Health Assessment for Nursing Practice 7th Edition by Susan Fickertt
Wilson & Jean Foret Giddens | Complete Exam Q&A 2025–2026
1. A patient comes to the emergency department and tells the triage nurse that he is “having
a heart attack.” What is the nurse’s top priority at this time?
a. Determine the patient’s personal data and insurance coverage.
b. Ask the patient to take a seat in the waiting room until his name is called.
c. Request that a nurse collect data for a comprehensive history.
d. Ask a nurse to start a focused assessment of this patient now.
Answer: d – The nurse needs to begin an assessment as soon as possible that is focused on this
patient’s cardiovascular system. The type of health assessment performed by the nurse is driven
by patient need. Personal data and insurance information can wait until after the patient is
assessed. Based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, physiologic needs take precedence. A
comprehensive history is not indicated at this time.
2. Which situation illustrates a screening assessment?
a. A patient visits an obstetric clinic for the first time and the nurse conducts a detailed history
and physical examination.
b. A hospital sponsors a health fair at a local mall and provides cholesterol and blood pressure
checks to mall patrons.
c. The nurse in an urgent care center checks the vital signs of a patient who is complaining of leg
pain.
d. A patient newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus comes to test his fasting blood glucose
level.
Answer: b – A health fair that provides cholesterol and blood pressure checks is an example of a
screening assessment focused on disease detection. A detailed history and physical examination
is a comprehensive assessment. Checking vital signs for a patient with leg pain is a problem-
based/focused assessment. A return appointment for fasting blood glucose is an episodic or
follow-up assessment.
3. After completing an initial assessment of a patient, the nurse has charted that his
respirations are eupneic and his pulse is 58 beats per minute. These types of data would be:
a. Objective
b. Reflective
c. Subjective
d. Introspective
Answer: a – Objective data are measurable, observable, and verifiable data obtained through
physical examination, observation, or diagnostic tests. Respirations and pulse rate are examples
of objective data because they can be measured and verified.
,4. A patient tells the nurse that he is very nervous, is nauseated, and feels hot. These types of
data would be:
a. Objective
b. Reflective
c. Subjective
d. Introspective
Answer: c – Subjective data are what the patient reports or feels. Symptoms such as
nervousness, nausea, and feeling hot are subjective because they are perceived and reported by
the patient and cannot be directly measured by the nurse.
5. The patient’s record, laboratory studies, objective data, and subjective data combine to
form the:
a. Data base
b. Admitting data
c. Financial statement
d. Discharge summary
Answer: a – The data base includes all information about the patient, including the patient’s
record, laboratory studies, objective data (findings from physical examination), and subjective
data (patient-reported information). This comprehensive data set forms the foundation for
clinical decision-making.
6. When listening to a patient’s breath sounds, the nurse is unsure of a sound that is heard.
The nurse’s next action should be to:
a. Immediately notify the patient’s physician.
b. Document the sound exactly as it was heard.
c. Validate the data by asking a coworker to listen to the breath sounds.
d. Assess again in 20 minutes to note whether the sound is still present.
Answer: c – When unsure about assessment findings, the nurse should validate the data by
having another experienced clinician listen to the breath sounds. This helps confirm the finding
and ensures accuracy before documentation or intervention.
7. The nurse is conducting a class for new graduate nurses. During the teaching session, the
nurse should keep in mind that novice nurses, without a background of skills and experience
from which to draw, are more likely to make their decisions using:
a. Intuition
b. A set of rules
c. Articles in journals
d. Advice from supervisors
Answer: b – Novice nurses typically rely on a set of rules and guidelines to make decisions
because they lack the extensive experience that allows expert nurses to use intuition and
pattern recognition. They follow established protocols and procedures.
,8. Expert nurses learn to attend to a pattern of assessment data and act without consciously
labeling it. These responses are referred to as:
a. Intuition
b. The nursing process
c. Clinical knowledge
d. Diagnostic reasoning
Answer: a – Intuition is the ability of expert nurses to recognize patterns in assessment data and
respond without consciously labeling each component. This develops through extensive clinical
experience and allows for rapid, accurate clinical judgments.
9. The nurse is reviewing information about evidence-based practice (EBP). Which statement
best reflects EBP?
a. EBP relies on tradition for support of best practices.
b. EBP is simply the use of best practice techniques for the treatment of patients.
c. EBP emphasizes the use of best evidence with the clinician’s experience.
d. The patient’s own preferences are not important with EBP.
Answer: c – Evidence-based practice integrates the best available research evidence with the
clinician’s expertise and experience, while also considering patient preferences and values. It is
not based solely on tradition, and patient preferences are an essential component.
10. The nurse is conducting a class on priority setting for a group of new graduate nurses.
Which is an example of a first-level priority problem?
a. Patient with postoperative pain
b. Newly diagnosed patient with diabetes who needs diabetic teaching
c. Individual with a small laceration on the sole of the foot
d. Individual with shortness of breath and respiratory distress
Answer: d – First-level priority problems are those that are life-threatening and require
immediate attention, such as airway, breathing, and circulation issues. Shortness of breath and
respiratory distress represent an immediate threat to the patient’s survival and must be
addressed first.
