leading question. Option B is appropriate but not an interviewing strategy per se; it is a
formal screening. Option D leads the patient toward stress.
15 A clinician is taking a health history from a patient who discloses occasional use of recreational marijuana. The
clinician needs to assess for potential cannabis use disorder. Which question is most appropriate for screening,
based on current DSM-5 criteria?
A) "How often do you use marijuana?"
B) "Have you ever tried to cut down or stop using marijuana but found you couldn't?"
C) "Do you think marijuana is harmful to your health?"
D) "Does your family know about your marijuana use?"
Answer: B
Rationale: This question directly addresses impaired control, a core criterion for substance use disorders (DSM-5).
Frequency (A) is less specific, perceived harm (C) is subjective, and family knowledge (D) does not assess disorder
severity.
16 During a health history interview, a patient states, "I don't take any medications," but the clinician notices
several prescription bottles in the patient's bag. What is the most appropriate interviewing technique to address
this discrepancy?
A) Confront the patient by saying, "I see you have medications; why did you say you don't take any?"
B) Ignore the discrepancy to maintain rapport and trust.
C) Ask nonjudgmentally, "I noticed some medication bottles; can you tell me about those?"
D) Document the patient's statement and assume the bottles belong to someone else.
Answer: C
Exam-Style Questions — 200 Questions
Section 1: Health History and Interviewing (Questions 1-17)
1 During a health history interview, a patient provides a vague description of their chief complaint, stating 'I just
feel unwell.' Which interviewing technique is most appropriate to clarify the nature and onset of the symptom
while avoiding leading the patient?
A) Ask 'Do you feel nauseous or dizzy?' to narrow down possibilities.
B) Use open-ended probing: 'Tell me more about what you mean by feeling unwell.'
C) Proceed to the review of systems to systematically identify affected areas.
D) Reassure the patient and ask about recent life stressors.
Answer: B
Rationale: Open-ended probing encourages the patient to elaborate without imposing the interviewer's assumptions.
Option A is leading and may bias responses. Option C bypasses clarification, risking incomplete data. Option D
may be appropriate later but does not clarify the symptom first.
2 A nurse is conducting a health history with a patient who has limited English proficiency. An interpreter is
present. Which action by the nurse best ensures accurate communication and patient autonomy?
A) Direct all questions to the interpreter, who then translates to the patient.
B) Maintain eye contact with the patient while speaking, and allow the interpreter to translate.
C) Use simple English phrases and rely on family members to interpret.
D) Avoid sensitive topics to minimize cultural discomfort.
Answer: B
Rationale: Maintaining eye contact with the patient respects their personhood and builds rapport, while the
interpreter facilitates accurate translation. Option A disengages the patient. Option C risks inaccurate translation
and breaches confidentiality. Option D may omit crucial health information.
3 When documenting the health history, a nurse records the patient's statement: 'I have had chest pain for three
days.' Which component of the PQRST mnemonic is being documented?
A) Provocative/Palliative factors
B) Quality of the symptom
C) Region/Radiation
D) Temporal onset
Answer: D
Rationale: Temporal onset refers to when the symptom began and its duration. 'For three days' describes the time
course. Option A would include what makes it better or worse. Option B describes the sensation (e.g., sharp, dull).
Option C describes location and spread.
4 A patient reports a history of hypertension but cannot recall the specific blood pressure readings or medications.
Which approach is most effective for obtaining accurate data?
A) Ask the patient to estimate the duration of hypertension and list any medications they remember.
B) Request permission to contact the patient's previous healthcare provider for records.
C) Document the history as 'unknown' and proceed with the physical assessment.
D) Use a standardized questionnaire to prompt recall.
,Answer: B
Rationale: Contacting previous providers is the most reliable method to obtain accurate medical history when
patient recall is poor. Option A relies on potentially inaccurate memory. Option C may miss critical data. Option D
may help but is less reliable than direct records.
5 During the social history portion of an interview, a patient discloses occasional marijuana use. The nurse's best
response is to:
A) Document the disclosure and ask about frequency, mode, and context of use.
B) Advise the patient to stop using marijuana due to health risks.
C) Avoid further questions to prevent making the patient uncomfortable.
D) Inform the patient that marijuana use is illegal and must be reported.
Answer: A
Rationale: Nonjudgmental exploration of substance use provides essential health data and builds trust. Option B
may be premature and damage rapport. Option C misses important assessment information. Option D is incorrect in
many jurisdictions and may violate confidentiality unless legally required.
6 A nurse is interviewing a patient who becomes tearful when discussing a recent diagnosis. Which therapeutic
communication technique is most appropriate?
A) Offer a tissue and say, 'It's okay, many people feel this way.'
B) Silently hand a tissue and allow the patient to compose themselves before continuing.
C) Change the subject to a less emotional topic.
D) Say, 'I understand this is difficult, but we need to finish the history.'
Answer: B
Rationale: Silent presence and offering a tissue conveys empathy without disrupting the patient's emotional
processing. Option A may minimize feelings. Option C avoids the issue. Option D dismisses the patient's emotions
and may damage rapport.
7 When assessing a patient's functional health pattern, which question is most relevant to the 'health
perception-health management' pattern?
A) How do you typically cope with stress?
B) What do you do to stay healthy?
C) How would you describe your relationships with family?
D) What is your typical daily diet?
Answer: B
Rationale: Health perception-health management pattern focuses on the patient's perceived health status and health
practices. Option B directly addresses health maintenance behaviors. Option A relates to coping/stress tolerance.
Option C relates to role-relationship pattern. Option D relates to nutritional-metabolic pattern.
8 A patient presents with multiple vague symptoms and a history of multiple visits to different providers. Which
interviewing strategy is most appropriate to efficiently gather data without reinforcing somatization?
