(2026/2027) NURS3320 HOLISTIC
HEALTH ASSESSMENT FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED CORRECT
ANSWERS| A+ GRADE
What steps are taken when identifying various skin lesions?
Correct Answer If you observe a lesion:
-Note color, shape, and size of lesion.
-For very small lesions, use a magnifying glass to note these
characteristics.
-Note its location, distribution, and configuration.
-Measure the lesion with a centimeter ruler.
If you suspect a fungus, shine a Wood's light (an ultraviolet light
filtered through a special glass) on the lesion.
Palpate skin to assess texture.
Palpate the lesion between the thumb and index finger for size,
mobility, consistency, and tenderness. Observe for drainage or
other characteristics.
What are the ABC's of Melanoma? Correct Answer Asymmetry,
Borders, Color, Diameter, Elevated
Malignant melanoma can be deadly if not discovered and treated
early, which is one reason why professional health assessment
and skin self-assessment can be life-saving procedures.
Malignant melanoma is usually evaluated according to the
mnemonic ABCDE: A for asymmetrical; B for borders that are
,irregular (uneven or notched); C for color variations; D for
diameter exceeding 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch; and E for elevated, not
flat. Danger signs of malignant melanoma include any of these
factors. However, smaller areas may indicate early-stage
melanomas. Other warning signs include itching, tenderness, or
pain, and a change in size or bleeding of a mole. New
pigmentations are also warning signs.
What are the three most common skin cancers? Correct Answer
Melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and squamous cell
carcinoma (SCC).
BCC and SCC are nonmelanomas. Precursor lesions occur for
some melanomas (benign or dysplastic nevi) and for invasive
SCC (actinic keratoses or SCC in situ), but there are no precursor
lesions for BCC.
What are the four basic assessment techniques? Correct Answer
1. inspection,
2. palpation,
3. percussion, and
4. auscultation
Describe assessment of kidney tenderness. Correct Answer Blunt
percussion is used to detect tenderness over organs (e.g.,
kidneys) by placing one hand flat on the body surface and using
the fist of the other hand to strike the back of the hand flat on the
body surface. (blunt percussion over posterior back.
The kidneys are located high and deep under the diaphragm.
Additionally, kidney tenderness can be assessed at the
costovertebral angle. The right kidney is positioned slightly lower
because of the position of the liver. Therefore, in some thin
,clients, the bottom portion of the right kidney may be palpated
anteriorly.
Breath odor associated with diabetic ketoacidosis. Correct
Answer Fruity or acetone breath
Breath odor associated with kidney disease Correct Answer
Ammonia breath
When do you perform hand hygiene? Correct Answer Perform
hand hygiene:
-Before having direct contact with patients
-After contact with blood, body fluids or excretions, mucous
membranes, nonintact skin, or wound dressings
-After contact with a patient's intact skin (e.g., when taking a pulse
or blood pressure or lifting a patient)
-If hands will be moving from a contaminated body site to a clean
body site during patient care
-After contact with inanimate objects (including medical
equipment) in the immediate vicinity of the patient
-After removing gloves
Contact with C. Diff... Alcohol or Soap? Correct Answer Wash
hands with nonantimicrobial soap and water or with antimicrobial
soap and water if contact with spores (e.g., Clostridium difficile or
Bacillus anthracis) is likely to have occurred. The physical action
of washing and rinsing hands under such circumstances is
recommended because alcohols, chlorhexidine, iodophors, and
other antiseptic agents have poor activity against spores.
When should you use Mouth, Nose, and Eye Protection? Correct
Answer Use PPE to protect the mucous membranes of the eyes,
nose, and mouth during procedures and patient care activities
that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body
fluids, secretions, and excretions. Select masks, goggles, face
, shields, and combinations of each according to the need
anticipated by the task performed.
When should you wear a gown? Correct Answer Wear a gown
that is appropriate to the task, to protect skin and prevent soiling
or contamination of clothing during procedures and patient care
activities when contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, or
excretions is anticipated.
When should you use gloves? Correct Answer Wear gloves when
it can be reasonably anticipated that contact with blood or other
potentially infectious materials, mucous membranes, nonintact
skin, or potentially contaminated intact skin (e.g., of a patient
incontinent of stool or urine) could occur. Change gloves during
patient care if the hands will move from a contaminated body site
(e.g., perineal area) to a clean body site (e.g., face).
Why must you validate the assessment data? Correct Answer It
serves to ensure that the assessment process is not ended before
all relevant data have been collected, and helps to prevent
documentation of inaccurate data.
Validation of data is the process of confirming or verifying that the
subjective and objective data you have collected are reliable and
accurate.
Identify ways of validating assessment data. Correct Answer
There are several ways to validate your data:
-Recheck your own data through a repeat assessment. For
example, take the client's temperature again with a different
thermometer.
-Clarify data with the client by asking additional questions. For
example, if a client is holding his abdomen the nurse may assume
he is having abdominal pain, when actually the client is very upset
about his diagnosis and is feeling nauseated.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND DETAILED CORRECT
ANSWERS| A+ GRADE
What steps are taken when identifying various skin lesions?
