HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM 1 2026/2027 | 250
HIGH-YIELD QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS |
LATEST TESTBANK | RECENT & MOST TESTED
TOPICS | A+ PREPARATION
The nurse is conducting the health interview of an adult client who has sought care
because of a ìwicked coughî leading to dyspnea. When trying to differentiate between
pathologic lung changes and an infection as the etiology of the client's cough and
resultant dyspnea, what interview question should the nurse ask?
A) Does your cough often cause you to be short of breath?
B) Do you experience chest pain when you cough?
C) How long have you been experiencing your cough?
D) Are you now or have you ever been a smoker? - correct answer-C) How long have you been
experiencing your cough?
During a health screening event, the nurse is assessing a client's risk factors for lung
cancer. When addressing the most significant risk factor for lung cancer, the nurse should
question the client about which of the following?
A) Childhood exposure to air pollution
B) History of tobacco use
C) History of working in a factory or smelter
D) History of recurrent lung infections - correct answer-B) History of tobacco use
The nurse is assessing a 69-year-old woman's risks for lung disease. The woman states, It
shouldn't be a problem for me. My husband smokes quite heavily but I've been a lifelong
nonsmoker. The nurse should recognize the need to teach the client about what topic?
A) Strategies for making her husband quit smoking
B) Genetic causes of lung cancer
C) Age-related changes to respiratory function
D) Health risks of secondhand smoke - correct answer-D) Health risks of secondhand smoke
,The nurse is assessing a 79-year-old client's posterior thorax during a focused respiratory
assessment. The nurse should attribute what assessment finding to age- related changes?
A) Slight kyphosis
B) Inaudible posterior lung sounds
C) Audible wheeze
D) Asymmetrical chest expansion - correct answer-A) Slight kyphosis
While assessing the health of a client's respiratory system, the nurse is palpating for
fremitus. What instruction should the nurse provide to the client during this component
of assessment?
A) When I say so, please exhale forcefully and hold the breath.
B) Say the letter 'e' and keep saying it until I tell you to stop.
C) Breathe in as deeply as you can and hold your breath until I say.
D) Please say the number 'ninety-nine' for me. - correct answer-D) Please say the number
'ninetynine' for me.
The nurse is assessing a client's respiratory rate and rhythm during the beginning of a
shift. The nurse knows that a normal breathing rate is between approximately 10 and 20
breaths per minute, but the client's rate is 29 breaths per minute. How should the nurse
respond to this assessment finding?
A) Ask the client if she has recently exerted herself.
B) Report the finding to the client's primary care provider.
C) Ask the client if she has smoked recently.
D) Palpate the client's anterior and posterior thorax. - correct answer-A) Ask the client if she has
recently exerted herself.
A nurse is caring for a patient whose diagnosis of cystic fibrosis results in the production of
large amounts of sticky mucus. The client has a history of repeated hospital admissions for
complications of his disease and receives daily treatments to mobilize the secretions.
When planning the care of this client, what nursing diagnosis is most plausible?
A) Readiness for Enhanced Breathing Patterns
B) Risk for Impaired Oral Mucous Membranes related to mouth breathing
,C) Ineffective Airway Clearance related to respiratory secretions
D) Ineffective Breathing Pattern: Hyperventilation related to cystic fibrosis - correct answer-C)
Ineffective Airway Clearance related to respiratory secretions
The nurse's auscultation of a client's lung fields reveals the presence of a wheeze. The
nurse should recognize that this adventitious sound results from what pathophysiological
process?
A) Air leaking from the alveoli into the pleural space
B) Air being diverted from the trachea to the bronchi
C) Air increasing in turbulence in a wide passage
D) Air passing through constricted passageways - correct answer-D) Air passing through constricted
passageways
The nurse is preparing to auscultate a client's lungs after completing thoracic inspection,
palpation, and percussion. How should the nurse best prepare for this assessment
technique?
A) Keep the client's shirt or gown in place to maintain privacy.
B) Begin with the bell of the stethoscope on the client's anterior chest.
C) Tell the client that you will be asking him or her to breathe as quickly and deeply as possible.
D) Place the diaphragm on the client's posterior chest wall. - correct answer-D) Place the diaphragm
on the client's posterior chest wall.
While auscultating the client's heart at the third intercostal space and on the left sternal
border, the nurse notes a high-pitched, scratchy sound that increases with exhalation with
the client leaning forward. The nurse should document which of the following?
A) Pericardial friction rub
B) Midsystolic click
C) Summation gallop
D) Aortic ejection click - correct answer-A) Pericardial friction rub
During chest auscultation, the nurse hears a quiet murmur immediately upon placing the
stethoscope on the client's chest. The nurse interprets this as which grade?
, A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4 - correct answer-B) 2
A group of students is reviewing the structures of the heart, noting that the thickest layer of the
heart is made up of contractile muscle cells. The students are correct in identifying this layer as
which of the following?
A) Myocardium
B) Epicardium
C) Endocardium
D) Pericardium - correct answer-A) Myocardium
The nurse is preparing to assess the remote memory of a client who has a diagnosis of
early stage Alzheimer's disease. Which question would be most appropriate for the nurse
to use?
A) Can you tell me what you have eaten in the last 24 hours?
B) When did you get your first job?
C) What did you do last evening?
D) How are an apple and orange the same? - correct answer-B) When did you get your first job?
When assessing the mental status of a 67-year-old woman, the nurse detects some
difficulty with free-flow of thought and the woman's ability to follow directions. Which of
the following would the nurse do first?
