NRS 420
Health Assessment
Q & A w/ Rationales
2024
,1. When performing a health history interview with a patient,
which of the following is not considered a key component of
the assessment?
A) Chief complaint
B) Past medical history
C) Family history
D) Recent social media activity
Answer: D) Recent social media activity
Rationale: Social media activity is not relevant to a patient's
health history and should not be included in the assessment.
2. Which of the following is the correct order for conducting a
physical examination?
A) Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B) Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
C) Percussion, Auscultation, Palpation, Inspection
D) Palpation, Percussion, Inspection, Auscultation
Answer: A) Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
Rationale: The correct order for conducting a physical
examination is inspection, palpation, percussion, and
auscultation.
3. When documenting a patient's vital signs, which of the
following is considered a normal range for blood pressure?
A) 150/90 mmHg
B) 120/80 mmHg
,C) 100/60 mmHg
D) 140/100 mmHg
Answer: B) 120/80 mmHg
Rationale: A normal blood pressure range is typically around
120/80 mmHg. A blood pressure of 150/90 mmHg is
considered high, while 100/60 mmHg is considered low.
4. During a physical examination, the nurse notes crackles in
the patient's lungs. This finding is most likely indicative of:
A) Wheezing
B) Rhonchi
C) Rales
D) Stridor
Answer: C) Rales
Rationale: Crackles in the lungs are also known as rales and
are typically indicative of fluid in the lungs.
5. Which of the following is not a key component of a skin
assessment during a physical examination?
A) Color
B) Texture
C) Odor
D) Temperature
Answer: C) Odor
Rationale: Odor is not typically assessed during a skin
assessment, as it is not relevant to the patient's overall health.
, 6. When assessing a patient's abdomen during a physical
examination, the nurse should begin by:
A) Palpating for tenderness
B) Auscultating for bowel sounds
C) Percussing for organ borders
D) Inspecting for any abnormalities
Answer: D) Inspecting for any abnormalities
Rationale: The nurse should begin by inspecting the abdomen
for any abnormalities before moving on to palpation,
auscultation, and percussion.
7. When documenting a patient's pain level, which scale is
commonly used to assess pain intensity?
A) Likert scale
B) Verbal descriptor scale
C) McGill Pain Questionnaire
D) Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Answer: D) Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Rationale: The Visual Analog Scale is commonly used to
assess pain intensity by having the patient mark their level of
pain on a scale from 0 to 10.
8. Which of the following statements is true regarding
informed consent?
A) Informed consent is only required for surgical procedures
Health Assessment
Q & A w/ Rationales
2024
,1. When performing a health history interview with a patient,
which of the following is not considered a key component of
the assessment?
A) Chief complaint
B) Past medical history
C) Family history
D) Recent social media activity
Answer: D) Recent social media activity
Rationale: Social media activity is not relevant to a patient's
health history and should not be included in the assessment.
2. Which of the following is the correct order for conducting a
physical examination?
A) Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B) Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
C) Percussion, Auscultation, Palpation, Inspection
D) Palpation, Percussion, Inspection, Auscultation
Answer: A) Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
Rationale: The correct order for conducting a physical
examination is inspection, palpation, percussion, and
auscultation.
3. When documenting a patient's vital signs, which of the
following is considered a normal range for blood pressure?
A) 150/90 mmHg
B) 120/80 mmHg
,C) 100/60 mmHg
D) 140/100 mmHg
Answer: B) 120/80 mmHg
Rationale: A normal blood pressure range is typically around
120/80 mmHg. A blood pressure of 150/90 mmHg is
considered high, while 100/60 mmHg is considered low.
4. During a physical examination, the nurse notes crackles in
the patient's lungs. This finding is most likely indicative of:
A) Wheezing
B) Rhonchi
C) Rales
D) Stridor
Answer: C) Rales
Rationale: Crackles in the lungs are also known as rales and
are typically indicative of fluid in the lungs.
5. Which of the following is not a key component of a skin
assessment during a physical examination?
A) Color
B) Texture
C) Odor
D) Temperature
Answer: C) Odor
Rationale: Odor is not typically assessed during a skin
assessment, as it is not relevant to the patient's overall health.
, 6. When assessing a patient's abdomen during a physical
examination, the nurse should begin by:
A) Palpating for tenderness
B) Auscultating for bowel sounds
C) Percussing for organ borders
D) Inspecting for any abnormalities
Answer: D) Inspecting for any abnormalities
Rationale: The nurse should begin by inspecting the abdomen
for any abnormalities before moving on to palpation,
auscultation, and percussion.
7. When documenting a patient's pain level, which scale is
commonly used to assess pain intensity?
A) Likert scale
B) Verbal descriptor scale
C) McGill Pain Questionnaire
D) Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Answer: D) Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Rationale: The Visual Analog Scale is commonly used to
assess pain intensity by having the patient mark their level of
pain on a scale from 0 to 10.
8. Which of the following statements is true regarding
informed consent?
A) Informed consent is only required for surgical procedures
