NR302 Final Comprehensive Exam 500 Questions & Correct Answers
and Rationales | NR 302 Final Exam Latest Update 2026 Chamberlain
College of Nursing |100% Correct Q & A
CHAPTER 1: HEALTH HISTORY AND COMMUNICATION
Q1. When conducting a health history, the sequence of interview sections should follow a
specific order. What is the correct order of the health history interview?
A) Past health history, biographical data, reason for seeking care, family history
B) Biographical data, reason for seeking care, present health status, past health history, family
history, review of systems
C) Reason for seeking care, biographical data, family history, past health history
D) Biographical data, family history, review of systems, reason for seeking care
Answer: B – Biographical data, reason for seeking care, present health status, past health history,
family history, review of systems
Rationale: The correct sequence of the health history interview is: biographical data,
source/history, reason for seeking care (chief complaint), present health status (HPI), past health
history, family history, review of systems (ROS), and functional assessment .
Q2. Which mnemonic is used to guide the collection of data for the History of Present Illness
(HPI)?
A) PQRSTU
B) COLDSPA
C) OLD CARTS
D) SPICES
Answer: C – OLD CARTS (Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors,
Relieving factors, Temporal factors, Severity)
Page 1 of 59 SUCCESS!!!
,Rationale: OLD CARTS is the mnemonic used for History of Present Illness. PQRSTU is used
for pain assessment specifically. COLDSPA is an alternative mnemonic. SPICES is for assessing
functional abilities in older adults .
Q3. When assessing a patient's chief complaint, which is the MOST important question to ask
FIRST?
A) "What makes it better?"
B) "When did it start?"
C) "What brings you in today?"
D) "How severe is it on a scale of 0-10?"
Answer: C – "What brings you in today?"
Rationale: The open-ended question "What brings you in today?" allows the patient to express
their reason for seeking care in their own words without leading or limiting their response. This
is the standard opening for the patient interview .
Q4. A patient states, "I've had this pain for about three days." Which response by the nurse
demonstrates the use of an open-ended question?
A) "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
B) "Tell me more about the pain."
C) "Does anything make the pain better?"
D) "Have you taken anything for the pain?"
Answer: B – "Tell me more about the pain."
Rationale: Open-ended questions cannot be answered with "yes," "no," or a single word. They
encourage the patient to elaborate and provide narrative information. Closed-ended questions
limit responses and are used to clarify or obtain specific data .
Page 2 of 59 SUCCESS!!!
,Q5. During a health history, a patient becomes emotional while discussing a recent loss. What is
the nurse's BEST response?
A) "Let's move on to the next question."
B) "I understand how you feel."
C) Sit quietly and allow the patient to express emotions, then offer support
D) "Don't cry; everything will be okay."
Answer: C – Sit quietly and allow the patient to express emotions, then offer support
Rationale: When a patient becomes emotional, the nurse should allow time for expression,
acknowledge the emotion without judgment, and provide support. Changing the subject
dismisses the patient's feelings. False reassurance is not therapeutic .
Q6. Which of the following is an example of a barrier to communication in the health history
interview?
A) Using simple, non-medical language
B) Maintaining eye contact appropriate to the patient's culture
C) Asking "why" questions that may make the patient defensive
D) Summarizing what the patient has said
Answer: C – Asking "why" questions that may make the patient defensive
Rationale: "Why" questions can imply judgment and make patients defensive. Other barriers
include using medical jargon, interrupting, providing false reassurance, and asking leading
questions .
Page 3 of 59 SUCCESS!!!
, Q7. A patient reports that they have had "stomach problems for years." The nurse asks, "Can you
tell me more about what you mean by stomach problems?" This is an example of which
interviewing technique?
A) Clarification
B) Confrontation
C) Interpretation
D) Reflection
Answer: A – Clarification
Rationale: Clarification is used to ensure the nurse correctly understands the patient's meaning. It
helps avoid assumptions and misinterpretations. Confrontation addresses inconsistencies.
Interpretation provides a possible explanation based on nurse's inference .
Q8. The "F" in the functional assessment section of the health history refers to:
A) Family history
B) Feelings about health
C) Functional ability/activities of daily living
D) Frequency of health care visits
Answer: C – Functional ability/activities of daily living
Rationale: The functional assessment (or ADLs/IADLs) assesses a person's ability to perform
daily activities independently. The mnemonic "FAST" for older adult assessment includes
Functional ability, Affect, Social, and Thoughts .
Q9. When obtaining a family health history, the nurse should ask about health conditions in
which relatives?
