National University NUR 300 Module 2 (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Health
Assessment Q&A | Nursing
1. A nurse is preparing to conduct a comprehensive health history. Which of
the following is the primary purpose of obtaining this data?
A) To establish a trusting nurse-patient relationship
B) To identify actual and potential health problems
C) To complete the admission process efficiently
D) To determine the patient's financial status
Correct Answer: To identify actual and potential health problems
Rationale: The comprehensive health history is the foundation of the nursing
assessment. Its primary purpose is to collect subjective data that helps the
nurse identify the patient's current health status, risk factors, and potential
health problems, thereby guiding subsequent physical examination and care
planning.
2. A nurse is interviewing a patient who is visibly anxious. Which of the
following actions is most effective for facilitating communication?
A) Maintaining a calm, unhurried demeanor and using open-ended questions
B) Standing over the patient to maintain control of the interview
C) Avoiding eye contact to reduce the patient's discomfort
D) Asking closed-ended questions to keep the patient focused
Correct Answer: Maintaining a calm, unhurried demeanor and using open-
ended questions
Rationale: A calm, unhurried demeanor helps reduce patient anxiety and
builds trust. Open-ended questions encourage the patient to express their
concerns in their own words, providing richer data for the assessment.
,3. A patient reports that their pain "feels like a sharp, stabbing sensation."
This description addresses which characteristic of the symptom?
A) Location
B) Quality
C) Quantity
D) Timing
Correct Answer: Quality
Rationale: The quality of a symptom refers to its character or nature, such as
sharp, dull, burning, or aching. Describing the pain as "sharp, stabbing"
provides insight into its quality, which can help differentiate between types
of pain.
4. A nurse is assessing a patient's pain using the PQRST mnemonic. The
nurse asks, "What makes the pain better or worse?" This question is
assessing which aspect of pain?
A) Provocation/Palliation
B) Quality
C) Region/Radiation
D) Severity
Correct Answer: Provocation/Palliation
Rationale: The "P" in PQRST stands for Provocation/Palliation, which involves
identifying what aggravates the pain and what alleviates it. This information
helps the nurse understand the triggers and relief measures for the patient's
pain.
,5. A patient reports a pain level of 7 on a 0-10 numeric rating scale. The
nurse's immediate priority action is to:
A) Document the pain score and reassess in 4 hours
B) Administer prescribed analgesic and reassess pain in 30-60 minutes
C) Encourage the patient to use non-pharmacological comfort measures
D) Notify the healthcare provider immediately
Correct Answer: Administer prescribed analgesic and reassess pain in 30-60
minutes
Rationale: A pain score of 7/10 indicates moderate to severe pain requiring
prompt intervention. The nurse should administer a prescribed analgesic and
then reassess the patient's pain level within 30-60 minutes to evaluate the
effectiveness of the intervention.
6. When assessing a patient's pain, which of the following is considered the
most reliable indicator of pain?
A) The patient's self-report
B) The nurse's observation of behavior
C) The patient's vital signs
D) The patient's facial expression
Correct Answer: The patient's self-report
Rationale: The patient's self-report is the single most reliable indicator of
pain. Nurses should trust the patient's verbal description of their pain
experience, as pain is a subjective phenomenon that cannot be directly
measured by observable signs alone.
, 7. A nurse is assessing a patient's dietary history. Which of the following
questions is most appropriate to initiate this conversation?
A) "What did you eat for breakfast?"
B) "Tell me about your typical food and fluid intake."
C) "Do you have any food allergies?"
D) "How many calories do you consume daily?"
Correct Answer: "Tell me about your typical food and fluid intake."
Rationale: This open-ended question encourages a comprehensive
description of the patient's eating patterns. It allows the patient to provide
information about their usual dietary habits, including types of food, portion
sizes, and fluid intake, which is more informative than asking about a single
meal.
8. A nurse is reviewing a patient's medication list. Which of the following is
the most critical information to document during a medication history?
A) The name of the prescribing physician
B) The cost of each medication
C) The patient's adherence to the prescribed regimen
D) The expiration date of the medications
Correct Answer: The patient's adherence to the prescribed regimen
Rationale: Understanding whether the patient is taking their medications as
prescribed is essential for assessing the effectiveness of the treatment plan
and identifying potential barriers to adherence. This information directly
impacts the patient's health outcomes.
