GCU NUR 634 Midterm EXAM LATEST
2025/2026 ACTUAL SUMMER-FALL
SEMESTER EXAM | GRADED A+ | Questions
with Detailed Rationales
Question 1:
What is the most appropriate opening question when beginning a patient history
interview?
• A) "Are you having any pain?"
• B) "Tell me about your health concerns today."
• C) "What medications are you taking?"
• D) "Do you have any allergies?"
Rationale: An open-ended question allows the patient to describe their concerns in
their own words and provides the most complete information. It also allows the
patient to guide the initial narrative. The other options are closed-ended and limit
the patient's response.
Question 2:
Which of the following is an example of a leading question that should be
avoided?
• A) "How would you describe your pain?"
• B) "When did the pain start?"
• C) "The pain is in your chest, right?"
• D) "What makes the pain better?"
Rationale: A leading question suggests the answer to the patient. "The pain is in
your chest, right?" suggests the answer and may not accurately reflect the patient's
,actual experience. Leading questions can bias the patient's response and
compromise the accuracy of the history.
Question 3:
What is the correct order of the physical examination?
• A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
• B) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
• C) Inspection, auscultation, palpation, percussion
• D) Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
Rationale: The classic order is inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
For the abdomen, auscultation is performed before palpation and percussion to
avoid altering bowel sounds. Inspection should always be the first step in any
physical examination.
Question 4:
Which finding is a "red flag" regarding a patient's presenting symptoms that
indicates the need for urgent evaluation?
• A) Pale, cool skin
• B) Pulsation in the abdomen
• C) Distended bladder
• D) Age over 50 with new-onset headache
Rationale: Red flags are signs or symptoms that indicate a potentially serious
underlying condition. Age over 50 with a new-onset headache is a red flag that
may indicate temporal arteritis or intracranial pathology. Other red flags include
sudden severe headache, focal neurological deficits, and headache with fever.
Question 5:
The mnemonic "PQRST" is used to assess which symptom?
, • A) Rash
• B) Pain
• C) Dizziness
• D) Nausea
Rationale: The PQRST mnemonic is used for pain assessment: P =
Provocation/Palliation (what makes it better or worse), Q = Quality
(characteristics), R = Region/Radiation (location and spread), S = Severity (scale
0-10), T = Timing (onset, duration, frequency).
Question 6:
What does the "S" in the PQRST pain assessment stand for?
• A) Site
• B) Severity
• C) Source
• D) Sensation
Rationale: The "S" in PQRST stands for Severity, typically rated on a 0-10 scale.
This helps quantify the intensity of the pain and monitor response to treatment. The
other components include Provocation/Palliation, Quality, Region/Radiation, and
Timing.
Question 7:
Which question is most appropriate to assess a patient's alcohol consumption?
• A) "Do you drink alcohol?"
• B) "How much do you drink?"
• C) "On average, how many alcoholic drinks do you have per week?"
• D) "Do you have a drinking problem?"
Rationale: A specific, non-judgmental question about the average number of drinks
per week provides more accurate information. The CAGE questionnaire (Cut
, down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener) is a validated screening tool for alcohol use
disorder. Non-judgmental questions reduce defensiveness.
Question 8:
The CAGE questionnaire is used to screen for:
• A) Depression
• B) Alcohol use disorder
• C) Anxiety
• D) Substance abuse
Rationale: The CAGE questionnaire is a brief screening tool for alcohol use
disorder: C = Cut down (ever felt you should cut down), A = Annoyed (people
annoyed by your drinking), G = Guilty (felt guilty about drinking), E = Eye-opener
(needed a drink in the morning). Two or more positive responses suggest
problematic drinking.
Question 9:
When taking a sexual history, which question is most appropriate?
• A) "Are you sexually active?"
• B) "Do you have sex with men, women, or both?"
• C) "Are you promiscuous?"
• D) "Do you have any STDs?"
Rationale: Asking "Do you have sex with men, women, or both?" is a non-
judgmental, inclusive question that allows the patient to describe their sexual
orientation and practices. It is important for assessing risk factors for STIs and
providing appropriate counseling.
