NUR2180 / NUR 2180: Physical Assessment –
Rasmussen Actual Exam Complete Questions &
Rationales | Health Assessment Skills | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Health History & Interviewing Techniques
Q1: A nurse is conducting a health history with a new patient who says, "I've been having
stomach problems for a while." Which response by the nurse best demonstrates an
open-ended question to gather more information?
A. "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
B. "Does it get worse after you eat?"
C. "Tell me more about what you've been experiencing with your stomach." [CORRECT]
D. "On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is the pain?"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. In physical assessment, we always start with
open-ended questions to let patients describe their experience in their own words
before narrowing down with specific questions. "Tell me more" invites the patient to
share details we might not think to ask about, and it builds rapport by showing we're
,genuinely listening. Remember that closed questions have their place for clarifying
details, but the initial exploration works best when the patient leads.
Q2: During a health history interview, a patient becomes tearful when discussing a
recent death in the family. Which response by the nurse demonstrates therapeutic
communication?
A. "Don't cry—let's focus on your physical symptoms."
B. "I can see this is hard for you. Take your time; I'm here to listen." [CORRECT]
C. "You should talk to a counselor about that, not me."
D. "Let's move on to your medications so we don't get behind."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. In physical assessment, therapeutic communication
means being present with the patient's emotions, offering silence when needed, and
acknowledging their distress without rushing to fix it. That tearful moment might reveal
important information about their coping, support system, or how grief is affecting their
health. Remember that the health history isn't just a checklist—it's a conversation, and
how you respond to emotional moments determines whether the patient trusts you with
the whole story.
Q3: A nurse is taking a social history and wants to assess the patient's alcohol use
without sounding judgmental. Which question is most appropriate?
A. "You don't drink alcohol, do you?"
B. "How many drinks do you have per day?"
, C. "Do you sometimes drink beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverages?" [CORRECT]
D. "You're not an alcoholic, right?"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. In physical assessment, asking about alcohol use in a
non-judgmental, normalized way gets more honest answers than accusatory or closed
questions that invite denial. Framing it as "sometimes" and listing options makes it feel
routine, not interrogative. Remember that patients often underreport substance use, and
your tone and wording can make the difference between getting accurate information
and getting a defensive minimization.
Q4: A nurse is reviewing the components of a complete health history. Which element
would be documented under "past medical history"?
A. The patient's description of their current chest pain
B. Previous surgeries, chronic illnesses, and current medications [CORRECT]
C. The patient's occupation and exercise habits
D. The patient's family history of heart disease
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. In physical assessment, the past medical history
captures everything that's already happened medically—hospitalizations, surgeries,
chronic conditions, and what medications the patient takes now. This is separate from
the history of present illness (current symptoms), social history (lifestyle), and family
history (genetic risks). Remember that organizing the history into clear sections makes
your documentation useful for the whole care team.
Rasmussen Actual Exam Complete Questions &
Rationales | Health Assessment Skills | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Health History & Interviewing Techniques
Q1: A nurse is conducting a health history with a new patient who says, "I've been having
stomach problems for a while." Which response by the nurse best demonstrates an
open-ended question to gather more information?
A. "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
B. "Does it get worse after you eat?"
C. "Tell me more about what you've been experiencing with your stomach." [CORRECT]
D. "On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is the pain?"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. In physical assessment, we always start with
open-ended questions to let patients describe their experience in their own words
before narrowing down with specific questions. "Tell me more" invites the patient to
share details we might not think to ask about, and it builds rapport by showing we're
,genuinely listening. Remember that closed questions have their place for clarifying
details, but the initial exploration works best when the patient leads.
Q2: During a health history interview, a patient becomes tearful when discussing a
recent death in the family. Which response by the nurse demonstrates therapeutic
communication?
A. "Don't cry—let's focus on your physical symptoms."
B. "I can see this is hard for you. Take your time; I'm here to listen." [CORRECT]
C. "You should talk to a counselor about that, not me."
D. "Let's move on to your medications so we don't get behind."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. In physical assessment, therapeutic communication
means being present with the patient's emotions, offering silence when needed, and
acknowledging their distress without rushing to fix it. That tearful moment might reveal
important information about their coping, support system, or how grief is affecting their
health. Remember that the health history isn't just a checklist—it's a conversation, and
how you respond to emotional moments determines whether the patient trusts you with
the whole story.
Q3: A nurse is taking a social history and wants to assess the patient's alcohol use
without sounding judgmental. Which question is most appropriate?
A. "You don't drink alcohol, do you?"
B. "How many drinks do you have per day?"
, C. "Do you sometimes drink beer, wine, or other alcoholic beverages?" [CORRECT]
D. "You're not an alcoholic, right?"
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best answer is C. In physical assessment, asking about alcohol use in a
non-judgmental, normalized way gets more honest answers than accusatory or closed
questions that invite denial. Framing it as "sometimes" and listing options makes it feel
routine, not interrogative. Remember that patients often underreport substance use, and
your tone and wording can make the difference between getting accurate information
and getting a defensive minimization.
Q4: A nurse is reviewing the components of a complete health history. Which element
would be documented under "past medical history"?
A. The patient's description of their current chest pain
B. Previous surgeries, chronic illnesses, and current medications [CORRECT]
C. The patient's occupation and exercise habits
D. The patient's family history of heart disease
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The best answer is B. In physical assessment, the past medical history
captures everything that's already happened medically—hospitalizations, surgeries,
chronic conditions, and what medications the patient takes now. This is separate from
the history of present illness (current symptoms), social history (lifestyle), and family
history (genetic risks). Remember that organizing the history into clear sections makes
your documentation useful for the whole care team.
