1
NR 304 FINAL EXAM (CHAMBERLAIN) NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL
EXAM TEST BANK| NR304 HEALTH ASSESSMENT II EXAM 3
REVIEW WITH 150 REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
NR304 HEALTH ASSESSMENT II – FINAL EXAM PRACTICE TEST
150 Questions with Verified Answers & Complete Rationales
SECTION 1: GENERAL ASSESSMENT, COMMUNICATION & THE NURSING
PROCESS (Questions 1–12)
1. Which assessment by the nurse most likely indicates that a patient is having
difficulty breathing?
A. 18 breaths per minute and inhaled through the mouth
B. 20 breaths per minute and shallow in character
C. 16 breaths per minute and deep in character
D. 28 breaths per minute and noisy
: Answer : D
*Rationale: Tachypnea (respiratory rate >24 breaths/min) combined with noisy
breathing (stridor or audible wheezing) indicates airway narrowing or obstruction
and is a clear sign of respiratory distress. Normal adult respiratory rate is 12–20
breaths/min. While shallow breathing (option B) is also concerning, the
significantly elevated rate of 28 with audible noise is the most obvious indicator
of difficulty.*
2. The nurse is conducting a health history interview. Which statement by the
nurse demonstrates the use of open-ended questioning?
A. "Does your chest pain occur after eating?"
B. "How would you describe your chest discomfort?"
C. "Is your pain sharp or dull?"
D. "Does the pain radiate to your left arm?"
pg. 1
,2
: Answer : B
Rationale: Open-ended questions invite the patient to describe their experience in
their own words, providing richer subjective data. Options A, C, and D are closed-
ended questions that elicit only "yes/no" or limited responses.
3. A patient is admitted with shortness of breath. The nurse performs a focused
assessment. Which type of database is most appropriate for this patient?
A. Complete (total health) database
B. Problem-centered database
C. Follow-up database
D. Emergency database
: Answer : B
Rationale: A problem-centered (or focused) database is used for a limited or short-
term problem. It targets one problem, one cue complex, or one body system and is
appropriate for patients with acute, specific complaints. A complete database
would be used for a comprehensive health picture (e.g., annual physical), while an
emergency database is reserved for life-threatening situations requiring
immediate data collection.
4. After completing an initial assessment on a client, the nurse has charted: Vital
signs: T-100.1°F oral, Apical HR 98 irregular, RR 24 shallow, B/P 128/90, Pulse ox
90% on room air. What type of data is documented?
A. Subjective data
B. Objective data
C. Primary source data
D. Tertiary data
: Answer : B
Rationale: Objective data are measurable, observable findings collected during
physical examination using techniques such as inspection, palpation, percussion,
and auscultation, as well as diagnostic measurements. The vital signs described
are all directly measured values. Subjective data (symptoms) would include the
patient's description of how they feel, such as "I feel short of breath."
pg. 2
,3
5. A nurse is performing an initial assessment on a newly admitted patient. In
which order should the nurse perform the physical examination techniques for
the abdomen?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D. Palpation, auscultation, percussion, inspection
: Answer : B
Rationale: The order for abdominal assessment differs from other body systems.
Inspection is always first. Auscultation follows because percussion and palpation
can stimulate bowel activity and alter bowel sounds, leading to inaccurate
findings. Therefore, the correct sequence is: Inspection → Auscultation →
Percussion → Palpation.
6. The nurse is performing a general survey on a patient. Which of the following
components should be included? (Select all that apply.)
A. Physical appearance
B. Body structure
C. Mobility
D. Behavior
E. 12-lead ECG interpretation
: Answer : A, B, C, D
Rationale: The general survey is a study of the whole person and includes
assessment of physical appearance (age, sex, LOC, skin color, facial features),
body structure (stature, nutrition, symmetry, posture, position), mobility (gait,
ROM), and behavior (facial expression, mood/affect, speech, dress, personal
hygiene). ECG interpretation is a diagnostic test, not part of the general survey.
7. A client states during the health history: "I have this constant, gnawing pain
in my stomach that gets worse when I'm stressed." What component of the
health history is reflected in this statement?
pg. 3
, 4
A. Reason for seeking care
B. Past medical history
C. Family history
D. Functional assessment
: Answer : A
Rationale: The reason for seeking care (formerly called the chief complaint) is a
brief, spontaneous statement in the patient's own words describing the primary
reason for the visit. This patient's description of their stomach pain directly reflects
this component.
8. The nurse is counting a patient's respiratory rate. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Inform the patient that respirations are being counted
B. Count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4
C. Continue holding the wrist after counting the pulse and count for 30 seconds
D. Ask the patient to breathe normally before starting
: Answer : C
Rationale: To avoid the patient consciously altering their breathing pattern, the
nurse should continue to hold the wrist as though still taking the pulse after
completing the pulse count, then count respirations for 30 seconds (multiplying by
2) or for a full minute if any abnormality is suspected. Informing the patient may
cause them to change their breathing pattern.
9. The nurse palpates a pulse and documents it as "3+." How should the nurse
describe this pulse?
