Question 1

When using the mnemonic PQRSTU to help remember all the points of a patient's perception of his or her problem,what does the "S" signify?

Accepted Answer

A) Swelling 
B) Subjectivity 
C) Severity 
D) Symptoms 
A) Swelling 
B) Subjectivity 
C) Severity 
D) Symptoms C

Question 2

The mother of a 16-month-old toddler tells the nurse that her daughter has an earache.Which of the following would be an appropriate response?

Accepted Answer

A) "Maybe she is just teething." 
B) "I will check her ear for any ear infection." 
C) "Are you sure she is really having pain?" 
D) "Please describe what she is doing to indicate she is having pain." 
A) "Maybe she is just teething." 
B) "I will check her ear for any ear infection." 
C) "Are you sure she is really having pain?" 
D) "Please describe what she is doing to indicate she is having pain." D

Question 3

The nurse is assessing a patient's headache pain.Which of the following questions reflect the critical characteristics of symptoms that should be assessed? (Select all that apply. )

Accepted Answer

A) "Where is the headache pain?" 
B) "Did you have these headaches as a child?" 
C) "On a scale of 1 to 10,how bad is the pain?" 
D) "How often do the headaches occur?" 
E) "What makes the headaches better?"
F) “Do you have any family history of headaches?”
G)"What do you think is causing these headaches?" 
A) "Where is the headache pain?" 
B) "Did you have these headaches as a child?" 
C) "On a scale of 1 to 10,how bad is the pain?" 
D) "How often do the headaches occur?" 
E) "What makes the headaches better?"
F) “Do you have any family history of headaches?”
G)"What do you think is causing these headaches?" A,C,D,E,G

Question 4

The nurse is taking a patient's family history.Important diseases or problems to ask the patient about include:

Accepted Answer

A) emphysema. 
B) head trauma. 
C) mental health issues. 
D) fractured bones. 
A) emphysema. 
B) head trauma. 
C) mental health issues. 
D) fractured bones.

Question 5

To which part of the assessment is information about who lives with a child,the method of disciplining,and support system related?

Accepted Answer

A) Family history 
B) Review of systems 
C) Functional assessment 
D) Reason for seeking care 
A) Family history 
B) Review of systems 
C) Functional assessment 
D) Reason for seeking care

Question 6

A 5-year-old boy is being admitted to the hospital to have his tonsils removed.Which of the following information should be collected before this procedure?

Accepted Answer

A) The child's birth weight 
B) The age at which he started to crawl 
C) Whether he has had the measles 
D) Reactions to previous hospitalizations 
A) The child's birth weight 
B) The age at which he started to crawl 
C) Whether he has had the measles 
D) Reactions to previous hospitalizations

Question 7

When the nurse is evaluating the reliability of a patient's responses,which of the following would be a correct assessment?

Accepted Answer

A) The patient has a history of drug abuse and therefore is not reliable. 
B) The patient provided consistent information and therefore is reliable. 
C) The patient smiled throughout the interview and therefore can be presumed reliable. 
D) The patient would not answer questions concerning stress and therefore is not reliable. 
A) The patient has a history of drug abuse and therefore is not reliable. 
B) The patient provided consistent information and therefore is reliable. 
C) The patient smiled throughout the interview and therefore can be presumed reliable. 
D) The patient would not answer questions concerning stress and therefore is not reliable.

Question 8

The nurse is performing a review of systems on a 76-year-old patient.Which of the following statements is correct for this situation?

Accepted Answer

A) The questions asked are identical for all ages. 
B) The interviewer will start incorporating different questions for patients 70 years of age and older. 
C) Additional questions are reflective of the normal effects of aging. 
D) At this age,a review of systems is not necessary;just focus on current problems. 
A) The questions asked are identical for all ages. 
B) The interviewer will start incorporating different questions for patients 70 years of age and older. 
C) Additional questions are reflective of the normal effects of aging. 
D) At this age,a review of systems is not necessary;just focus on current problems.

Question 9

In response to a question about use of alcohol,a patient asks the nurse why the nurse needs that information.What reason would the nurse give the patient?

Accepted Answer

A) This is necessary to determine the patient's reliability. 
B) Alcohol can interact with medications and can make some diseases worse. 
C) The nurse is required to teach the patient about the dangers of alcohol use. 
D) It is not really necessary to ask for this information unless there is an obvious drinking problem. 
A) This is necessary to determine the patient's reliability. 
B) Alcohol can interact with medications and can make some diseases worse. 
C) The nurse is required to teach the patient about the dangers of alcohol use. 
D) It is not really necessary to ask for this information unless there is an obvious drinking problem.

Question 10

The nurse is obtaining the health history of an 87-year-old woman.Which of the following areas of questioning would be most useful at this time?

