PERP LANIF 152 SRUN
Penn State University
PSU
Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing · BSN Program
NURSING
MAKING LIFE BETTER
EST. 1855
NURS 251 — Final Exam Preparation
H E A LT H A SS E SS M E N T · V I TA L S I G N S · C R A N I A L N E R V E S · H E A RT/ LU N G S O U N D S · I N T E G U M E N TA R Y ·
M U S CU LO S K E L E TA L · G U
INSTITUTION Penn State University COURSE CODE NURS 251
PROGRAM Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE NURS 251 — Comprehensive Final Exam TOTAL QUESTIONS 40 Questions
Preparation
COURSE TITLE Foundations of Professional Nursing · FORMAT Multiple Choice / True-False — Select the
Health Assessment Across the Lifespan Single Best Answer
STUDY GUIDE INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Questions cover the complete health assessment: vital signs, cranial nerves, heart/lung sounds, integumentary,
musculoskeletal, and genitourinary systems.
▸ Select the single best answer based on health assessment fundamentals and nursing process.
▸ Pay careful attention to percussion sounds, BP cuff sizing errors, and cranial nerve functions.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for comprehensive final exam preparation.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT · VITAL SIGNS · CRANIAL NERVES · HEART/LUNG Questions
SOUNDS · INTEGUMENTARY · MSK · GU 1 – 40
1. What is health assessment?
A. Only measuring vital signs
B. Gathering information about the health status of the patient, analyzing and synthesizing those data, making
judgments about nursing interventions, and evaluating patient care outcomes
C. Administering medications and documenting responses
D. Performing only the physical examination
CORRECT ANSWER B. Gathering information about the health status of the patient, analyzing and synthesizing those
data, making judgments about nursing interventions, and evaluating patient care outcomes
RATIONALE Health assessment is a comprehensive process that includes collecting subjective data (health history),
objective data (physical exam), analyzing the data to identify nursing diagnoses, planning interventions, and
evaluating outcomes. It encompasses the entire nursing process—not just vital signs or physical examination
alone. The goal is to collect data to prioritize findings and implement a nursing care plan.
, 2. What is the difference between subjective and objective data?
A. Subjective: measurable vital signs; Objective: patient's reported symptoms
B. Subjective: information the patient tells you (health history, chief complaint, symptoms); Objective: data you can
observe (physical exam, labs, radiologic findings)
C. There is no difference—both terms are interchangeable
D. Subjective data is always more important than objective data
CORRECT ANSWER B. Subjective: information the patient tells you (health history, chief complaint, symptoms); Objective:
data you can observe (physical exam, labs, radiologic findings)
RATIONALE Subjective data (symptoms) are what the patient reports—they cannot be independently verified. Objective
data (signs) are measurable and observable findings. The health history is subjective; the physical assessment
is objective. If data is not documented, it was not done—documentation is essential for legal requirements
and communication. Always validate data and document accurately.
3. What is the difference between a nursing diagnosis and a medical diagnosis?
A. There is no difference—they are interchangeable
B. Nursing diagnosis: evaluates the patient's response to potential or actual disease; Medical diagnosis: evaluates the
cause of a disease
C. Nursing diagnosis focuses on the disease; Medical diagnosis focuses on the response
D. Only physicians can make nursing diagnoses
CORRECT ANSWER B. Nursing diagnosis: evaluates the patient's response to potential or actual disease; Medical
diagnosis: evaluates the cause of a disease
RATIONALE A medical diagnosis identifies a disease process (e.g., pneumonia). A nursing diagnosis identifies the patient's
RESPONSE to that disease (e.g., impaired gas exchange, ineffective airway clearance). Nurses do not diagnose
diseases—they diagnose and treat human responses. This distinction is fundamental to nursing scope of
practice and the nursing process (Assessment, Analysis/Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation).
4. What are the four assessment techniques in the correct order for most body systems?
A. Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation, Inspection
B. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
C. Palpation, Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion
D. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
CORRECT ANSWER B. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
RATIONALE The standard order for most body systems is Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation. The ABDOMEN is
the EXCEPTION: Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation—because palpation and percussion can
stimulate peristalsis and alter bowel sounds. Never palpate pulsating masses (could be an aneurysm). If the
patient reports pain, stop palpation. Deep palpation (5–8 cm) is used to assess organs deep within body
cavities.
