ESSENTIAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT (2ND
EDITION) (2026 EDITION) – COMPLETE
CHAPTER QUESTIONS & VERIFIED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONELS
Chapter 1: Understanding Health Assessment
1. The World Health Organization (WHO) established a global strategy called "Health for All." The goal
for this strategy is:
a) All individuals to get the same health care throughout their life spans.
b) The government to supply money to care for all the people in the world.
c) Resources for health care to be evenly distributed and accessible.
d) Health-care providers can never deny patients health care.
Answer: c) Resources for health care to be evenly distributed and accessible.
Rationale: "Health for All" aims for equitable distribution and accessibility of healthcare resources, not
necessarily identical care for every individual .
2. Health assessment is a foundational and priority nursing skill. This essential skill requires registered
nurses (RNs) to:
a) Diagnose and treat patients.
b) Identify normal and abnormal findings.
c) Refer patients with abnormal findings.
d) Counsel patients with psychosocial needs.
Answer: b) Identify normal and abnormal findings.
Rationale: The RN's primary role in health assessment is to collect data and distinguish between normal
and abnormal findings. Diagnosis is the provider's role .
3. A nurse is assessing a patient with a history of violent crime. The nurse treats the patient with
respect and dignity, focusing on the patient as a person, not their history. This approach is known as:
a) Caring.
, b) Holistic process.
c) Person-centered care (PCC).
d) Standards of care.
Answer: c) Person-centered care (PCC).
Rationale: PCC emphasizes the intrinsic value of treating all patients as persons, respecting their
individuality and preferences regardless of their background .
4. The science-based framework updated every 10 years by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services that sets national goals and objectives for health promotion and disease prevention is:
a) Healthy People.
b) Healthy People 2030.
c) U.S. Preventive Task Force.
d) World Health Organization.
Answer: b) Healthy People 2030.
Rationale: The "Healthy People" initiative provides science-based, 10-year national objectives for
improving the health of all Americans. The current version is Healthy People 2030 .
5. A 38-year-old male has a family history of colon cancer. His doctor recommends a colonoscopy. This
is an example of:
a) Primary health prevention.
b) Secondary health prevention.
c) Tertiary health prevention.
d) Health promotion.
Answer: b) Secondary health prevention.
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and screening (like a colonoscopy) to halt
the progression of a disease .
6. A patient uses the call light to report, "I think I am running a fever and have stomach discomfort."
What should the nurse do first?
a) Ask the medical assistant to assess the patient.
b) Check if the patient has an order for Tylenol.
c) Page the resident on call.
d) Go to the patient's room to assess the fever and discomfort.
Answer: d) Go to the patient's room to assess the fever and discomfort.
Rationale: The nurse's priority is to perform an independent assessment to gather data and determine
the next steps. Assessment always precedes intervention .
7. A nurse uses critical thinking during an interdisciplinary team conference to develop an improved
plan of care for a challenging patient. Which cognitive skill is being used?
EDITION) (2026 EDITION) – COMPLETE
CHAPTER QUESTIONS & VERIFIED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONELS
Chapter 1: Understanding Health Assessment
1. The World Health Organization (WHO) established a global strategy called "Health for All." The goal
for this strategy is:
a) All individuals to get the same health care throughout their life spans.
b) The government to supply money to care for all the people in the world.
c) Resources for health care to be evenly distributed and accessible.
d) Health-care providers can never deny patients health care.
Answer: c) Resources for health care to be evenly distributed and accessible.
Rationale: "Health for All" aims for equitable distribution and accessibility of healthcare resources, not
necessarily identical care for every individual .
2. Health assessment is a foundational and priority nursing skill. This essential skill requires registered
nurses (RNs) to:
a) Diagnose and treat patients.
b) Identify normal and abnormal findings.
c) Refer patients with abnormal findings.
d) Counsel patients with psychosocial needs.
Answer: b) Identify normal and abnormal findings.
Rationale: The RN's primary role in health assessment is to collect data and distinguish between normal
and abnormal findings. Diagnosis is the provider's role .
3. A nurse is assessing a patient with a history of violent crime. The nurse treats the patient with
respect and dignity, focusing on the patient as a person, not their history. This approach is known as:
a) Caring.
, b) Holistic process.
c) Person-centered care (PCC).
d) Standards of care.
Answer: c) Person-centered care (PCC).
Rationale: PCC emphasizes the intrinsic value of treating all patients as persons, respecting their
individuality and preferences regardless of their background .
4. The science-based framework updated every 10 years by the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services that sets national goals and objectives for health promotion and disease prevention is:
a) Healthy People.
b) Healthy People 2030.
c) U.S. Preventive Task Force.
d) World Health Organization.
Answer: b) Healthy People 2030.
Rationale: The "Healthy People" initiative provides science-based, 10-year national objectives for
improving the health of all Americans. The current version is Healthy People 2030 .
5. A 38-year-old male has a family history of colon cancer. His doctor recommends a colonoscopy. This
is an example of:
a) Primary health prevention.
b) Secondary health prevention.
c) Tertiary health prevention.
d) Health promotion.
Answer: b) Secondary health prevention.
Rationale: Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and screening (like a colonoscopy) to halt
the progression of a disease .
6. A patient uses the call light to report, "I think I am running a fever and have stomach discomfort."
What should the nurse do first?
a) Ask the medical assistant to assess the patient.
b) Check if the patient has an order for Tylenol.
c) Page the resident on call.
d) Go to the patient's room to assess the fever and discomfort.
Answer: d) Go to the patient's room to assess the fever and discomfort.
Rationale: The nurse's priority is to perform an independent assessment to gather data and determine
the next steps. Assessment always precedes intervention .
7. A nurse uses critical thinking during an interdisciplinary team conference to develop an improved
plan of care for a challenging patient. Which cognitive skill is being used?