Question 10:
The patient's family history should include which generations?
2025/2026 ACTUAL SUMMER-FALL
SEMESTER EXAM | GRADED A+ | Questions
with Detailed Rationales
Question 1:
What is the most appropriate opening question when beginning a patient history
interview?
• A) "Are you having any pain?"
• B) "Tell me about your health concerns today."
• C) "What medications are you taking?"
• D) "Do you have any allergies?"
Rationale: An open-ended question allows the patient to describe their concerns in
their own words and provides the most complete information. It also allows the
patient to guide the initial narrative. The other options are closed-ended and limit
the patient's response.
Question 2:
Which of the following is an example of a leading question that should be
avoided?
• A) "How would you describe your pain?"
• B) "When did the pain start?"
• C) "The pain is in your chest, right?"
• D) "What makes the pain better?"
Rationale: A leading question suggests the answer to the patient. "The pain is in
your chest, right?" suggests the answer and may not accurately reflect the patient's
,actual experience. Leading questions can bias the patient's response and
compromise the accuracy of the history.
Question 3:
What is the correct order of the physical examination?
• A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
• B) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
• C) Inspection, auscultation, palpation, percussion
• D) Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
Rationale: The classic order is inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
For the abdomen, auscultation is performed before palpation and percussion to
avoid altering bowel sounds. Inspection should always be the first step in any
physical examination.
Question 4:
Which finding is a "red flag" regarding a patient's presenting symptoms that
indicates the need for urgent evaluation?
• A) Pale, cool skin
• B) Pulsation in the abdomen
• C) Distended bladder
• D) Age over 50 with new-onset headache
Rationale: Red flags are signs or symptoms that indicate a potentially serious
underlying condition. Age over 50 with a new-onset headache is a red flag that
may indicate temporal arteritis or intracranial pathology. Other red flags include
sudden severe headache, focal neurological deficits, and headache with fever.
Question 5:
The mnemonic "PQRST" is used to assess which symptom?
, • A) Rash
• B) Pain
• C) Dizziness
• D) Nausea
Rationale: The PQRST mnemonic is used for pain assessment: P =
Provocation/Palliation (what makes it better or worse), Q = Quality
(characteristics), R = Region/Radiation (location and spread), S = Severity (scale
0-10), T = Timing (onset, duration, frequency).
Question 6:
What does the "S" in the PQRST pain assessment stand for?
• A) Site
• B) Severity
• C) Source
• D) Sensation
Rationale: The "S" in PQRST stands for Severity, typically rated on a 0-10 scale.
This helps quantify the intensity of the pain and monitor response to treatment. The
other components include Provocation/Palliation, Quality, Region/Radiation, and
Timing.
Question 7:
Which question is most appropriate to assess a patient's alcohol consumption?
• A) "Do you drink alcohol?"
• B) "How much do you drink?"
• C) "On average, how many alcoholic drinks do you have per week?"
• D) "Do you have a drinking problem?"
Rationale: A specific, non-judgmental question about the average number of drinks
per week provides more accurate information. The CAGE questionnaire (Cut
, down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener) is a validated screening tool for alcohol use
disorder. Non-judgmental questions reduce defensiveness.
Question 8:
The CAGE questionnaire is used to screen for:
• A) Depression
• B) Alcohol use disorder
• C) Anxiety
• D) Substance abuse
Rationale: The CAGE questionnaire is a brief screening tool for alcohol use
disorder: C = Cut down (ever felt you should cut down), A = Annoyed (people
annoyed by your drinking), G = Guilty (felt guilty about drinking), E = Eye-opener
(needed a drink in the morning). Two or more positive responses suggest
problematic drinking.
Question 9:
When taking a sexual history, which question is most appropriate?
• A) "Are you sexually active?"
• B) "Do you have sex with men, women, or both?"
• C) "Are you promiscuous?"
• D) "Do you have any STDs?"
Rationale: Asking "Do you have sex with men, women, or both?" is a non-
judgmental, inclusive question that allows the patient to describe their sexual
orientation and practices. It is important for assessing risk factors for STIs and
providing appropriate counseling.
Question 10:
The patient's family history should include which generations?
