Question 1

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 response 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 1 year!"
C)  "What did you do to cope with the loss of both your husband and mother?"
D)  "That is a lot of stress; now let's go on to the next section of your history." C

Question 2

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?" A,C,D,E

Question 3

Which of these statements represents subjective data the nurse obtained from the patient regarding the patient's skin?

Accepted Answer

A)  Skin appears dry.
B)  No lesions are obvious.
C)  Patient denies any color change.
D)  Lesion is noted on the lateral aspect of the right arm. C

Question 4

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 5

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

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

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 7

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

Question 8

The review of systems provides the nurse with:

Accepted Answer

A)  Physical findings related to each system.
B)  Information regarding health promotion practices.
C)  An opportunity to teach the patient medical terms.
D)  Information necessary for the nurse to diagnose the patient's medical problem.

Question 9

During an assessment of a patient's family history,the nurse constructs a genogram.Which statement best describes a genogram?

Accepted Answer

A)  List of diseases present in a person's near relatives
B)  Graphic family tree that uses symbols to depict the gender, relationship, and age of immediate family members
C)  Drawing that depicts the patient's family members up to five generations back
D)  Description of the health of a person's children and grandchildren

Question 10

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 11

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 diseases?"

Question 12

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 recommendation should the nurse make?

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 years.
D)  A recommendation cannot be made until the physician is consulted.

Question 13

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 14

A patient tells the nurse that he is allergic to penicillin.What 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 write your allergy on your chart so you won't receive any penicillin."
D)  "Describe what happens to you when you take penicillin."

Question 15

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

Question 16

The nurse is performing a review of systems on a 76-year-old patient.Which of these 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)  Questions that are reflective of the normal effects of aging are added.
D)  At this age, a review of systems is not necessary-the focus should be on current problems.

Question 17

During an assessment,the nurse uses the CAGE test.The patient answers "yes" to two of the questions.What could this be indicating?

Accepted Answer

A)  The patient is an alcoholic.
B)  The patient is annoyed at the questions.
C)  The patient should be thoroughly examined for possible alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
D)  The nurse should suspect alcohol abuse and continue with a more thorough substance abuse assessment.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 20

A 90-year-old patient tells the nurse that he cannot remember the names of the medications he is taking or for what reason he is taking them.An appropriate response from the nurse would be:

Accepted Answer

A)  "Can you tell me what they look like?"
B)  "Don't worry about it. You are only taking two medications."
C)  "How long have you been taking each of the pills?"
D)  "Would you have a family member bring in your medications?"

Exam 4: The Complete Health History