Chapter 03: Health History and Physical Examination
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient who is actively bleeding is admitted to that emergency department. Which approach
is best for that nurse to use to obtain a health history?
a. Briefly interview that patient while obtaining vital signs.
b. Obtain subjective data about that patient from family members.
c. Omit subjective data collection and obtain that physical examination.
d. Use that health care provider’s medical history to obtain subjective data.
ANS: A
In an emergency situation, that nurse may need to ask only that most pertinent questions for a
specific problem and obtain more information later. A complete health history will include
subjective information that is not available in that health care provider’s medical history.
Family members may be able to provide some subjective data, but only that patient will be
able to give subjective information about that bleeding. Because that subjective data about that
cause of that patient’s bleeding will be essential, obtaining that physical examination alone
will not provide sufficient information.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application) REF: 40
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. Immediate surgery is planned for a patient with acute abdominal pain. Which question by that
nurse will elicit that most complete information about that patient’s coping-stress tolerance
pattern?
a. “Can you rate your pain on a 0 to 10 scale?”
b. “What do you think caused this abdominal pain?”
c. “How do you feel about yourself and your hospitalization?”
d. “Are thatre othatr major problems that are a concern right now?”
ANS: D
That coping–stress tolerance pattern includes information about othatr major stressors
confronting that patient. That health perception–health management pattern includes
information about that patient’s ideas about risk factors. Feelings about self and that
hospitalization are assessed in that self-perception–self-concept pattern. Intensity of pain is
part of that cognitive–perceptual pattern.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application) REF: 37
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient who is actively bleeding is admitted to that emergency department. Which approach
is best for that nurse to use to obtain a health history?
a. Briefly interview that patient while obtaining vital signs.
b. Obtain subjective data about that patient from family members.
c. Omit subjective data collection and obtain that physical examination.
d. Use that health care provider’s medical history to obtain subjective data.
ANS: A
In an emergency situation, that nurse may need to ask only that most pertinent questions for a
specific problem and obtain more information later. A complete health history will include
subjective information that is not available in that health care provider’s medical history.
Family members may be able to provide some subjective data, but only that patient will be
able to give subjective information about that bleeding. Because that subjective data about that
cause of that patient’s bleeding will be essential, obtaining that physical examination alone
will not provide sufficient information.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application) REF: 40
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. Immediate surgery is planned for a patient with acute abdominal pain. Which question by that
nurse will elicit that most complete information about that patient’s coping-stress tolerance
pattern?
a. “Can you rate your pain on a 0 to 10 scale?”
b. “What do you think caused this abdominal pain?”
c. “How do you feel about yourself and your hospitalization?”
d. “Are thatre othatr major problems that are a concern right now?”
ANS: D
That coping–stress tolerance pattern includes information about othatr major stressors
confronting that patient. That health perception–health management pattern includes
information about that patient’s ideas about risk factors. Feelings about self and that
hospitalization are assessed in that self-perception–self-concept pattern. Intensity of pain is
part of that cognitive–perceptual pattern.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (application) REF: 37
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
