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NUR 6001 Advanced Health
Assessment Exams 1-3 – WPU Study
Guide 2026/2027
NUR 6001 Advanced Health Assessment Exams 1–3
study resource for William Paterson University
MSN/DNP students. Covers health history, interviewing,
physical exam techniques, HEENT, cardiovascular,
respiratory, abdominal, musculoskeletal, neurological,
and genitourinary assessment. Includes NCLEX-style
questions with detailed clinical rationales to strengthen
diagnostic reasoning and exam preparation.
1. The purpose of the health history is to:
A. Establish a diagnosis
B. Collect subjective data
C. Perform a physical exam
D. Order laboratory tests
Answer: B
Rationale: The health history collects subjective data from the patient.
2. Which of the following is subjective data?
A. Blood pressure
B. Heart rate
C. Pain
D. Temperature
Answer: C
Rationale: Pain is subjective because it is reported by the patient.
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3. Which of the following is objective data?
A. Nausea
B. Dizziness
C. Vomiting
D. Fatigue
Answer: C
Rationale: Vomiting is observable and measurable, making it objective.
4. The chief complaint should be documented:
A. In medical terms
B. In the patient's own words
C. As a diagnosis
D. As a nursing diagnosis
Answer: B
Rationale: The chief complaint is best recorded in the patient's own words.
5. Which of the following is an open-ended question?
A. Do you have pain?
B. Are you taking medications?
C. Tell me about your pain.
D. Have you had surgery?
Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage detailed responses.
6. Which of the following is a closed-ended question?
A. How are you feeling?
B. Describe your pain.
C. What brings you in?
D. Are you allergic to any medications?
Answer: D
Rationale: Closed-ended questions elicit brief or yes/no answers.
7. A leading question is:
A. Tell me about your pain.
B. You don't have chest pain, do you?
C. When did the pain start?
D. What makes the pain better?
Answer: B
Rationale: Leading questions suggest a desired answer and should be avoided.
8. The review of systems is part of the:
A. Physical exam
B. Health history
C. General survey
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D. Vital signs
Answer: B
Rationale: The review of systems is a component of the health history.
9. Past medical history includes:
A. Chief complaint
B. Childhood illnesses
C. Family history
D. Social history
Answer: B
Rationale: Past medical history includes childhood illnesses, surgeries, and
hospitalizations.
10. Family history documents:
A. Patient's occupation
B. Patient's allergies
C. Health of blood relatives
D. Patient's medications
Answer: C
Rationale: Family history records health conditions of blood relatives.
11. Social history includes:
A. Immunizations
B. Alcohol use
C. Surgical history
D. Medication list
Answer: B
Rationale: Social history includes alcohol, tobacco, drug use, and living situation.
12. A functional assessment question is:
A. Do you have chest pain?
B. Can you dress yourself?
C. Have you had surgery?
D. Are you allergic to penicillin?
Answer: B
Rationale: Functional assessment evaluates activities of daily living.
13. When interviewing a child, the best approach is to:
A. Interview only the parent
B. Interview only the child
C. Interview the parent and child together
D. Avoid interviewing the child
Answer: C
Rationale: Interviewing both provides the most complete information.
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14. A barrier to communication is:
A. Active listening
B. Empathy
C. Interrupting
D. Open-ended questions
Answer: C
Rationale: Interrupting hinders effective communication.
15. Nonverbal communication includes:
A. Restating
B. Clarifying
C. Eye contact
D. Summarizing
Answer: C
Rationale: Eye contact is a form of nonverbal communication.
16. The best response to an emotional patient is:
A. Don't worry.
B. I understand you are upset. Tell me more.
C. You should calm down.
D. Let's move on.
Answer: B
Rationale: Acknowledging emotion and inviting discussion is therapeutic.
17. The general survey begins with:
A. Vital signs
B. Appearance and behavior
C. Measurements
D. Auscultation
Answer: B
Rationale: The general survey begins with observation of appearance and behavior.
18. A normal level of consciousness is:
A. Alert and oriented
B. Lethargic
C. Stuporous
D. Comatose
Answer: A
Rationale: Alert and oriented is a normal finding.