Penn State University
PSU
Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing · BSN Program
NURSING
MAKING LIFE BETTER
EST. 1855
NURS 251 — Final Exam Preparation
H E A LT H A SS E SS M E N T · V I TA L S I G N S · C R A N I A L N E R V E S · H E A RT/ LU N G S O U N D S · I N T E G U M E N TA R Y ·
M U S CU LO S K E L E TA L · G U
INSTITUTION Penn State University COURSE CODE NURS 251
PROGRAM Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) ACADEMIC YEAR
EXAM TITLE NURS 251 — Comprehensive Final Exam TOTAL QUESTIONS 40 Questions
Preparation
COURSE TITLE Foundations of Professional Nursing · FORMAT Multiple Choice / True-False — Select the
Health Assessment Across the Lifespan Single Best Answer
STUDY GUIDE INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Questions cover the complete health assessment: vital signs, cranial nerves, heart/lung sounds, integumentary,
musculoskeletal, and genitourinary systems.
▸ Select the single best answer based on health assessment fundamentals and nursing process.
▸ Pay careful attention to percussion sounds, BP cuff sizing errors, and cranial nerve functions.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for comprehensive final exam preparation.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT · VITAL SIGNS · CRANIAL NERVES · HEART/LUNG Questions
SOUNDS · INTEGUMENTARY · MSK · GU 1 – 40
1. What is health assessment?
A. Only measuring vital signs
B. Gathering information about the health status of the patient, analyzing and synthesizing those data, making
judgments about nursing interventions, and evaluating patient care outcomes
C. Administering medications and documenting responses
D. Performing only the physical examination
CORRECT ANSWER B. Gathering information about the health status of the patient, analyzing and synthesizing those
data, making judgments about nursing interventions, and evaluating patient care outcomes
RATIONALE Health assessment is a comprehensive process that includes collecting subjective data (health history),
objective data (physical exam), analyzing the data to identify nursing diagnoses, planning interventions, and
evaluating outcomes. It encompasses the entire nursing process—not just vital signs or physical examination
alone. The goal is to collect data to prioritize findings and implement a nursing care plan.
, 2. What is the difference between subjective and objective data?
A. Subjective: measurable vital signs; Objective: patient's reported symptoms
B. Subjective: information the patient tells you (health history, chief complaint, symptoms); Objective: data you can
observe (physical exam, labs, radiologic findings)
C. There is no difference—both terms are interchangeable
D. Subjective data is always more important than objective data
CORRECT ANSWER B. Subjective: information the patient tells you (health history, chief complaint, symptoms); Objective:
data you can observe (physical exam, labs, radiologic findings)
RATIONALE Subjective data (symptoms) are what the patient reports—they cannot be independently verified. Objective
data (signs) are measurable and observable findings. The health history is subjective; the physical assessment
is objective. If data is not documented, it was not done—documentation is essential for legal requirements
and communication. Always validate data and document accurately.
3. What is the difference between a nursing diagnosis and a medical diagnosis?
A. There is no difference—they are interchangeable
B. Nursing diagnosis: evaluates the patient's response to potential or actual disease; Medical diagnosis: evaluates the
cause of a disease
C. Nursing diagnosis focuses on the disease; Medical diagnosis focuses on the response
D. Only physicians can make nursing diagnoses
CORRECT ANSWER B. Nursing diagnosis: evaluates the patient's response to potential or actual disease; Medical
diagnosis: evaluates the cause of a disease
RATIONALE A medical diagnosis identifies a disease process (e.g., pneumonia). A nursing diagnosis identifies the patient's
RESPONSE to that disease (e.g., impaired gas exchange, ineffective airway clearance). Nurses do not diagnose
diseases—they diagnose and treat human responses. This distinction is fundamental to nursing scope of
practice and the nursing process (Assessment, Analysis/Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation).
4. What are the four assessment techniques in the correct order for most body systems?
A. Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation, Inspection
B. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
C. Palpation, Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion
D. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
CORRECT ANSWER B. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
RATIONALE The standard order for most body systems is Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation. The ABDOMEN is
the EXCEPTION: Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation—because palpation and percussion can
stimulate peristalsis and alter bowel sounds. Never palpate pulsating masses (could be an aneurysm). If the
patient reports pain, stop palpation. Deep palpation (5–8 cm) is used to assess organs deep within body
cavities.
