Galen NSG 3160 Exam 1 – Health Assessment – (2026) Actual Questions &
Answers
Section 1: The Nursing Process & Critical Thinking (Questions 1-20)
Question 1: A nurse precepting a student nurse asks, "What is the most important
step in the critical-thinking process?"
A) Clustering subjective and objective data
B) Analyzing health data
C) Using evidence-based assessment techniques
D) Prioritizing health concerns
Answer: C) Using evidence-based assessment techniques
Rationale: Evidence-based techniques are supported by research that
demonstrates effectiveness, providing the safest and most current approaches to
promote patient health. While clustering data, analyzing health data, and
prioritizing concerns are all steps in critical thinking, using evidence-based
techniques is foundational to the entire process .
,Question 2: A nurse in a clinic is interviewing a client who will undergo diagnostic
testing. The nurse should ask about a client's potential allergies during which
phase of the nursing process?
A) Implementation
B) Assessment
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
Answer: B) Assessment
Rationale: The nursing process begins with assessment, which involves collecting
comprehensive data about the client's health status. Asking about allergies is a
critical part of data collection that occurs during the assessment phase, before
planning or implementation .
Question 3: A patient admitted to the hospital with asthma has the following
problems identified. Which problem is a first-level priority?
A) Ineffective self-health management
B) Impaired gas exchange
,C) Readiness for enhanced spiritual well-being
D) Risk for infection
Answer: B) Impaired gas exchange
Rationale: First-level priority problems are emergent, life-threatening, and
immediate. Impaired gas exchange threatens airway and breathing, making it the
priority. Third-level priorities (ineffective self-health management, wellness
diagnoses) are addressed after urgent problems. Second-level priorities (risk for
infection) require prompt intervention but are not immediately life-threatening .
Question 4: The nurse reassesses a client's temperature 45 minutes after
administering acetaminophen. This is an example of what type of assessment?
A) Routine
B) Intermittent
C) Terminal
D) Ongoing
Answer: D) Ongoing
, Rationale: Ongoing assessment refers to the continuous evaluation of a patient's
response to interventions. Reassessing temperature after administering a
antipyretic evaluates the effectiveness of the medication and is a key component
of the evaluation phase of the nursing process .
Question 5: The clinic nurse is caring for a patient who has been coming to the
clinic weekly for blood pressure checks since changing medications 2 months ago.
What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?
A) Obtain a complete health history on the patient before checking her BP
B) Collect a follow-up database and then check the patient's BP
C) Ask the patient to read her health record and indicate any changes since her
last visit
D) Check the patient's BP
Answer: B) Collect a follow-up database and then check the patient's BP
Rationale: A follow-up database is used to monitor short-term or chronic health
problems at regular intervals. This patient requires evaluation of her blood
Answers
Section 1: The Nursing Process & Critical Thinking (Questions 1-20)
Question 1: A nurse precepting a student nurse asks, "What is the most important
step in the critical-thinking process?"
A) Clustering subjective and objective data
B) Analyzing health data
C) Using evidence-based assessment techniques
D) Prioritizing health concerns
Answer: C) Using evidence-based assessment techniques
Rationale: Evidence-based techniques are supported by research that
demonstrates effectiveness, providing the safest and most current approaches to
promote patient health. While clustering data, analyzing health data, and
prioritizing concerns are all steps in critical thinking, using evidence-based
techniques is foundational to the entire process .
,Question 2: A nurse in a clinic is interviewing a client who will undergo diagnostic
testing. The nurse should ask about a client's potential allergies during which
phase of the nursing process?
A) Implementation
B) Assessment
C) Planning
D) Evaluation
Answer: B) Assessment
Rationale: The nursing process begins with assessment, which involves collecting
comprehensive data about the client's health status. Asking about allergies is a
critical part of data collection that occurs during the assessment phase, before
planning or implementation .
Question 3: A patient admitted to the hospital with asthma has the following
problems identified. Which problem is a first-level priority?
A) Ineffective self-health management
B) Impaired gas exchange
,C) Readiness for enhanced spiritual well-being
D) Risk for infection
Answer: B) Impaired gas exchange
Rationale: First-level priority problems are emergent, life-threatening, and
immediate. Impaired gas exchange threatens airway and breathing, making it the
priority. Third-level priorities (ineffective self-health management, wellness
diagnoses) are addressed after urgent problems. Second-level priorities (risk for
infection) require prompt intervention but are not immediately life-threatening .
Question 4: The nurse reassesses a client's temperature 45 minutes after
administering acetaminophen. This is an example of what type of assessment?
A) Routine
B) Intermittent
C) Terminal
D) Ongoing
Answer: D) Ongoing
, Rationale: Ongoing assessment refers to the continuous evaluation of a patient's
response to interventions. Reassessing temperature after administering a
antipyretic evaluates the effectiveness of the medication and is a key component
of the evaluation phase of the nursing process .
Question 5: The clinic nurse is caring for a patient who has been coming to the
clinic weekly for blood pressure checks since changing medications 2 months ago.
What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?
A) Obtain a complete health history on the patient before checking her BP
B) Collect a follow-up database and then check the patient's BP
C) Ask the patient to read her health record and indicate any changes since her
last visit
D) Check the patient's BP
Answer: B) Collect a follow-up database and then check the patient's BP
Rationale: A follow-up database is used to monitor short-term or chronic health
problems at regular intervals. This patient requires evaluation of her blood
