NURS 261: EXAM #1 STUDY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
| 2026 UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
What are the different types of health assessments, and when would each be
performed? Answer - Comprehensive: detailed history and physical exam
performed at onset of care in primary care setting or on admission to a
hospital/long-term facility: encompass health problems experienced by
patient; health promotion/prevention and assessment for health problems.
Focused: problem-focused, limited to specific problem or complaint (ex.
sprained ankle), walk-in or clinics, outpatient setting. consider health status
Screening: short, focused on disease detection. performed in health providers
office ex. BP screening, glucose screening, etc.
Follow-up: follow up from previous identified problem
What are the purposes of a nursing health assessment? Answer - gained
information to provide a complete, accurate, and descriptive documentation
will improve plan of care. Better developed plan of care and implement it
What are the steps in clinical judgement process? Answer - Noticing
Interpreting
Responding
Reflecting
What are the factors in symptom analysis? Answer - Onset
,Location
Duration
Characteristics
Aggravating and Alleviating Factors
Related Symptoms
Treatment
Severity
How does the nurse assess pain? Answer - Pain threshold/Pain tolerance
Characteristics
Aggravating factors
Alleviating factors/Treatment by patients
Related Symptoms
Severity
Response to pain
Pain reassessment
Compare health promotion and health protection. Answer - Health promotion:
behavior motivated to increase well-being and actualize human health
potential
Health protection: behavior motivated by the desire to actively avoid illness,
detect it early or maintain functioning within its constraints.
Describe the differences between a screening assessment and a follow up
assessment. Answer - Screening: short, focused on disease detection.
performed in health providers office ex. BP screening, glucose screening, etc.
Follow-up: follow up from previous identified problem
, Identify infection control procedures to be used when conducting a health
assessment. (i.e. when do you wear gloves, and when don't you) Answer -
Hand Hygiene: bf/af direct contact with patient and objected in patient care
area, bf/af removing gloves, before eating, after using bathroom
PPE
- gloves: body fluid
- mask: protect from splashing or sprays
-Gowns: protect arms and exposed skin surfaces and prevent contamination of
clothes
Managing Contaminated Patient Care Equipment: avoid touching equipments
with blood
Environmental control: disinfect, clean to decontaminate area
Respiratory Hygiene: precaution to respiratoy secretion of patients and visitors
Patient Placement: single room if patient is suspected to have highly
transmittable disease
What are the differences between subjective and objective data? Answer -
Subjective: feelings, observable
Objective: measurable
What assessment techniques are used to evaluate vital signs? Answer - BP:
blood pressure cuff+stethoscope,
HR: palpate pulse, radial artery used mostly
RR: complete ventilatory cycle/min
O2 sat: pulse oximeter
Temperature: oral, temporal artery, tympanic membrane, axillary, rectal (more
accurate, but more invasive and requires less time, risk of infection)
Weight/Height
Pain: "fifth vital sign"
| 2026 UPDATE | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
What are the different types of health assessments, and when would each be
performed? Answer - Comprehensive: detailed history and physical exam
performed at onset of care in primary care setting or on admission to a
hospital/long-term facility: encompass health problems experienced by
patient; health promotion/prevention and assessment for health problems.
Focused: problem-focused, limited to specific problem or complaint (ex.
sprained ankle), walk-in or clinics, outpatient setting. consider health status
Screening: short, focused on disease detection. performed in health providers
office ex. BP screening, glucose screening, etc.
Follow-up: follow up from previous identified problem
What are the purposes of a nursing health assessment? Answer - gained
information to provide a complete, accurate, and descriptive documentation
will improve plan of care. Better developed plan of care and implement it
What are the steps in clinical judgement process? Answer - Noticing
Interpreting
Responding
Reflecting
What are the factors in symptom analysis? Answer - Onset
,Location
Duration
Characteristics
Aggravating and Alleviating Factors
Related Symptoms
Treatment
Severity
How does the nurse assess pain? Answer - Pain threshold/Pain tolerance
Characteristics
Aggravating factors
Alleviating factors/Treatment by patients
Related Symptoms
Severity
Response to pain
Pain reassessment
Compare health promotion and health protection. Answer - Health promotion:
behavior motivated to increase well-being and actualize human health
potential
Health protection: behavior motivated by the desire to actively avoid illness,
detect it early or maintain functioning within its constraints.
Describe the differences between a screening assessment and a follow up
assessment. Answer - Screening: short, focused on disease detection.
performed in health providers office ex. BP screening, glucose screening, etc.
Follow-up: follow up from previous identified problem
, Identify infection control procedures to be used when conducting a health
assessment. (i.e. when do you wear gloves, and when don't you) Answer -
Hand Hygiene: bf/af direct contact with patient and objected in patient care
area, bf/af removing gloves, before eating, after using bathroom
PPE
- gloves: body fluid
- mask: protect from splashing or sprays
-Gowns: protect arms and exposed skin surfaces and prevent contamination of
clothes
Managing Contaminated Patient Care Equipment: avoid touching equipments
with blood
Environmental control: disinfect, clean to decontaminate area
Respiratory Hygiene: precaution to respiratoy secretion of patients and visitors
Patient Placement: single room if patient is suspected to have highly
transmittable disease
What are the differences between subjective and objective data? Answer -
Subjective: feelings, observable
Objective: measurable
What assessment techniques are used to evaluate vital signs? Answer - BP:
blood pressure cuff+stethoscope,
HR: palpate pulse, radial artery used mostly
RR: complete ventilatory cycle/min
O2 sat: pulse oximeter
Temperature: oral, temporal artery, tympanic membrane, axillary, rectal (more
accurate, but more invasive and requires less time, risk of infection)
Weight/Height
Pain: "fifth vital sign"
