Jarvis: Physical Examination & Health Assessment, 7th Edition
Chapter 04: The Complete Health History
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is preparing to conduct a health history. Which of these statements best describes
the purpose of a health history?
a. To provide an opportunity for interaction between the patient and the nurse
b. To provide a form for obtaining the patient’s biographic information
c. To document the normal and abnormal findings of a physical assessment
d. To provide a database of subjective information about the patient’s past and current
health
ANS: D
The purpose of the health history is to collect subjective data—what the person says about
him or herself. The other options are not correct.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: p. 49
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
2. When the nurse is evaluating the reliability of a patient’s responses, which of these statements
would be correct? The patient:
a.Has a history of drug abuse and therefore is not reliable.
b.Provided consistent information and therefore is reliable.
c.Smiled throughout interview and therefore is assumed reliable.
d.Would not answer questions concerning stress and therefore is not reliable.
ANS: B
A reliable person always gives the same answers, even when questions are rephrased or are
repeated later in the interview. The other statements are not correct.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) REF: p. 49
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
3. A 59-year-old patient tells the nurse that he has ulcerative colitis. He has been having “black
stools” for the last 24 hours. How would the nurse best document his reason for seeking care?
a. J.M. is a 59-year-old man seeking treatment for ulcerative colitis.
b. J.M. came into the clinic complaining of having black stools for the past 24 hours.
c. J.M. is a 59-year-old man who states that he has ulcerative colitis and wants it
checked.
d. J.M. is a 59-year-old man who states that he has been having “black stools” for the
past 24 hours.
ANS: D
,Jarvis: Physical Examination & Health Assessment, 7th Edition
Chapter 04: The Complete Health History
The reason for seeking care is a brief spontaneous statement in the person’s own words that
describes the reason for the visit. It states one (possibly two) signs or symptoms and their
duration. It is enclosed in quotation marks to indicate the person’s exact words.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) REF: p. 50
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
4. A patient tells the nurse that she has had abdominal pain for the past week. What would be the
nurse’s best response?
a. “Can you point to where it hurts?”
b. “We’ll talk more about that later in the interview.”
c. “What have you had to eat in the last 24 hours?”
d. “Have you ever had any surgeries on your abdomen?”
ANS: A
A final summary of any symptom the person has should include, along with seven other
critical characteristics, “Location: specific.” The person is asked to point to the location.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) REF: p. 50
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
5. A 29-year-old woman tells the nurse that she has “excruciating pain” in her back. Which
would be the nurse’s appropriate response to the woman’s statement?
a.“How does your family react to your pain?”
b.“The pain must be terrible. You probably pinched a nerve.”
c.“I’ve had back pain myself, and it can be excruciating.”
d.“How would you say the pain affects your ability to do your daily activities?”
ANS: D
The symptom of pain is difficult to quantify because of individual interpretation. With pain,
adjectives should be avoided and the patient should be asked how the pain affects his or her
daily activities. The other responses are not appropriate.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) REF: p. 50
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
6. In recording the childhood illnesses of a patient who denies having had any, which note by the
nurse would be most accurate?
a. Patient denies usual childhood illnesses.
b. Patient states he was a “very healthy” child.
c. Patient states his sister had measles, but he didn’t.
d. Patient denies measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, pertussis, and strep throat.
ANS: D
, Jarvis: Physical Examination & Health Assessment, 7th Edition
Chapter 04: The Complete Health History
Childhood illnesses include measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, pertussis, and strep throat.
Avoid recording “usual childhood illnesses” because an illness common in the person’s
childhood may be unusual today (e.g., measles).
Chapter 04: The Complete Health History
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The nurse is preparing to conduct a health history. Which of these statements best describes
the purpose of a health history?
a. To provide an opportunity for interaction between the patient and the nurse
b. To provide a form for obtaining the patient’s biographic information
c. To document the normal and abnormal findings of a physical assessment
d. To provide a database of subjective information about the patient’s past and current
health
ANS: D
The purpose of the health history is to collect subjective data—what the person says about
him or herself. The other options are not correct.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension) REF: p. 49
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
2. When the nurse is evaluating the reliability of a patient’s responses, which of these statements
would be correct? The patient:
a.Has a history of drug abuse and therefore is not reliable.
b.Provided consistent information and therefore is reliable.
c.Smiled throughout interview and therefore is assumed reliable.
d.Would not answer questions concerning stress and therefore is not reliable.
ANS: B
A reliable person always gives the same answers, even when questions are rephrased or are
repeated later in the interview. The other statements are not correct.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) REF: p. 49
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
3. A 59-year-old patient tells the nurse that he has ulcerative colitis. He has been having “black
stools” for the last 24 hours. How would the nurse best document his reason for seeking care?
a. J.M. is a 59-year-old man seeking treatment for ulcerative colitis.
b. J.M. came into the clinic complaining of having black stools for the past 24 hours.
c. J.M. is a 59-year-old man who states that he has ulcerative colitis and wants it
checked.
d. J.M. is a 59-year-old man who states that he has been having “black stools” for the
past 24 hours.
ANS: D
,Jarvis: Physical Examination & Health Assessment, 7th Edition
Chapter 04: The Complete Health History
The reason for seeking care is a brief spontaneous statement in the person’s own words that
describes the reason for the visit. It states one (possibly two) signs or symptoms and their
duration. It is enclosed in quotation marks to indicate the person’s exact words.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) REF: p. 50
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
4. A patient tells the nurse that she has had abdominal pain for the past week. What would be the
nurse’s best response?
a. “Can you point to where it hurts?”
b. “We’ll talk more about that later in the interview.”
c. “What have you had to eat in the last 24 hours?”
d. “Have you ever had any surgeries on your abdomen?”
ANS: A
A final summary of any symptom the person has should include, along with seven other
critical characteristics, “Location: specific.” The person is asked to point to the location.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) REF: p. 50
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
5. A 29-year-old woman tells the nurse that she has “excruciating pain” in her back. Which
would be the nurse’s appropriate response to the woman’s statement?
a.“How does your family react to your pain?”
b.“The pain must be terrible. You probably pinched a nerve.”
c.“I’ve had back pain myself, and it can be excruciating.”
d.“How would you say the pain affects your ability to do your daily activities?”
ANS: D
The symptom of pain is difficult to quantify because of individual interpretation. With pain,
adjectives should be avoided and the patient should be asked how the pain affects his or her
daily activities. The other responses are not appropriate.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying (Application) REF: p. 50
MSC: Client Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care
6. In recording the childhood illnesses of a patient who denies having had any, which note by the
nurse would be most accurate?
a. Patient denies usual childhood illnesses.
b. Patient states he was a “very healthy” child.
c. Patient states his sister had measles, but he didn’t.
d. Patient denies measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, pertussis, and strep throat.
ANS: D
, Jarvis: Physical Examination & Health Assessment, 7th Edition
Chapter 04: The Complete Health History
Childhood illnesses include measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, pertussis, and strep throat.
Avoid recording “usual childhood illnesses” because an illness common in the person’s
childhood may be unusual today (e.g., measles).