Correct Answer If you observe a lesion:
-Note color, shape, and size of lesion.
-For very small lesions, use a magnifying glass to note these
characteristics.
-Note its location, distribution, and configuration.
-Measure the lesion with a centimeter ruler.
If you suspect a fungus, shine a Wood's light (an ultraviolet light
filtered through a special glass) on the lesion.
Palpate skin to assess texture.
Palpate the lesion between the thumb and index finger for size,
mobility, consistency, and tenderness. Observe for drainage or
other characteristics.
What are the ABC's of Melanoma? Correct Answer Asymmetry,
Borders, Color, Diameter, Elevated
Malignant melanoma can be deadly if not discovered and treated
early, which is one reason why professional health assessment
and skin self-assessment can be life-saving procedures.
Malignant melanoma is usually evaluated according to the
mnemonic ABCDE: A for asymmetrical; B for borders that are
,irregular (uneven or notched); C for color variations; D for
diameter exceeding 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch; and E for elevated, not
flat. Danger signs of malignant melanoma include any of these
factors. However, smaller areas may indicate early-stage
melanomas. Other warning signs include itching, tenderness, or
pain, and a change in size or bleeding of a mole. New
pigmentations are also warning signs.
What are the three most common skin cancers? Correct Answer
Melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and squamous cell
carcinoma (SCC).
BCC and SCC are nonmelanomas. Precursor lesions occur for
some melanomas (benign or dysplastic nevi) and for invasive
SCC (actinic keratoses or SCC in situ), but there are no precursor
lesions for BCC.
What are the four basic assessment techniques? Correct Answer
1. inspection,
2. palpation,
3. percussion, and
4. auscultation
Describe assessment of kidney tenderness. Correct Answer Blunt
percussion is used to detect tenderness over organs (e.g.,
kidneys) by placing one hand flat on the body surface and using
the fist of the other hand to strike the back of the hand flat on the
body surface. (blunt percussion over posterior back.
The kidneys are located high and deep under the diaphragm.
Additionally, kidney tenderness can be assessed at the
costovertebral angle. The right kidney is positioned slightly lower
because of the position of the liver. Therefore, in some thin
,clients, the bottom portion of the right kidney may be palpated
anteriorly.
Breath odor associated with diabetic ketoacidosis. Correct
Answer Fruity or acetone breath
Breath odor associated with kidney disease Correct Answer
Ammonia breath
When do you perform hand hygiene? Correct Answer Perform
hand hygiene:
-Before having direct contact with patients
-After contact with blood, body fluids or excretions, mucous
membranes, nonintact skin, or wound dressings
-After contact with a patient's intact skin (e.g., when taking a pulse
or blood pressure or lifting a patient)
-If hands will be moving from a contaminated body site to a clean
body site during patient care
-After contact with inanimate objects (including medical
equipment) in the immediate vicinity of the patient
-After removing gloves
Contact with C. Diff... Alcohol or Soap? Correct Answer Wash
hands with nonantimicrobial soap and water or with antimicrobial
soap and water if contact with spores (e.g., Clostridium difficile or
Bacillus anthracis) is likely to have occurred. The physical action
of washing and rinsing hands under such circumstances is
recommended because alcohols, chlorhexidine, iodophors, and
other antiseptic agents have poor activity against spores.
When should you use Mouth, Nose, and Eye Protection? Correct
Answer Use PPE to protect the mucous membranes of the eyes,
nose, and mouth during procedures and patient care activities
that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body
fluids, secretions, and excretions. Select masks, goggles, face
, shields, and combinations of each according to the need
anticipated by the task performed.
When should you wear a gown? Correct Answer Wear a gown
that is appropriate to the task, to protect skin and prevent soiling
or contamination of clothing during procedures and patient care
activities when contact with blood, body fluids, secretions, or
excretions is anticipated.
When should you use gloves? Correct Answer Wear gloves when
it can be reasonably anticipated that contact with blood or other
potentially infectious materials, mucous membranes, nonintact
skin, or potentially contaminated intact skin (e.g., of a patient
incontinent of stool or urine) could occur. Change gloves during
patient care if the hands will move from a contaminated body site
(e.g., perineal area) to a clean body site (e.g., face).
Why must you validate the assessment data? Correct Answer It
serves to ensure that the assessment process is not ended before
all relevant data have been collected, and helps to prevent
documentation of inaccurate data.
Validation of data is the process of confirming or verifying that the
subjective and objective data you have collected are reliable and
accurate.
Identify ways of validating assessment data. Correct Answer
There are several ways to validate your data:
-Recheck your own data through a repeat assessment. For
example, take the client's temperature again with a different
thermometer.
-Clarify data with the client by asking additional questions. For
example, if a client is holding his abdomen the nurse may assume
he is having abdominal pain, when actually the client is very upset
about his diagnosis and is feeling nauseated.
