BATES NURSING GUIDE TO PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION AND HISTORY TAKING
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
CLINICAL ASSESSMENT AND PATIENT
INTERVIEW SKILLS
◉ How should a nurse more appropriately elicit information about
activity intolerance from a 72-year-old client with congestive heart
failure? Answer: The nurse should ask open-ended questions, such
as 'Can you tell me about any difficulties you've had with activities
since our last visit?'
◉ In which phase of the interview is a nurse interpreting and
validating information from an older adult client experiencing
functional decline? Answer: The nurse is in the working phase of the
interview.
◉ What type of question should a nurse ask to obtain the most
objective assessment data related to health promotion and
maintenance? Answer: The nurse should ask specific questions like
'Could you describe how you perform self-breast exams?'
,◉ What action by the nurse reflects the purpose of the
preintroductory phase of the nursing interview? Answer: Reviewing
the client's past medical records.
◉ What nursing activities are performed when collecting
information regarding an individual's medications? Answer:
Differentiate between adverse and allergic responses, validate
names and dosages, assess understanding of medication purpose,
and document any adverse effects.
◉ What type of data does the nurse obtain from the client during the
interview process? Answer: Primary data.
◉ What is the priority reason for analyzing data collected in the
closing phase of the interview? Answer: Identifying the primary
problems or patterns of concern.
◉ What statement indicates the duration of pain in a health history?
Answer: 'The pain has lasted for more than six days.'
◉ What type of data source is an adult child providing answers for a
non-communicative client? Answer: Secondary data source
◉ Which part of the CAGE questionnaire addresses the consumption
of alcoholic beverages in the morning? Answer: Eye-openers
,◉ What information is considered identifying data in a health
history? Answer: Age, Gender, Occupation, Date of birth
◉ What would be considered objective data during a health history
assessment? Answer: Skin is pale and cool; Client appears
disheveled.
◉ What should be included when collecting data on the history of
the present illness? Answer: Current medications
◉ What statement indicates a subjective symptom reported by a
client? Answer: 'My right upper abdomen hurts.'
◉ What is an example of a health history statement that indicates a
recent symptom? Answer: 'I started coughing a week ago.'
◉ What type of data is a client's emotional state during an
assessment? Answer: Subjective data
◉ What does the term 'eye-openers' refer to in the context of alcohol
consumption? Answer: Drinking alcoholic beverages in the morning
to alleviate withdrawal symptoms.
, ◉ What is the significance of documenting a client's appearance of
reliability in a health history? Answer: It helps assess the credibility
of the information provided.
◉ What type of data is indicated by a client denying pain? Answer:
Subjective data
◉ What is the purpose of the CAGE questionnaire in health history
assessments? Answer: To screen for potential alcohol use disorders.
◉ What does the term 'disheveled' indicate in a health assessment?
Answer: A lack of neatness or order in appearance.
◉ What is the relevance of documenting the client's health concerns
during a health history? Answer: It provides insight into the client's
perceived health issues.
◉ What does it mean if a client is described as 'emotionally labile'?
Answer: The client exhibits rapid and extreme changes in emotional
state.
◉ What is the role of a nurse when taking a comprehensive health
history? Answer: To gather detailed information about the client's
health status.
EXAMINATION AND HISTORY TAKING
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE 2026
CLINICAL ASSESSMENT AND PATIENT
INTERVIEW SKILLS
◉ How should a nurse more appropriately elicit information about
activity intolerance from a 72-year-old client with congestive heart
failure? Answer: The nurse should ask open-ended questions, such
as 'Can you tell me about any difficulties you've had with activities
since our last visit?'
◉ In which phase of the interview is a nurse interpreting and
validating information from an older adult client experiencing
functional decline? Answer: The nurse is in the working phase of the
interview.
◉ What type of question should a nurse ask to obtain the most
objective assessment data related to health promotion and
maintenance? Answer: The nurse should ask specific questions like
'Could you describe how you perform self-breast exams?'
,◉ What action by the nurse reflects the purpose of the
preintroductory phase of the nursing interview? Answer: Reviewing
the client's past medical records.
◉ What nursing activities are performed when collecting
information regarding an individual's medications? Answer:
Differentiate between adverse and allergic responses, validate
names and dosages, assess understanding of medication purpose,
and document any adverse effects.
◉ What type of data does the nurse obtain from the client during the
interview process? Answer: Primary data.
◉ What is the priority reason for analyzing data collected in the
closing phase of the interview? Answer: Identifying the primary
problems or patterns of concern.
◉ What statement indicates the duration of pain in a health history?
Answer: 'The pain has lasted for more than six days.'
◉ What type of data source is an adult child providing answers for a
non-communicative client? Answer: Secondary data source
◉ Which part of the CAGE questionnaire addresses the consumption
of alcoholic beverages in the morning? Answer: Eye-openers
,◉ What information is considered identifying data in a health
history? Answer: Age, Gender, Occupation, Date of birth
◉ What would be considered objective data during a health history
assessment? Answer: Skin is pale and cool; Client appears
disheveled.
◉ What should be included when collecting data on the history of
the present illness? Answer: Current medications
◉ What statement indicates a subjective symptom reported by a
client? Answer: 'My right upper abdomen hurts.'
◉ What is an example of a health history statement that indicates a
recent symptom? Answer: 'I started coughing a week ago.'
◉ What type of data is a client's emotional state during an
assessment? Answer: Subjective data
◉ What does the term 'eye-openers' refer to in the context of alcohol
consumption? Answer: Drinking alcoholic beverages in the morning
to alleviate withdrawal symptoms.
, ◉ What is the significance of documenting a client's appearance of
reliability in a health history? Answer: It helps assess the credibility
of the information provided.
◉ What type of data is indicated by a client denying pain? Answer:
Subjective data
◉ What is the purpose of the CAGE questionnaire in health history
assessments? Answer: To screen for potential alcohol use disorders.
◉ What does the term 'disheveled' indicate in a health assessment?
Answer: A lack of neatness or order in appearance.
◉ What is the relevance of documenting the client's health concerns
during a health history? Answer: It provides insight into the client's
perceived health issues.
◉ What does it mean if a client is described as 'emotionally labile'?
Answer: The client exhibits rapid and extreme changes in emotional
state.
◉ What is the role of a nurse when taking a comprehensive health
history? Answer: To gather detailed information about the client's
health status.