Accepted Answer

A) Obstetrical history 
B) Childhood illnesses 
C) General health for the past 20 years 
D) Current health promotion activities 
A) Obstetrical history 
B) Childhood illnesses 
C) General health for the past 20 years 
D) Current health promotion activities

Question 11

The nurse is obtaining a history from a 30-year-old male patient and is concerned about the adequacy of his health promotion activities.Which one of the following questions would be appropriate in this situation?

Accepted Answer

A) "Do you perform testicular self-examinations?" 
B) "Have you ever noticed any pain in your testicles?" 
C) "Have you had any problems with passing urine?" 
D) "Do you have any history of sexually transmitted infection?" 
A) "Do you perform testicular self-examinations?" 
B) "Have you ever noticed any pain in your testicles?" 
C) "Have you had any problems with passing urine?" 
D) "Do you have any history of sexually transmitted infection?"

Question 12

Which of the following responses might the nurse expect during the functional assessment of a patient whose leg is in a cast?

Accepted Answer

A) "I broke my right leg in a car accident 2 weeks ago." 
B) "The pain is getting less,but I still need to take Tylenol." 
C) "I check the colour of my toes every evening just like I was taught." 
D) "I'm able to transfer myself from the wheelchair to the bed without help." 
A) "I broke my right leg in a car accident 2 weeks ago." 
B) "The pain is getting less,but I still need to take Tylenol." 
C) "I check the colour of my toes every evening just like I was taught." 
D) "I'm able to transfer myself from the wheelchair to the bed without help."

Question 13

A patient tells the nurse that she has been experiencing abdominal pain for the past week.Which of the following would be the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

A) "Can you point to where it hurts?" 
B) "We'll talk more about that later in the interview." 
C) "What have you had to eat in the last 24 hours?" 
D) "Have you ever had any surgeries on your abdomen?" 
A) "Can you point to where it hurts?" 
B) "We'll talk more about that later in the interview." 
C) "What have you had to eat in the last 24 hours?" 
D) "Have you ever had any surgeries on your abdomen?"

Question 14

A patient tells the nurse that she has had six pregnancies,with four live births at term and two spontaneous abortions.Her four children are still living.How would the nurse record this information?

Accepted Answer

A) P-6,B-4,(S)Ab-2 
B) G6,T4,A2,L4 
C) Patient has had four living babies. 
D) Patient has been pregnant six times. 
A) P-6,B-4,(S)Ab-2 
B) G6,T4,A2,L4 
C) Patient has had four living babies. 
D) Patient has been pregnant six times.

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of a symptom?

Accepted Answer

A) Chest pain 
B) Clammy skin 
C) Serum potassium level 4.2 mmol/L 
D) A temperature of 37°C 
A) Chest pain 
B) Clammy skin 
C) Serum potassium level 4.2 mmol/L 
D) A temperature of 37°C

Question 16

A 59-year-old patient tells the nurse that he is in the clinic to "check up on his ulcerative colitis." He has been having "black stools" in the last 24 hours.How would the nurse document his reason for seeking care?

Accepted Answer

A) J.M.is a 59-year-old male here for "ulcerative colitis." 
B) J.M.came into the clinic complaining of black stools in the past 24 hours. 
C) J.M. ,a 59-year-old male,states he has ulcerative colitis and wants to have it checked up. 
D) J.M.is a 59-year-old male here for having "black stools" in the past 24 hours. 
A) J.M.is a 59-year-old male here for "ulcerative colitis." 
B) J.M.came into the clinic complaining of black stools in the past 24 hours. 
C) J.M. ,a 59-year-old male,states he has ulcerative colitis and wants to have it checked up. 
D) J.M.is a 59-year-old male here for having "black stools" in the past 24 hours.

Question 17

The nurse is performing a functional assessment on an 82-year-old patient who recently had a stroke.Which of the following questions would be the most important to ask?

Accepted Answer

A) "Do you wear glasses?" 
B) "Are you able to dress yourself?" 
C) "Do you have any thyroid problems?" 
D) "How many times a day do you have a bowel movement?" 
A) "Do you wear glasses?" 
B) "Are you able to dress yourself?" 
C) "Do you have any thyroid problems?" 
D) "How many times a day do you have a bowel movement?"

Question 18

A patient tells the nurse that he is allergic to penicillin.Which of the following would be the nurse's best response to this information?

Accepted Answer

A) "Are you allergic to any other drugs?" 
B) "How often have you received penicillin?" 
C) "I'll record your allergy information on your chart,so you won't receive any." 
D) "Please describe what happens to you when you take penicillin." 
A) "Are you allergic to any other drugs?" 
B) "How often have you received penicillin?" 
C) "I'll record your allergy information on your chart,so you won't receive any." 
D) "Please describe what happens to you when you take penicillin."

