,GCU NSG 316 Exam 1 (PDF) | (2026/2027) Health Assessment Exam
Questions | GCU Nursing
1. A nurse is preparing to perform a health assessment on a newly admitted patient.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A) Perform a head-to-toe physical examination
B) Review the patient's medical record
C) Establish a therapeutic relationship and explain the purpose of the assessment
D) Obtain the patient's vital signs
Correct Answer: Establish a therapeutic relationship and explain the purpose of the
assessment
Rationale: Establishing rapport and explaining the purpose of the assessment is the
first step in the health assessment process. This builds trust, reduces anxiety, and
encourages the patient to participate fully. Reviewing the medical record, performing
the physical exam, and obtaining vital signs come after establishing this initial
connection.
2. A patient tells the nurse, "I feel like my heart is skipping beats." The nurse documents
this finding as which type of data?
A) Primary objective data
B) Secondary objective data
C) Primary subjective data
D) Secondary subjective data
Correct Answer: Primary subjective data
Rationale: Subjective data are what the patient reports, including feelings, perceptions,
and symptoms. This is primary data because it comes directly from the patient, and it is
subjective because it cannot be objectively measured.
,3. The nurse measures a patient's wound drainage as 25 mL and documents this as
which type of data?
A) Subjective
B) Objective
C) Secondary
D) Intangible
Correct Answer: Objective
Rationale: Objective data are observable and measurable, such as vital signs, laboratory
results, and measurable outputs like wound drainage. These findings can be verified by
another observer.
4. A nurse is performing a general survey on a new patient. Which observation is
considered part of the general survey?
A) Auscultating the apical pulse
B) Evaluating the patient's facial expression and mood
C) Percussing the lung fields
D) Checking the patient's deep tendon reflexes
Correct Answer: Evaluating the patient's facial expression and mood
Rationale: The general survey begins the moment the nurse first encounters the patient
and includes observations of appearance, body structure, mobility, and behavior,
including facial expressions and mood. Auscultation, percussion, and reflex testing are
specific components of the physical examination.
5. Which part of the hand is most sensitive to vibration and is used to detect tactile
fremitus?
A) Ulnar surface of the hand
B) Dorsal surface of the hand
, C) Fingertips
D) Thenar eminence
Correct Answer: Ulnar surface of the hand
Rationale: The ulnar surface or the base of the fingers is the most sensitive area for
detecting vibrations. This technique is specifically applied when assessing for tactile
fremitus. The dorsal surface is used for assessing skin temperature, and fingertips are
used for fine tactile discrimination like pulses.
6. During a health history interview, a patient says, "I feel like I can't catch my breath."
Which response by the nurse is an example of an open-ended question?
A) "Are you having chest pain too?"
B) "Did this start this morning?"
C) "Tell me more about how you feel when this happens."
D) "Have you used your inhaler today?"
Correct Answer: "Tell me more about how you feel when this happens."
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage the patient to provide a descriptive
narrative rather than a simple yes or no answer. This technique is vital for gathering
comprehensive subjective data and exploring the patient's concerns without leading
their responses.
7. What is the correct sequence when performing an abdominal assessment?
A) Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
B) Inspection, Percussion, Auscultation, Palpation
C) Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
D) Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Correct Answer: Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
Questions | GCU Nursing
1. A nurse is preparing to perform a health assessment on a newly admitted patient.
Which action should the nurse take first?
A) Perform a head-to-toe physical examination
B) Review the patient's medical record
C) Establish a therapeutic relationship and explain the purpose of the assessment
D) Obtain the patient's vital signs
Correct Answer: Establish a therapeutic relationship and explain the purpose of the
assessment
Rationale: Establishing rapport and explaining the purpose of the assessment is the
first step in the health assessment process. This builds trust, reduces anxiety, and
encourages the patient to participate fully. Reviewing the medical record, performing
the physical exam, and obtaining vital signs come after establishing this initial
connection.
2. A patient tells the nurse, "I feel like my heart is skipping beats." The nurse documents
this finding as which type of data?
A) Primary objective data
B) Secondary objective data
C) Primary subjective data
D) Secondary subjective data
Correct Answer: Primary subjective data
Rationale: Subjective data are what the patient reports, including feelings, perceptions,
and symptoms. This is primary data because it comes directly from the patient, and it is
subjective because it cannot be objectively measured.
,3. The nurse measures a patient's wound drainage as 25 mL and documents this as
which type of data?
A) Subjective
B) Objective
C) Secondary
D) Intangible
Correct Answer: Objective
Rationale: Objective data are observable and measurable, such as vital signs, laboratory
results, and measurable outputs like wound drainage. These findings can be verified by
another observer.
4. A nurse is performing a general survey on a new patient. Which observation is
considered part of the general survey?
A) Auscultating the apical pulse
B) Evaluating the patient's facial expression and mood
C) Percussing the lung fields
D) Checking the patient's deep tendon reflexes
Correct Answer: Evaluating the patient's facial expression and mood
Rationale: The general survey begins the moment the nurse first encounters the patient
and includes observations of appearance, body structure, mobility, and behavior,
including facial expressions and mood. Auscultation, percussion, and reflex testing are
specific components of the physical examination.
5. Which part of the hand is most sensitive to vibration and is used to detect tactile
fremitus?
A) Ulnar surface of the hand
B) Dorsal surface of the hand
, C) Fingertips
D) Thenar eminence
Correct Answer: Ulnar surface of the hand
Rationale: The ulnar surface or the base of the fingers is the most sensitive area for
detecting vibrations. This technique is specifically applied when assessing for tactile
fremitus. The dorsal surface is used for assessing skin temperature, and fingertips are
used for fine tactile discrimination like pulses.
6. During a health history interview, a patient says, "I feel like I can't catch my breath."
Which response by the nurse is an example of an open-ended question?
A) "Are you having chest pain too?"
B) "Did this start this morning?"
C) "Tell me more about how you feel when this happens."
D) "Have you used your inhaler today?"
Correct Answer: "Tell me more about how you feel when this happens."
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage the patient to provide a descriptive
narrative rather than a simple yes or no answer. This technique is vital for gathering
comprehensive subjective data and exploring the patient's concerns without leading
their responses.
7. What is the correct sequence when performing an abdominal assessment?
A) Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
B) Inspection, Percussion, Auscultation, Palpation
C) Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
D) Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Correct Answer: Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
