NR 305 Health Assessment & Clinical Judgment Practice Pack 2026
|Chamberlain College
1. Which phase of the nursing process involves the systematic collection of
subjective and objective data?
A. Diagnosis
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Assessment
Answer: D
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process, where the nurse gathers all
relevant information about the patient’s health status.
2. A patient describes a sharp, stabbing pain in their chest. This information is
considered:
A. Objective data
B. Inference
C. Subjective data
D. Secondary source data
Answer: C
Rationale: Subjective data is what the patient says or feels, which cannot be measured
directly by the nurse.
,3. Which of the following is an example of objective data?
A. The patient reports feeling dizzy.
B. The patient states they have a headache.
C. The patient’s blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg.
D. The patient describes feeling anxious.
Answer: C
Rationale: Objective data is observable and measurable information obtained through
physical examination and lab tests.
4. During an interview, the nurse asks, ‘Can you tell me more about your
shortness of breath?’ This is an example of:
A. A closed-ended question
B. A leading question
C. A biased question
D. An open-ended question
Answer: D
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage the patient to provide a descriptive response
rather than a simple yes or no.
5. What is the correct order of physical assessment techniques for most body
systems except the abdomen?
A. Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation, Inspection
B. Palpation, Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion
C. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
D. Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation
Answer: C
Rationale: The standard sequence is Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, then Auscultation.
, 6. When assessing the abdomen, why is auscultation performed before
palpation?
A. Auscultation is the most important part of the abdominal exam.
B. Because it is easier to hear sounds when the patient is relaxed.
C. To ensure the patient does not feel pain early in the exam.
D. To prevent changes in bowel sounds caused by manipulation.
Answer: D
Rationale: Palpation and percussion can stimulate peristalsis, which would result in
inaccurate bowel sound assessment.
7. Which part of the hand is best for assessing skin temperature?
A. Fingertips
B. Palmar surface
C. Dorsal surface
D. Ulnar surface
Answer: C
Rationale: The dorsal surface (back of the hand) is thinner and more sensitive to
temperature variations.
8. What does the ‘P’ in the PQRST mnemonic for pain assessment stand for?
A. Pathology
B. Provocation or Palliative factors
C. Pulse rate
D. Physical exam
Answer: B
Rationale: P stands for Provocation/Palliative: what makes the pain better or worse.
|Chamberlain College
1. Which phase of the nursing process involves the systematic collection of
subjective and objective data?
A. Diagnosis
B. Planning
C. Implementation
D. Assessment
Answer: D
Rationale: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process, where the nurse gathers all
relevant information about the patient’s health status.
2. A patient describes a sharp, stabbing pain in their chest. This information is
considered:
A. Objective data
B. Inference
C. Subjective data
D. Secondary source data
Answer: C
Rationale: Subjective data is what the patient says or feels, which cannot be measured
directly by the nurse.
,3. Which of the following is an example of objective data?
A. The patient reports feeling dizzy.
B. The patient states they have a headache.
C. The patient’s blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg.
D. The patient describes feeling anxious.
Answer: C
Rationale: Objective data is observable and measurable information obtained through
physical examination and lab tests.
4. During an interview, the nurse asks, ‘Can you tell me more about your
shortness of breath?’ This is an example of:
A. A closed-ended question
B. A leading question
C. A biased question
D. An open-ended question
Answer: D
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage the patient to provide a descriptive response
rather than a simple yes or no.
5. What is the correct order of physical assessment techniques for most body
systems except the abdomen?
A. Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation, Inspection
B. Palpation, Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion
C. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
D. Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation
Answer: C
Rationale: The standard sequence is Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, then Auscultation.
, 6. When assessing the abdomen, why is auscultation performed before
palpation?
A. Auscultation is the most important part of the abdominal exam.
B. Because it is easier to hear sounds when the patient is relaxed.
C. To ensure the patient does not feel pain early in the exam.
D. To prevent changes in bowel sounds caused by manipulation.
Answer: D
Rationale: Palpation and percussion can stimulate peristalsis, which would result in
inaccurate bowel sound assessment.
7. Which part of the hand is best for assessing skin temperature?
A. Fingertips
B. Palmar surface
C. Dorsal surface
D. Ulnar surface
Answer: C
Rationale: The dorsal surface (back of the hand) is thinner and more sensitive to
temperature variations.
8. What does the ‘P’ in the PQRST mnemonic for pain assessment stand for?
A. Pathology
B. Provocation or Palliative factors
C. Pulse rate
D. Physical exam
Answer: B
Rationale: P stands for Provocation/Palliative: what makes the pain better or worse.
