Question 1

The nurse is preparing to conduct a health history. Which of these statements best describes the purpose of a health history?

Accepted Answer

A)   To provide an opportunity for interaction between the patient and the nurse
B)   To provide a form for obtaining the patient's biographic information
C)   To document the normal and abnormal findings of a physical assessment
D)   To provide a database of subjective information about the patient's past and current health D

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

A)   J.M. is a 59-year-old man seeking treatment for ulcerative colitis.
B)   J.M. came into the clinic complaining of having black stools for the past 24 hours.
C)   J.M. is a 59-year-old man who states that he has ulcerative colitis and wants it checked.
D)   J.M. is a 59-year-old man who states that he has been having "black stools" for the past 24 hours. D

Question 3

The nurse is conducting a developmental history on a 5-year-old child. Which questions are appropriate to ask the parents for this part of the assessment? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)   "Can he tell time?"
B)   "Does he have any food allergies?"
C)   "Is he able to tie his shoelaces?"
D)   "Does he take a children's vitamin?"
E)   "How much junk food does your child eat?"F)  "How many teeth has he lost, and when did he lose them?" A, C, F

Question 4

The nurse is assessing a patient's headache pain. Which questions reflect one or more of 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 feel better?"F)  "Do you have any family history of headaches?"

Question 5

A 29-year-old woman tells the nurse that she has "excruciating pain" in her back. Which response by the nurse would be appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A)   "How does your family react to your pain?"
B)   "The pain must be terrible. You probably pinched a nerve."
C)   "I've had back pain myself, and it can be excruciating."
D)   "How would you say the pain affects your ability to do your daily activities?"

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

A)   Patient has a history of drug abuse and therefore is not reliable.
B)   Patient provided consistent information and therefore is reliable.
C)   Patient smiled throughout interview and therefore is assumed reliable.
D)   Patient would not answer questions concerning stress and therefore is not reliable.

Question 7

The nurse is incorporating a person's spiritual values into the health history. Which of these questions illustrates the "community" portion of the FICA (faith and belief, importance and influence, community, and addressing or applying in care) questions?

Accepted Answer

A)   "Do you believe in God?"
B)   "Are you a part of any religious or spiritual congregation?"
C)   "Do you consider yourself to be a religious or spiritual person?"
D)   "How does your religious faith influence the way you think about your health?"

Question 8

When the nurse asks for a description of who lives with a child, the method of discipline, and the support system of the child, what part of the assessment is being performed?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 9

In recording the childhood illnesses of a patient who denies having had any, which note by the nurse would be most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)   Patient denies usual childhood illnesses.
B)   Patient states he was a "very healthy" child.
C)   Patient states his sister had measles, but he didn't.
D)   Patient denies measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, pertussis, and strep throat.

Question 10

Which of these responses might the nurse expect during a 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 decreasing, but I still need to take acetaminophen."
C)   "I check the color 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 11

The nurse is preparing to complete a health assessment on a 16-year-old girl whose parents have brought her to the clinic. Which instruction would be appropriate for the parents before the interview begins?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 12

A patient tells the nurse that he is allergic to penicillin. What is the best response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 13

A patient tells the nurse that she has had abdominal pain for the past week. What would be the nurse's best response?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

The nurse is assessing a new patient who has recently immigrated to the United States. Which question is appropriate to add to the health history?

Accepted Answer

A)   "Why did you come to the United States?"
B)   "When did you come to the United States and from what country?"
C)   "What made you leave your native country?"
D)   "Are you planning to return to your home?"

Question 15

The nurse is preparing to do a functional assessment. Which statement best describes the purpose of a functional assessment?

Accepted Answer

A)   The functional assessment assesses how the individual is coping with life at home.
B)   It determines how children are meeting developmental milestones.
C)   The functional assessment can identify any problems with memory the individual may be experiencing.
D)   It helps determine how a person is managing day-to-day activities.

Question 16

As part of the health history of a 6-year-old boy at a clinic for a sports physical examination, the nurse reviews his immunization record and notes that his last measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination was at 15 months of age. What should the nurse recommend?

Accepted Answer

A)   No further MMR immunizations are needed.
B)   MMR vaccination needs to be repeated at 4 to 6 years of age.
C)   MMR immunization needs to be repeated every 4 years until age 21.
D)   A recommendation cannot be made until the physician is consulted.

Question 17

A patient is describing his symptoms to the nurse. Which of these statements reflects a description of the setting of his symptoms?

Accepted Answer

A)   "It is a sharp, burning pain in my stomach."
B)   "I also have the sweats and nausea when I feel this pain."
C)   "I think this pain is telling me that something bad is wrong with me."
D)   "This pain happens every time I sit down to use the computer."

Question 18

The nurse is performing a functional assessment on an 82-year-old patient who recently had a stroke. Which of these questions would be 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?"

Question 19

The nurse is obtaining a history from a 30-year-old male patient and is concerned about health promotion activities. Which of these questions would be appropriate to use to assess health promotion activities for this patient?

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 infections?"

Question 20

The nurse is asking a patient for his reason for seeking care and asks about the signs and symptoms he is experiencing. Which of these is an example of a symptom?

Accepted Answer

A)   Chest pain
B)   Clammy skin
C)   Serum potassium level at 4.2 mEq/L
D)   Body temperature of 100 °\degree°  F

Exam 4: The Complete Health History