11. When considering priority setting of problems, the nurse keeps in mind that second-level
priority problems include which of these aspects?
a. Low self-esteem
b. Lack of knowledge
c. Abnormal laboratory values
d. Severely abnormal vital signs
Answer: c – Second-level priority problems are those that require prompt intervention but are
not immediately life-threatening. Abnormal laboratory values fall into this category. Low self-
esteem and lack of knowledge are third-level priorities. Severely abnormal vital signs are first-
level priorities.
, 12. Which critical thinking skill helps the nurse see relationships among the data?
a. Validation
b. Clustering related cues
c. Identifying gaps in data
d. Distinguishing relevant from irrelevant
Answer: b – Clustering related cues involves grouping together pieces of data that are related,
which helps the nurse see patterns and relationships among the information collected. This skill
is essential for identifying problems and making clinical judgments.
13. The nurse knows that developing appropriate nursing interventions for a patient relies on
the appropriateness of the __________ diagnosis.
a. Nursing
b. Medical
c. Admission
d. Collaborative
Answer: a – Nursing diagnoses guide the selection of nursing interventions. The
appropriateness of the nursing diagnosis directly affects the effectiveness of the interventions
chosen. Medical and collaborative diagnoses serve different purposes in the care process.
14. The nursing process is a sequential method of problem solving that nurses use and
includes which steps?
a. Assessment, treatment, planning, evaluation, discharge, and follow-up
b. Admission, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and discharge planning
c. Admission, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, and discharge planning
d. Assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation
Answer: d – The nursing process consists of six steps: assessment, diagnosis, outcome
identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation. This systematic approach guides
nursing practice and ensures comprehensive, patient-centered care.
15. Which is an example of data a nurse collects during a physical assessment?
a. Patient’s history of allergies
b. Patient’s report of pain level
c. Auscultation of breath sounds
d. Patient’s family medical history
Answer: c – Physical assessment involves the collection of objective data through inspection,
palpation, percussion, and auscultation. Auscultation of breath sounds is a physical assessment
technique. Allergies, pain reports, and family history are subjective data obtained during the
health history.
16. The nurse is preparing to perform a comprehensive health assessment. What is the
correct order of the assessment techniques?
a. Palpation, inspection, percussion, auscultation
Wilson & Jean Foret Giddens | Complete Exam Q&A 2025–2026
1. A patient comes to the emergency department and tells the triage nurse that he is “having
a heart attack.” What is the nurse’s top priority at this time?
a. Determine the patient’s personal data and insurance coverage.
b. Ask the patient to take a seat in the waiting room until his name is called.
c. Request that a nurse collect data for a comprehensive history.
d. Ask a nurse to start a focused assessment of this patient now.
Answer: d – The nurse needs to begin an assessment as soon as possible that is focused on this
patient’s cardiovascular system. The type of health assessment performed by the nurse is driven
by patient need. Personal data and insurance information can wait until after the patient is
assessed. Based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, physiologic needs take precedence. A
comprehensive history is not indicated at this time.
2. Which situation illustrates a screening assessment?
a. A patient visits an obstetric clinic for the first time and the nurse conducts a detailed history
and physical examination.
b. A hospital sponsors a health fair at a local mall and provides cholesterol and blood pressure
checks to mall patrons.
c. The nurse in an urgent care center checks the vital signs of a patient who is complaining of leg
pain.
d. A patient newly diagnosed with diabetes mellitus comes to test his fasting blood glucose
level.
Answer: b – A health fair that provides cholesterol and blood pressure checks is an example of a
screening assessment focused on disease detection. A detailed history and physical examination
is a comprehensive assessment. Checking vital signs for a patient with leg pain is a problem-
based/focused assessment. A return appointment for fasting blood glucose is an episodic or
follow-up assessment.
3. After completing an initial assessment of a patient, the nurse has charted that his
respirations are eupneic and his pulse is 58 beats per minute. These types of data would be:
a. Objective
b. Reflective
c. Subjective
d. Introspective
Answer: a – Objective data are measurable, observable, and verifiable data obtained through
physical examination, observation, or diagnostic tests. Respirations and pulse rate are examples
of objective data because they can be measured and verified.
,4. A patient tells the nurse that he is very nervous, is nauseated, and feels hot. These types of
data would be:
a. Objective
b. Reflective
c. Subjective
d. Introspective
Answer: c – Subjective data are what the patient reports or feels. Symptoms such as
nervousness, nausea, and feeling hot are subjective because they are perceived and reported by
the patient and cannot be directly measured by the nurse.