A) Use a geriatric depression scale
B) Refer for further medical evaluation
C) Assess the client's vision and hearing
D) Refer the client to social services for home assistance - correct answer-C) Assess the client's vision
and hearing
HIGH-YIELD QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS |
LATEST TESTBANK | RECENT & MOST TESTED
TOPICS | A+ PREPARATION
The nurse is conducting the health interview of an adult client who has sought care
because of a ìwicked coughî leading to dyspnea. When trying to differentiate between
pathologic lung changes and an infection as the etiology of the client's cough and
resultant dyspnea, what interview question should the nurse ask?
A) Does your cough often cause you to be short of breath?
B) Do you experience chest pain when you cough?
C) How long have you been experiencing your cough?
D) Are you now or have you ever been a smoker? - correct answer-C) How long have you been
experiencing your cough?
During a health screening event, the nurse is assessing a client's risk factors for lung
cancer. When addressing the most significant risk factor for lung cancer, the nurse should
question the client about which of the following?
A) Childhood exposure to air pollution
B) History of tobacco use
C) History of working in a factory or smelter
D) History of recurrent lung infections - correct answer-B) History of tobacco use
The nurse is assessing a 69-year-old woman's risks for lung disease. The woman states, It
shouldn't be a problem for me. My husband smokes quite heavily but I've been a lifelong
nonsmoker. The nurse should recognize the need to teach the client about what topic?
A) Strategies for making her husband quit smoking
B) Genetic causes of lung cancer
C) Age-related changes to respiratory function
D) Health risks of secondhand smoke - correct answer-D) Health risks of secondhand smoke
,The nurse is assessing a 79-year-old client's posterior thorax during a focused respiratory
assessment. The nurse should attribute what assessment finding to age- related changes?
A) Slight kyphosis
B) Inaudible posterior lung sounds
C) Audible wheeze
D) Asymmetrical chest expansion - correct answer-A) Slight kyphosis
While assessing the health of a client's respiratory system, the nurse is palpating for
fremitus. What instruction should the nurse provide to the client during this component
of assessment?
A) When I say so, please exhale forcefully and hold the breath.
B) Say the letter 'e' and keep saying it until I tell you to stop.
C) Breathe in as deeply as you can and hold your breath until I say.
D) Please say the number 'ninety-nine' for me. - correct answer-D) Please say the number
'ninetynine' for me.
The nurse is assessing a client's respiratory rate and rhythm during the beginning of a
shift. The nurse knows that a normal breathing rate is between approximately 10 and 20
breaths per minute, but the client's rate is 29 breaths per minute. How should the nurse
respond to this assessment finding?
A) Ask the client if she has recently exerted herself.
B) Report the finding to the client's primary care provider.
C) Ask the client if she has smoked recently.
D) Palpate the client's anterior and posterior thorax. - correct answer-A) Ask the client if she has
recently exerted herself.
A nurse is caring for a patient whose diagnosis of cystic fibrosis results in the production of
large amounts of sticky mucus. The client has a history of repeated hospital admissions for
complications of his disease and receives daily treatments to mobilize the secretions.
When planning the care of this client, what nursing diagnosis is most plausible?
A) Readiness for Enhanced Breathing Patterns
B) Risk for Impaired Oral Mucous Membranes related to mouth breathing
,C) Ineffective Airway Clearance related to respiratory secretions
D) Ineffective Breathing Pattern: Hyperventilation related to cystic fibrosis - correct answer-C)
Ineffective Airway Clearance related to respiratory secretions
The nurse's auscultation of a client's lung fields reveals the presence of a wheeze. The
nurse should recognize that this adventitious sound results from what pathophysiological
process?
A) Air leaking from the alveoli into the pleural space
B) Air being diverted from the trachea to the bronchi
C) Air increasing in turbulence in a wide passage
D) Air passing through constricted passageways - correct answer-D) Air passing through constricted
passageways
The nurse is preparing to auscultate a client's lungs after completing thoracic inspection,
palpation, and percussion. How should the nurse best prepare for this assessment
technique?
A) Keep the client's shirt or gown in place to maintain privacy.
B) Begin with the bell of the stethoscope on the client's anterior chest.
C) Tell the client that you will be asking him or her to breathe as quickly and deeply as possible.
D) Place the diaphragm on the client's posterior chest wall. - correct answer-D) Place the diaphragm
on the client's posterior chest wall.
While auscultating the client's heart at the third intercostal space and on the left sternal
border, the nurse notes a high-pitched, scratchy sound that increases with exhalation with
the client leaning forward. The nurse should document which of the following?
A) Pericardial friction rub
B) Midsystolic click
C) Summation gallop
D) Aortic ejection click - correct answer-A) Pericardial friction rub
During chest auscultation, the nurse hears a quiet murmur immediately upon placing the
stethoscope on the client's chest. The nurse interprets this as which grade?
, A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4 - correct answer-B) 2
A group of students is reviewing the structures of the heart, noting that the thickest layer of the
heart is made up of contractile muscle cells. The students are correct in identifying this layer as
which of the following?
A) Myocardium
B) Epicardium
C) Endocardium
D) Pericardium - correct answer-A) Myocardium
The nurse is preparing to assess the remote memory of a client who has a diagnosis of
early stage Alzheimer's disease. Which question would be most appropriate for the nurse
to use?
A) Can you tell me what you have eaten in the last 24 hours?
B) When did you get your first job?
C) What did you do last evening?
D) How are an apple and orange the same? - correct answer-B) When did you get your first job?
When assessing the mental status of a 67-year-old woman, the nurse detects some
difficulty with free-flow of thought and the woman's ability to follow directions. Which of
the following would the nurse do first?
A) Use a geriatric depression scale
B) Refer for further medical evaluation
C) Assess the client's vision and hearing
D) Refer the client to social services for home assistance - correct answer-C) Assess the client's vision
and hearing