A) Use a structured review of systems to cover all possible symptoms.
B) Ask open-ended questions about the patient's understanding of their health problems.
C) Limit the interview to the chief complaint and past medical history.
D) Confront the patient about the inconsistency of symptoms.
Answer: B
Rationale: Exploring the patient's perspective helps understand their concerns and avoids reinforcing excessive
symptom focus. Option A may encourage listing of symptoms. Option C may miss important context. Option D is
,confrontational and damages rapport.
9 A nurse is taking a health history from a patient who is a recent immigrant. Which question best assesses for
potential environmental health risks?
A) Do you feel safe in your current living situation?
B) What kind of work did you do in your home country?
C) Have you been exposed to any chemicals or pollutants at home or work?
D) Do you have any allergies?
Answer: C
Rationale: Directly asking about chemical or pollutant exposure targets environmental health risks. Option A
addresses safety but is broader. Option B may be relevant but does not specifically assess exposure. Option D is
about allergies, not environmental hazards.
10 When documenting the health history, the nurse writes: 'Patient states she has a history of asthma, diagnosed at
age 10, last exacerbation 2 years ago, uses albuterol PRN.' This documentation reflects which component of the
health history?
A) Chief complaint
B) Past medical history
C) Review of systems
D) History of present illness
Answer: B
Rationale: Past medical history includes chronic illnesses, diagnoses, and treatments. This entry describes asthma
diagnosis and management. Option A is the reason for visit. Option C is a systematic inquiry about current
symptoms. Option D details the current illness episode.
11 A clinician is conducting a health history interview with a patient who displays a flat affect, avoids eye contact,
and gives monosyllabic responses. The clinician suspects the patient may be experiencing psychological
distress. Which interviewing technique is most appropriate to encourage disclosure without causing the patient
to feel defensive?
A) Using closed-ended questions to obtain specific factual information quickly.
B) Employing silence and nonverbal cues such as nodding to allow the patient time to elaborate.
C) Confronting the patient directly about their lack of engagement to promote honesty.
D) Asking multiple questions in succession to cover all health domains efficiently.
Answer: B
Rationale: Silence and attentive nonverbal cues create a safe space for the patient to share at their own pace,
reducing perceived pressure. Closed-ended questions limit disclosure, confrontation may increase defensiveness,
and rapid questioning can overwhelm the patient.
12 During a health history interview, a patient describes a symptom as 'a sharp, stabbing pain that comes and
goes.' The clinician notes the patient uses the word 'sharp' but does not elaborate further. Which of the
following responses best demonstrates the use of probing to clarify the quality of the symptom?
A) "You said the pain is sharp. Can you tell me more about what 'sharp' feels like?"
B) "Is the pain more like a knife or like a needle?"
C) "Does anything make the pain better or worse?"
D) "How long does each episode of sharp pain last?"
Answer: A
Rationale: This open-ended probe invites the patient to elaborate on the quality of pain without leading them.
, Option B is a leading question that limits the response to two options. Options C and D address aggravating factors
and duration, not quality.
13 A clinician is interviewing a patient who recently immigrated and speaks English as a second language. The
patient appears anxious and frequently looks at the interpreter. Which action by the clinician best demonstrates
culturally sensitive interviewing?
A) Directing all questions to the interpreter and avoiding eye contact with the patient to reduce pressure.
B) Addressing the patient directly while using the interpreter for translation, maintaining occasional eye contact.
C) Asking the interpreter to summarize the patient's responses after the interview to save time.
D) Using medical jargon to ensure precision, and asking the interpreter to simplify if needed.
Answer: B
Rationale: Addressing the patient directly respects their autonomy and builds rapport; the interpreter serves as a
conduit. Avoiding eye contact (A) may seem dismissive, summarizing afterward (C) risks missing nuances, and
jargon (D) can confuse the translation process.
14 A patient reports having 'trouble sleeping' but cannot specify duration or triggers. The clinician suspects the
symptom may be related to undiagnosed depression. Which interviewing strategy is most effective for
gathering information about the patient's mood while maintaining neutrality?
A) Asking, "Do you feel sad or depressed?"
B) Using a validated screening tool like the PHQ-9 during the interview.
C) Asking open-endedly, "How would you describe your mood lately?"
D) Suggesting, "Many people with sleep problems feel stressed; is that the case for you?"
Answer: C
Rationale: An open-ended question about mood allows the patient to describe their experience without being led.
Option A is a closed, leading question. Option B is appropriate but not an interviewing strategy per se; it is a
formal screening. Option D leads the patient toward stress.
15 A clinician is taking a health history from a patient who discloses occasional use of recreational marijuana. The
clinician needs to assess for potential cannabis use disorder. Which question is most appropriate for screening,
based on current DSM-5 criteria?
A) "How often do you use marijuana?"
B) "Have you ever tried to cut down or stop using marijuana but found you couldn't?"
C) "Do you think marijuana is harmful to your health?"
D) "Does your family know about your marijuana use?"
Answer: B
Rationale: This question directly addresses impaired control, a core criterion for substance use disorders (DSM-5).
Frequency (A) is less specific, perceived harm (C) is subjective, and family knowledge (D) does not assess disorder
severity.
16 During a health history interview, a patient states, "I don't take any medications," but the clinician notices
several prescription bottles in the patient's bag. What is the most appropriate interviewing technique to address
this discrepancy?
A) Confront the patient by saying, "I see you have medications; why did you say you don't take any?"
B) Ignore the discrepancy to maintain rapport and trust.
C) Ask nonjudgmentally, "I noticed some medication bottles; can you tell me about those?"
D) Document the patient's statement and assume the bottles belong to someone else.
Answer: C