5. The patient’s record, laboratory studies, objective data, and subjective data combine to
form the:
a. Data base
b. Admitting data
c. Financial statement
d. Discharge summary
Answer: a – The data base includes all information about the patient, including the patient’s
record, laboratory studies, objective data (findings from physical examination), and subjective
data (patient-reported information). This comprehensive data set forms the foundation for
clinical decision-making.
6. When listening to a patient’s breath sounds, the nurse is unsure of a sound that is heard.
The nurse’s next action should be to:
a. Immediately notify the patient’s physician.
b. Document the sound exactly as it was heard.
c. Validate the data by asking a coworker to listen to the breath sounds.
d. Assess again in 20 minutes to note whether the sound is still present.
Answer: c – When unsure about assessment findings, the nurse should validate the data by
having another experienced clinician listen to the breath sounds. This helps confirm the finding
and ensures accuracy before documentation or intervention.
7. The nurse is conducting a class for new graduate nurses. During the teaching session, the
nurse should keep in mind that novice nurses, without a background of skills and experience
from which to draw, are more likely to make their decisions using:
a. Intuition
b. A set of rules
c. Articles in journals
d. Advice from supervisors
Answer: b – Novice nurses typically rely on a set of rules and guidelines to make decisions
because they lack the extensive experience that allows expert nurses to use intuition and
pattern recognition. They follow established protocols and procedures.
,8. Expert nurses learn to attend to a pattern of assessment data and act without consciously
labeling it. These responses are referred to as:
a. Intuition
b. The nursing process
c. Clinical knowledge
d. Diagnostic reasoning
Answer: a – Intuition is the ability of expert nurses to recognize patterns in assessment data and
respond without consciously labeling each component. This develops through extensive clinical
experience and allows for rapid, accurate clinical judgments.
9. The nurse is reviewing information about evidence-based practice (EBP). Which statement
best reflects EBP?
a. EBP relies on tradition for support of best practices.
b. EBP is simply the use of best practice techniques for the treatment of patients.
c. EBP emphasizes the use of best evidence with the clinician’s experience.
d. The patient’s own preferences are not important with EBP.
Answer: c – Evidence-based practice integrates the best available research evidence with the
clinician’s expertise and experience, while also considering patient preferences and values. It is
not based solely on tradition, and patient preferences are an essential component.
10. The nurse is conducting a class on priority setting for a group of new graduate nurses.
Which is an example of a first-level priority problem?
a. Patient with postoperative pain
b. Newly diagnosed patient with diabetes who needs diabetic teaching
c. Individual with a small laceration on the sole of the foot
d. Individual with shortness of breath and respiratory distress
Answer: d – First-level priority problems are those that are life-threatening and require
immediate attention, such as airway, breathing, and circulation issues. Shortness of breath and
respiratory distress represent an immediate threat to the patient’s survival and must be
addressed first.
11. When considering priority setting of problems, the nurse keeps in mind that second-level
priority problems include which of these aspects?
a. Low self-esteem
b. Lack of knowledge
c. Abnormal laboratory values
d. Severely abnormal vital signs
Answer: c – Second-level priority problems are those that require prompt intervention but are
not immediately life-threatening. Abnormal laboratory values fall into this category. Low self-
esteem and lack of knowledge are third-level priorities. Severely abnormal vital signs are first-
level priorities.
, 12. Which critical thinking skill helps the nurse see relationships among the data?
a. Validation
b. Clustering related cues
c. Identifying gaps in data
d. Distinguishing relevant from irrelevant
Answer: b – Clustering related cues involves grouping together pieces of data that are related,
which helps the nurse see patterns and relationships among the information collected. This skill
is essential for identifying problems and making clinical judgments.
13. The nurse knows that developing appropriate nursing interventions for a patient relies on
the appropriateness of the __________ diagnosis.
a. Nursing
b. Medical
c. Admission
d. Collaborative
Answer: a – Nursing diagnoses guide the selection of nursing interventions. The
appropriateness of the nursing diagnosis directly affects the effectiveness of the interventions
chosen. Medical and collaborative diagnoses serve different purposes in the care process.
14. The nursing process is a sequential method of problem solving that nurses use and
includes which steps?
a. Assessment, treatment, planning, evaluation, discharge, and follow-up
b. Admission, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and discharge planning
c. Admission, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, and discharge planning
d. Assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation
Answer: d – The nursing process consists of six steps: assessment, diagnosis, outcome
identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation. This systematic approach guides
nursing practice and ensures comprehensive, patient-centered care.
15. Which is an example of data a nurse collects during a physical assessment?
a. Patient’s history of allergies
b. Patient’s report of pain level
c. Auscultation of breath sounds
d. Patient’s family medical history
Answer: c – Physical assessment involves the collection of objective data through inspection,
palpation, percussion, and auscultation. Auscultation of breath sounds is a physical assessment
technique. Allergies, pain reports, and family history are subjective data obtained during the
health history.
16. The nurse is preparing to perform a comprehensive health assessment. What is the
correct order of the assessment techniques?
a. Palpation, inspection, percussion, auscultation