Question 19

The nurse is performing a health assessment on a 16-year-old girl,who has been brought to the clinic by her parents.Which of the following instructions would be appropriate for the parents before the interview begins?

Accepted Answer

A) "Please stay with your daughter during the interview;you can answer for her if she is not able to." 
B) "It would help to interview the three of you together." 
C) "While I interview your daughter,will you please stay in the room and complete these family health history questionnaires?" 
D) "While I interview your daughter,will you step out to the waiting room and complete these family health history questionnaires?" 
A) "Please stay with your daughter during the interview;you can answer for her if she is not able to." 
B) "It would help to interview the three of you together." 
C) "While I interview your daughter,will you please stay in the room and complete these family health history questionnaires?" 
D) "While I interview your daughter,will you step out to the waiting room and complete these family health history questionnaires?"

Question 20

In response to a question about stress,a 39-year-old woman tells the nurse that her husband and mother both died in the past year.Which of the following responses by the nurse is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A) "This has been a difficult year for you." 
B) "I don't know how anyone could handle that much stress in one year!" 
C) "What did you do to cope with the loss of your husband and your mother?" 
D) "That is a lot of stress;now let's go on to the next section of your history." 
A) "This has been a difficult year for you." 
B) "I don't know how anyone could handle that much stress in one year!" 
C) "What did you do to cope with the loss of your husband and your mother?" 
D) "That is a lot of stress;now let's go on to the next section of your history."

Exam 5: The Complete Health History

When using the mnemonic PQRSTU to help remember all the points of a patient's perception of his or her problem,what does the "S" signify?

The mother of a 16-month-old toddler tells the nurse that her daughter has an earache.Which of the following would be an appropriate response?

The nurse is assessing a patient's headache pain.Which of the following questions reflect the critical characteristics of symptoms that should be assessed? (Select all that apply. )

The nurse is taking a patient's family history.Important diseases or problems to ask the patient about include:

To which part of the assessment is information about who lives with a child,the method of disciplining,and support system related?

A 5-year-old boy is being admitted to the hospital to have his tonsils removed.Which of the following information should be collected before this procedure?

When the nurse is evaluating the reliability of a patient's responses,which of the following would be a correct assessment?

The nurse is performing a review of systems on a 76-year-old patient.Which of the following statements is correct for this situation?

In response to a question about use of alcohol,a patient asks the nurse why the nurse needs that information.What reason would the nurse give the patient?

The nurse is obtaining the health history of an 87-year-old woman.Which of the following areas of questioning would be most useful at this time?

The nurse is obtaining a history from a 30-year-old male patient and is concerned about the adequacy of his health promotion activities.Which one of the following questions would be appropriate in this situation?

Which of the following responses might the nurse expect during the functional assessment of a patient whose leg is in a cast?

A patient tells the nurse that she has been experiencing abdominal pain for the past week.Which of the following would be the best response by the nurse?

A patient tells the nurse that she has had six pregnancies,with four live births at term and two spontaneous abortions.Her four children are still living.How would the nurse record this information?

Which of the following is an example of a symptom?

A 59-year-old patient tells the nurse that he is in the clinic to "check up on his ulcerative colitis." He has been having "black stools" in the last 24 hours.How would the nurse document his reason for seeking care?

The nurse is performing a functional assessment on an 82-year-old patient who recently had a stroke.Which of the following questions would be the most important to ask?

A patient tells the nurse that he is allergic to penicillin.Which of the following would be the nurse's best response to this information?

The nurse is performing a health assessment on a 16-year-old girl,who has been brought to the clinic by her parents.Which of the following instructions would be appropriate for the parents before the interview begins?

In response to a question about stress,a 39-year-old woman tells the nurse that her husband and mother both died in the past year.Which of the following responses by the nurse is most appropriate?

Critical Thinking and Evidence-Informed Assessment

Health Promotion in the Context of Health Assessment

Cultural Competence: Cultural Care and Social Considerations in Health Assessment

The Interview

Mental Health Assessment

Substance Use in the Context of Health Assessment

Interpersonal Violence Assessment

Assessment Techniques and the Clinical Setting

General Survey, measurement, and Vital Signs

Pain Assessment

Nutritional Assessment and Nursing Practice

Skin, hair, and Nails

Head and Neck, including Regional Lymphatic System

Eyes

Ears

Nose, mouth, and Throat

Breasts and Regional Lymphatic System

Thorax and Lungs

Heart and Neck Vessels

Peripheral Vascular System and Lymphatic System

Abdomen

Anus,rectum and Prostate

Musculoskeletal System

Neurological System

Male Genitourinary System

Female Genitourinary System

The Complete Health Assessment: Putting It All Together

Bedside Assessment of the Hospitalized Patient

Pregnancy

Functional Assessment of the Older Adult

Filters