NUR 2180 PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION 2026
DETAILED HEALTH ASSESSMENT
SOLUTIONS PROFESSIONAL GUIDE
◉ Discussion phase of interview.
Answer: ◦ Facilitate, collect, and record health history and data.
◦ Keep it patient-centered—that is, patients share their concerns,
beliefs, and values in their own words
.◦ They are doing most of the talking
◦ Nurse prompts questions and takes brief notes.
◦ Don't focus on computer/paper
◉ Summary phase of interview.
Answer: ◦ Summarize main points.
◦ Allow for clarification of data and provides validation of accurate
understanding.
◦ Relate gathered data to health promotion, disease prevention, or
resolution of problems
◦ Provide closure
,◉ Most Important factor for successful interview.
Answer: Nurse's communication skills
◉ Physical Setting for Interview.
Answer: - quiet, private, comfortable, without distractions
- Gown until physical exam
- Room temperature and personal space is given
- minimize noises
◉ Professionalism in interview.
Answer: - Active listening to show interest and understanding
- no judgement or faces
- avoid focusing on documentation
- define words if needed
- Speak clearly with eye contact and ask one question at a time
◉ Patients in interview.
Answer: - can they sit comfortably through entire interview time?
- consider patient age, mental status, and physical status
- Want them to be alert with no discomfort
◉ Types of questions.
, Answer: - Open-Ended- "How are you feeling today?"
- Close-ended- requires one or two word answers
- Directive questions- "Describe the sputum in your cough"
- Clarification when needed- "What do you mean by that?"
- Restatement- "You said... is that correct?"
◉ HPI.
Answer: history of present illness
◉ ROS.
Answer: review of systems
◉ HPI further investigation.
Answer: OLDCARTS
O(onset) L(location) D(duration) C(characteristics) A(aggravating
and alleviating factors) R(related symptoms) T(treatments)
S(severity)
◉ Components of the Comprehensive Health History.
Answer: Biographic data - initial visit
Reason for seeking care
History of Present Illness (HPI)
CERTIFICATION EVALUATION 2026
DETAILED HEALTH ASSESSMENT
SOLUTIONS PROFESSIONAL GUIDE
◉ Discussion phase of interview.
Answer: ◦ Facilitate, collect, and record health history and data.
◦ Keep it patient-centered—that is, patients share their concerns,
beliefs, and values in their own words
.◦ They are doing most of the talking
◦ Nurse prompts questions and takes brief notes.
◦ Don't focus on computer/paper
◉ Summary phase of interview.
Answer: ◦ Summarize main points.
◦ Allow for clarification of data and provides validation of accurate
understanding.
◦ Relate gathered data to health promotion, disease prevention, or
resolution of problems
◦ Provide closure
,◉ Most Important factor for successful interview.
Answer: Nurse's communication skills
◉ Physical Setting for Interview.
Answer: - quiet, private, comfortable, without distractions
- Gown until physical exam
- Room temperature and personal space is given
- minimize noises
◉ Professionalism in interview.
Answer: - Active listening to show interest and understanding
- no judgement or faces
- avoid focusing on documentation
- define words if needed
- Speak clearly with eye contact and ask one question at a time
◉ Patients in interview.
Answer: - can they sit comfortably through entire interview time?
- consider patient age, mental status, and physical status
- Want them to be alert with no discomfort
◉ Types of questions.
, Answer: - Open-Ended- "How are you feeling today?"
- Close-ended- requires one or two word answers
- Directive questions- "Describe the sputum in your cough"
- Clarification when needed- "What do you mean by that?"
- Restatement- "You said... is that correct?"
◉ HPI.
Answer: history of present illness
◉ ROS.
Answer: review of systems
◉ HPI further investigation.
Answer: OLDCARTS
O(onset) L(location) D(duration) C(characteristics) A(aggravating
and alleviating factors) R(related symptoms) T(treatments)
S(severity)
◉ Components of the Comprehensive Health History.
Answer: Biographic data - initial visit
Reason for seeking care
History of Present Illness (HPI)