19. A sign of distress is:
A. Relaxed posture
B. Diaphoresis
C. Clear speech
NUR 6001 Advanced Health
Assessment Exams 1-3 – WPU Study
Guide 2026/2027
NUR 6001 Advanced Health Assessment Exams 1–3
study resource for William Paterson University
MSN/DNP students. Covers health history, interviewing,
physical exam techniques, HEENT, cardiovascular,
respiratory, abdominal, musculoskeletal, neurological,
and genitourinary assessment. Includes NCLEX-style
questions with detailed clinical rationales to strengthen
diagnostic reasoning and exam preparation.
1. The purpose of the health history is to:
A. Establish a diagnosis
B. Collect subjective data
C. Perform a physical exam
D. Order laboratory tests
Answer: B
Rationale: The health history collects subjective data from the patient.
2. Which of the following is subjective data?
A. Blood pressure
B. Heart rate
C. Pain
D. Temperature
Answer: C
Rationale: Pain is subjective because it is reported by the patient.
,2|Page
3. Which of the following is objective data?
A. Nausea
B. Dizziness
C. Vomiting
D. Fatigue
Answer: C
Rationale: Vomiting is observable and measurable, making it objective.
4. The chief complaint should be documented:
A. In medical terms
B. In the patient's own words
C. As a diagnosis
D. As a nursing diagnosis
Answer: B
Rationale: The chief complaint is best recorded in the patient's own words.
5. Which of the following is an open-ended question?
A. Do you have pain?
B. Are you taking medications?
C. Tell me about your pain.
D. Have you had surgery?
Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage detailed responses.
6. Which of the following is a closed-ended question?
A. How are you feeling?
B. Describe your pain.
C. What brings you in?
D. Are you allergic to any medications?
Answer: D
Rationale: Closed-ended questions elicit brief or yes/no answers.
7. A leading question is:
A. Tell me about your pain.
B. You don't have chest pain, do you?
C. When did the pain start?
D. What makes the pain better?
Answer: B
Rationale: Leading questions suggest a desired answer and should be avoided.
8. The review of systems is part of the:
A. Physical exam
B. Health history
C. General survey
,3|Page
D. Vital signs
Answer: B
Rationale: The review of systems is a component of the health history.
9. Past medical history includes:
A. Chief complaint
B. Childhood illnesses
C. Family history
D. Social history
Answer: B
Rationale: Past medical history includes childhood illnesses, surgeries, and
hospitalizations.
10. Family history documents:
A. Patient's occupation
B. Patient's allergies
C. Health of blood relatives
D. Patient's medications
Answer: C
Rationale: Family history records health conditions of blood relatives.
11. Social history includes:
A. Immunizations
B. Alcohol use
C. Surgical history
D. Medication list
Answer: B
Rationale: Social history includes alcohol, tobacco, drug use, and living situation.
12. A functional assessment question is:
A. Do you have chest pain?
B. Can you dress yourself?
C. Have you had surgery?
D. Are you allergic to penicillin?
Answer: B
Rationale: Functional assessment evaluates activities of daily living.
13. When interviewing a child, the best approach is to:
A. Interview only the parent
B. Interview only the child
C. Interview the parent and child together
D. Avoid interviewing the child
Answer: C
Rationale: Interviewing both provides the most complete information.
, 4|Page
14. A barrier to communication is:
A. Active listening
B. Empathy
C. Interrupting
D. Open-ended questions
Answer: C
Rationale: Interrupting hinders effective communication.
15. Nonverbal communication includes:
A. Restating
B. Clarifying
C. Eye contact
D. Summarizing
Answer: C
Rationale: Eye contact is a form of nonverbal communication.
16. The best response to an emotional patient is:
A. Don't worry.
B. I understand you are upset. Tell me more.
C. You should calm down.
D. Let's move on.
Answer: B
Rationale: Acknowledging emotion and inviting discussion is therapeutic.
17. The general survey begins with:
A. Vital signs
B. Appearance and behavior
C. Measurements
D. Auscultation
Answer: B
Rationale: The general survey begins with observation of appearance and behavior.
18. A normal level of consciousness is:
A. Alert and oriented
B. Lethargic
C. Stuporous
D. Comatose
Answer: A
Rationale: Alert and oriented is a normal finding.
19. A sign of distress is:
A. Relaxed posture
B. Diaphoresis
C. Clear speech