A. Weak, thready
B. Normal
C. Full, bounding
D. Absent
: Answer : C
*Rationale: Pulse force is graded on a three-point scale: 3+ = full, bounding; 2+ =
normal; 1+ = weak, thready; 0 = absent. A 3+ pulse indicates increased stroke
pg. 4
NR 304 FINAL EXAM (CHAMBERLAIN) NEWEST 2026 ACTUAL
EXAM TEST BANK| NR304 HEALTH ASSESSMENT II EXAM 3
REVIEW WITH 150 REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS/ ALREADY GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
NR304 HEALTH ASSESSMENT II – FINAL EXAM PRACTICE TEST
150 Questions with Verified Answers & Complete Rationales
SECTION 1: GENERAL ASSESSMENT, COMMUNICATION & THE NURSING
PROCESS (Questions 1–12)
1. Which assessment by the nurse most likely indicates that a patient is having
difficulty breathing?
A. 18 breaths per minute and inhaled through the mouth
B. 20 breaths per minute and shallow in character
C. 16 breaths per minute and deep in character
D. 28 breaths per minute and noisy
: Answer : D
*Rationale: Tachypnea (respiratory rate >24 breaths/min) combined with noisy
breathing (stridor or audible wheezing) indicates airway narrowing or obstruction
and is a clear sign of respiratory distress. Normal adult respiratory rate is 12–20
breaths/min. While shallow breathing (option B) is also concerning, the
significantly elevated rate of 28 with audible noise is the most obvious indicator
of difficulty.*
2. The nurse is conducting a health history interview. Which statement by the
nurse demonstrates the use of open-ended questioning?
A. "Does your chest pain occur after eating?"
B. "How would you describe your chest discomfort?"
C. "Is your pain sharp or dull?"
D. "Does the pain radiate to your left arm?"
pg. 1
,2
: Answer : B
Rationale: Open-ended questions invite the patient to describe their experience in
their own words, providing richer subjective data. Options A, C, and D are closed-
ended questions that elicit only "yes/no" or limited responses.
3. A patient is admitted with shortness of breath. The nurse performs a focused
assessment. Which type of database is most appropriate for this patient?
A. Complete (total health) database
B. Problem-centered database
C. Follow-up database
D. Emergency database
: Answer : B
Rationale: A problem-centered (or focused) database is used for a limited or short-
term problem. It targets one problem, one cue complex, or one body system and is
appropriate for patients with acute, specific complaints. A complete database
would be used for a comprehensive health picture (e.g., annual physical), while an
emergency database is reserved for life-threatening situations requiring
immediate data collection.
4. After completing an initial assessment on a client, the nurse has charted: Vital
signs: T-100.1°F oral, Apical HR 98 irregular, RR 24 shallow, B/P 128/90, Pulse ox
90% on room air. What type of data is documented?
A. Subjective data
B. Objective data
C. Primary source data
D. Tertiary data
: Answer : B
Rationale: Objective data are measurable, observable findings collected during
physical examination using techniques such as inspection, palpation, percussion,
and auscultation, as well as diagnostic measurements. The vital signs described
are all directly measured values. Subjective data (symptoms) would include the
patient's description of how they feel, such as "I feel short of breath."
pg. 2
,3
5. A nurse is performing an initial assessment on a newly admitted patient. In
which order should the nurse perform the physical examination techniques for
the abdomen?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D. Palpation, auscultation, percussion, inspection
: Answer : B
Rationale: The order for abdominal assessment differs from other body systems.
Inspection is always first. Auscultation follows because percussion and palpation
can stimulate bowel activity and alter bowel sounds, leading to inaccurate
findings. Therefore, the correct sequence is: Inspection → Auscultation →
Percussion → Palpation.
6. The nurse is performing a general survey on a patient. Which of the following
components should be included? (Select all that apply.)
A. Physical appearance
B. Body structure
C. Mobility
D. Behavior
E. 12-lead ECG interpretation
: Answer : A, B, C, D
Rationale: The general survey is a study of the whole person and includes
assessment of physical appearance (age, sex, LOC, skin color, facial features),
body structure (stature, nutrition, symmetry, posture, position), mobility (gait,
ROM), and behavior (facial expression, mood/affect, speech, dress, personal
hygiene). ECG interpretation is a diagnostic test, not part of the general survey.
7. A client states during the health history: "I have this constant, gnawing pain
in my stomach that gets worse when I'm stressed." What component of the
health history is reflected in this statement?
pg. 3
, 4
A. Reason for seeking care
B. Past medical history
C. Family history
D. Functional assessment
: Answer : A
Rationale: The reason for seeking care (formerly called the chief complaint) is a
brief, spontaneous statement in the patient's own words describing the primary
reason for the visit. This patient's description of their stomach pain directly reflects
this component.
8. The nurse is counting a patient's respiratory rate. Which action is most
appropriate?
A. Inform the patient that respirations are being counted
B. Count for 15 seconds and multiply by 4
C. Continue holding the wrist after counting the pulse and count for 30 seconds
D. Ask the patient to breathe normally before starting
: Answer : C
Rationale: To avoid the patient consciously altering their breathing pattern, the
nurse should continue to hold the wrist as though still taking the pulse after
completing the pulse count, then count respirations for 30 seconds (multiplying by
2) or for a full minute if any abnormality is suspected. Informing the patient may
cause them to change their breathing pattern.
9. The nurse palpates a pulse and documents it as "3+." How should the nurse
describe this pulse?
A. Weak, thready
B. Normal
C. Full, bounding
D. Absent
: Answer : C
*Rationale: Pulse force is graded on a three-point scale: 3+ = full, bounding; 2+ =
normal; 1+ = weak, thready; 0 = absent. A 3+ pulse indicates increased stroke
pg. 4