Page 4 of 59 SUCCESS!!!
and Rationales | NR 302 Final Exam Latest Update 2026 Chamberlain
College of Nursing |100% Correct Q & A
CHAPTER 1: HEALTH HISTORY AND COMMUNICATION
Q1. When conducting a health history, the sequence of interview sections should follow a
specific order. What is the correct order of the health history interview?
A) Past health history, biographical data, reason for seeking care, family history
B) Biographical data, reason for seeking care, present health status, past health history, family
history, review of systems
C) Reason for seeking care, biographical data, family history, past health history
D) Biographical data, family history, review of systems, reason for seeking care
Answer: B – Biographical data, reason for seeking care, present health status, past health history,
family history, review of systems
Rationale: The correct sequence of the health history interview is: biographical data,
source/history, reason for seeking care (chief complaint), present health status (HPI), past health
history, family history, review of systems (ROS), and functional assessment .
Q2. Which mnemonic is used to guide the collection of data for the History of Present Illness
(HPI)?
A) PQRSTU
B) COLDSPA
C) OLD CARTS
D) SPICES
Answer: C – OLD CARTS (Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors,
Relieving factors, Temporal factors, Severity)
Page 1 of 59 SUCCESS!!!
,Rationale: OLD CARTS is the mnemonic used for History of Present Illness. PQRSTU is used
for pain assessment specifically. COLDSPA is an alternative mnemonic. SPICES is for assessing
functional abilities in older adults .
Q3. When assessing a patient's chief complaint, which is the MOST important question to ask
FIRST?
A) "What makes it better?"
B) "When did it start?"
C) "What brings you in today?"
D) "How severe is it on a scale of 0-10?"
Answer: C – "What brings you in today?"
Rationale: The open-ended question "What brings you in today?" allows the patient to express
their reason for seeking care in their own words without leading or limiting their response. This
is the standard opening for the patient interview .
Q4. A patient states, "I've had this pain for about three days." Which response by the nurse
demonstrates the use of an open-ended question?
A) "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
B) "Tell me more about the pain."
C) "Does anything make the pain better?"
D) "Have you taken anything for the pain?"
Answer: B – "Tell me more about the pain."
Rationale: Open-ended questions cannot be answered with "yes," "no," or a single word. They
encourage the patient to elaborate and provide narrative information. Closed-ended questions
limit responses and are used to clarify or obtain specific data .
Page 2 of 59 SUCCESS!!!
,Q5. During a health history, a patient becomes emotional while discussing a recent loss. What is
the nurse's BEST response?
A) "Let's move on to the next question."
B) "I understand how you feel."
C) Sit quietly and allow the patient to express emotions, then offer support
D) "Don't cry; everything will be okay."
Answer: C – Sit quietly and allow the patient to express emotions, then offer support
Rationale: When a patient becomes emotional, the nurse should allow time for expression,
acknowledge the emotion without judgment, and provide support. Changing the subject
dismisses the patient's feelings. False reassurance is not therapeutic .
Q6. Which of the following is an example of a barrier to communication in the health history
interview?
A) Using simple, non-medical language
B) Maintaining eye contact appropriate to the patient's culture
C) Asking "why" questions that may make the patient defensive
D) Summarizing what the patient has said
Answer: C – Asking "why" questions that may make the patient defensive
Rationale: "Why" questions can imply judgment and make patients defensive. Other barriers
include using medical jargon, interrupting, providing false reassurance, and asking leading
questions .
Page 3 of 59 SUCCESS!!!
, Q7. A patient reports that they have had "stomach problems for years." The nurse asks, "Can you
tell me more about what you mean by stomach problems?" This is an example of which
interviewing technique?
A) Clarification
B) Confrontation
C) Interpretation
D) Reflection
Answer: A – Clarification
Rationale: Clarification is used to ensure the nurse correctly understands the patient's meaning. It
helps avoid assumptions and misinterpretations. Confrontation addresses inconsistencies.
Interpretation provides a possible explanation based on nurse's inference .
Q8. The "F" in the functional assessment section of the health history refers to:
A) Family history
B) Feelings about health
C) Functional ability/activities of daily living
D) Frequency of health care visits
Answer: C – Functional ability/activities of daily living
Rationale: The functional assessment (or ADLs/IADLs) assesses a person's ability to perform
daily activities independently. The mnemonic "FAST" for older adult assessment includes
Functional ability, Affect, Social, and Thoughts .
Q9. When obtaining a family health history, the nurse should ask about health conditions in
which relatives?
Page 4 of 59 SUCCESS!!!
