Health Assessment for Nursing Practice
Why Learn Health Assessment?
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A male client enters the emergency department and tells the triage nurse at the desk
that he is “having a heart attack.” The nurse’s top priority at this time is to:
a. Determine the client’s personal data and insurance coverage.
b. Ask the client to take a seat in the waiting room until his name is called.
c. Request that a nurse collect data for a comprehensive history.
d. Ask a nurse to start a focused assessment of the client now.
ANS: D
Correct: The nurse needs to begin an assessment as soon as possible that is focused
on the client’s cardiovascular system. This type of health assessment performed by
the nurse is also driven by client need.
Incorrect A: Personal data and insurance information will be obtained, but, in this
situation, the data can wait until after the client is assessed.
Incorrect B: Rather than asking the client to wait, the nurse needs to begin data
collection, such as vital signs, immediately to determine the client’s health status.
Incorrect C: A comprehensive history is not indicated in this situation at this time.
Some subjective data will be collected, such as allergies and medical history related
to cardiovascular disease.
2. Which scenario described below illustrates a screening assessment?
a. A client visits an obstetric clinic for the first time, and the nurse conducts a
detailed history and physical examination.
b. A hospital sponsors a health fair at a local mall and provides cholesterol and
blood pressure checks to mall patrons.
c. The nurse in the triage area of an urgent care center checks the vital signs of a
client who is complaining of leg pain.
d. A client makes an appointment 1 month after today’s office visit for a follow-up
test of fasting blood glucose level.
ANS: B
Correct: A health fair at a local mall that provides cholesterol and blood pressure
checks is an example of a screening assessment focused on disease detection.
Incorrect A: A detailed history and physical examination conducted during a first-
time visit to an obstetric clinic is an example of a comprehensive assessment.
Incorrect C: Assessing a client complaining of leg pain in the triage area of an urgent
care center is an example of a problem-based/focused assessment.
Incorrect D: A client’s return appointment 1 month after today’s office visit to report
fasting blood glucose levels is an example of an episodic/follow-up assessment.
, 3. At the beginning of a shift for a medical-surgical unit, a nurse performs a shift
assessment on each assigned client. This is an example of:
a. A comprehensive assessment.
b. A problem-based assessment.
c. An episodic assessment.
d. A screening assessment.
ANS: C
Correct: An episodic assessment is performed during a shift assessment during
which the nurse identifies changes in condition from baseline; thus the focus of the
assessment is largely based on the condition or problem that the client is
experiencing.
Incorrect A: A comprehensive assessment involves a detailed history and physical
examination performed upon admission to a hospital, but not performed each shift.
Incorrect B: A problem-based/focused assessment involves a history and
examination that is limited to a specific problem or complaint. Although the shift
assessment focuses on a condition or problem, it is different from a focused
assessment that includes a history and gathers baseline data about a problem or
condition.
Incorrect D: A screening assessment involves a short, usually inexpensive,
examination focused on disease detection.
4. To successfully assess clients, a nurse:
a. Collects subjective and objective data and documents the findings.
b. Collects subjective and objective data and analyzes the findings.
c. Places more emphasis on subjective than objective data.
d. Requests that the client refrain from volunteering extraneous data.
ANS: B
Correct: After subjective and objective data are collected, the nurse clusters and
analyzes the findings to determine the client’s needs.
Incorrect A: Subjective and objective data are collected and documented, but the
data must be analyzed and clustered to determine the client’s needs.
Incorrect C: Subjective and objective data are of equal importance in assessment.
Incorrect D: Clients should feel free to volunteer data about themselves that the
nurse does not have.
5. Which is an example of data a nurse would collect during a physical examination?
a. The client’s lack of hair and shiny skin over both shins
b. The client’s stated concern about lack of money for prescriptions
c. The client’s complaints of tingling sensations in the feet
d. The client’s mother’s statements that the client has been very nervous lately
ANS: A
Why Learn Health Assessment?
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A male client enters the emergency department and tells the triage nurse at the desk
that he is “having a heart attack.” The nurse’s top priority at this time is to:
a. Determine the client’s personal data and insurance coverage.
b. Ask the client to take a seat in the waiting room until his name is called.
c. Request that a nurse collect data for a comprehensive history.
d. Ask a nurse to start a focused assessment of the client now.
ANS: D
Correct: The nurse needs to begin an assessment as soon as possible that is focused
on the client’s cardiovascular system. This type of health assessment performed by
the nurse is also driven by client need.
Incorrect A: Personal data and insurance information will be obtained, but, in this
situation, the data can wait until after the client is assessed.
Incorrect B: Rather than asking the client to wait, the nurse needs to begin data
collection, such as vital signs, immediately to determine the client’s health status.
Incorrect C: A comprehensive history is not indicated in this situation at this time.
Some subjective data will be collected, such as allergies and medical history related
to cardiovascular disease.
2. Which scenario described below illustrates a screening assessment?
a. A client visits an obstetric clinic for the first time, and the nurse conducts a
detailed history and physical examination.
b. A hospital sponsors a health fair at a local mall and provides cholesterol and
blood pressure checks to mall patrons.
c. The nurse in the triage area of an urgent care center checks the vital signs of a
client who is complaining of leg pain.
d. A client makes an appointment 1 month after today’s office visit for a follow-up
test of fasting blood glucose level.
ANS: B
Correct: A health fair at a local mall that provides cholesterol and blood pressure
checks is an example of a screening assessment focused on disease detection.
Incorrect A: A detailed history and physical examination conducted during a first-
time visit to an obstetric clinic is an example of a comprehensive assessment.
Incorrect C: Assessing a client complaining of leg pain in the triage area of an urgent
care center is an example of a problem-based/focused assessment.
Incorrect D: A client’s return appointment 1 month after today’s office visit to report
fasting blood glucose levels is an example of an episodic/follow-up assessment.
, 3. At the beginning of a shift for a medical-surgical unit, a nurse performs a shift
assessment on each assigned client. This is an example of:
a. A comprehensive assessment.
b. A problem-based assessment.
c. An episodic assessment.
d. A screening assessment.
ANS: C
Correct: An episodic assessment is performed during a shift assessment during
which the nurse identifies changes in condition from baseline; thus the focus of the
assessment is largely based on the condition or problem that the client is
experiencing.
Incorrect A: A comprehensive assessment involves a detailed history and physical
examination performed upon admission to a hospital, but not performed each shift.
Incorrect B: A problem-based/focused assessment involves a history and
examination that is limited to a specific problem or complaint. Although the shift
assessment focuses on a condition or problem, it is different from a focused
assessment that includes a history and gathers baseline data about a problem or
condition.
Incorrect D: A screening assessment involves a short, usually inexpensive,
examination focused on disease detection.
4. To successfully assess clients, a nurse:
a. Collects subjective and objective data and documents the findings.
b. Collects subjective and objective data and analyzes the findings.
c. Places more emphasis on subjective than objective data.
d. Requests that the client refrain from volunteering extraneous data.
ANS: B
Correct: After subjective and objective data are collected, the nurse clusters and
analyzes the findings to determine the client’s needs.
Incorrect A: Subjective and objective data are collected and documented, but the
data must be analyzed and clustered to determine the client’s needs.
Incorrect C: Subjective and objective data are of equal importance in assessment.
Incorrect D: Clients should feel free to volunteer data about themselves that the
nurse does not have.
5. Which is an example of data a nurse would collect during a physical examination?
a. The client’s lack of hair and shiny skin over both shins
b. The client’s stated concern about lack of money for prescriptions
c. The client’s complaints of tingling sensations in the feet
d. The client’s mother’s statements that the client has been very nervous lately
ANS: A