Assessment Q&A | Nursing
1. A nurse is preparing to conduct a comprehensive health history. Which of
the following is the primary purpose of obtaining this data?
A) To establish a trusting nurse-patient relationship
B) To identify actual and potential health problems
C) To complete the admission process efficiently
D) To determine the patient's financial status
Correct Answer: To identify actual and potential health problems
Rationale: The comprehensive health history is the foundation of the nursing
assessment. Its primary purpose is to collect subjective data that helps the
nurse identify the patient's current health status, risk factors, and potential
health problems, thereby guiding subsequent physical examination and care
planning.
2. A nurse is interviewing a patient who is visibly anxious. Which of the
following actions is most effective for facilitating communication?
A) Maintaining a calm, unhurried demeanor and using open-ended questions
B) Standing over the patient to maintain control of the interview
C) Avoiding eye contact to reduce the patient's discomfort
D) Asking closed-ended questions to keep the patient focused
Correct Answer: Maintaining a calm, unhurried demeanor and using open-
ended questions
Rationale: A calm, unhurried demeanor helps reduce patient anxiety and
builds trust. Open-ended questions encourage the patient to express their
concerns in their own words, providing richer data for the assessment.
,3. A patient reports that their pain "feels like a sharp, stabbing sensation."
This description addresses which characteristic of the symptom?
A) Location
B) Quality
C) Quantity
D) Timing
Correct Answer: Quality
Rationale: The quality of a symptom refers to its character or nature, such as
sharp, dull, burning, or aching. Describing the pain as "sharp, stabbing"
provides insight into its quality, which can help differentiate between types
of pain.
4. A nurse is assessing a patient's pain using the PQRST mnemonic. The
nurse asks, "What makes the pain better or worse?" This question is
assessing which aspect of pain?
A) Provocation/Palliation
B) Quality
C) Region/Radiation
D) Severity
Correct Answer: Provocation/Palliation
Rationale: The "P" in PQRST stands for Provocation/Palliation, which involves
identifying what aggravates the pain and what alleviates it. This information
helps the nurse understand the triggers and relief measures for the patient's
pain.
,5. A patient reports a pain level of 7 on a 0-10 numeric rating scale. The
nurse's immediate priority action is to:
A) Document the pain score and reassess in 4 hours
B) Administer prescribed analgesic and reassess pain in 30-60 minutes
C) Encourage the patient to use non-pharmacological comfort measures
D) Notify the healthcare provider immediately
Correct Answer: Administer prescribed analgesic and reassess pain in 30-60
minutes
Rationale: A pain score of 7/10 indicates moderate to severe pain requiring
prompt intervention. The nurse should administer a prescribed analgesic and
then reassess the patient's pain level within 30-60 minutes to evaluate the
effectiveness of the intervention.
6. When assessing a patient's pain, which of the following is considered the
most reliable indicator of pain?
A) The patient's self-report
B) The nurse's observation of behavior
C) The patient's vital signs
D) The patient's facial expression
Correct Answer: The patient's self-report
Rationale: The patient's self-report is the single most reliable indicator of
pain. Nurses should trust the patient's verbal description of their pain
experience, as pain is a subjective phenomenon that cannot be directly
measured by observable signs alone.
, 7. A nurse is assessing a patient's dietary history. Which of the following
questions is most appropriate to initiate this conversation?
A) "What did you eat for breakfast?"
B) "Tell me about your typical food and fluid intake."
C) "Do you have any food allergies?"
D) "How many calories do you consume daily?"
Correct Answer: "Tell me about your typical food and fluid intake."
Rationale: This open-ended question encourages a comprehensive
description of the patient's eating patterns. It allows the patient to provide
information about their usual dietary habits, including types of food, portion
sizes, and fluid intake, which is more informative than asking about a single
meal.
8. A nurse is reviewing a patient's medication list. Which of the following is
the most critical information to document during a medication history?
A) The name of the prescribing physician
B) The cost of each medication
C) The patient's adherence to the prescribed regimen
D) The expiration date of the medications
Correct Answer: The patient's adherence to the prescribed regimen
Rationale: Understanding whether the patient is taking their medications as
prescribed is essential for assessing the effectiveness of the treatment plan
and identifying potential barriers to adherence. This information directly
impacts the patient's health outcomes.
