NURS 210 EXAM #1 Study Guide | 2025/2026
What is a general survey? ** Answers ** A study of the whole person (holistic):
- General health state/physical characteristics
- Provides an impression
- Physical appearance, body structure, mobility, and behavior
VERBALLY TALKING OR PHYSICALLY OBSERVING - no contact
Objective Data ** Answers ** Physical appearance, body structure, gait, behavior,
measurements
Physical Appearance ** Answers ** - Age: person appears their age
- Sex: sexual development appropriate for gender and age
- Level of consciousness: alert and oriented, responds well
- Skin color: even skin tone, pigmentation varies with genetic background, skin intact with no
lesions
- Facial features: symmetric with movement
- Overall appearance: provide general statement, presence or absence of distress
Body structure ** Answers ** - Stature: height appears normal for age or genetic
- Nutrition: weight appears within normal range for height and body build; even body fat
distribution
- Symmetry: body parts look equal bilaterally and are in relative proportion
- Posture: person stands or sits comfortable erect as appropriate for age
- Position: description of patient's position during assessment
Gait ** Answers ** Normally base is as wide as shoulder width
- Foot placement: accurate, walks smooth, well balanced, symmetric arm swing
,- Range of motion: note full mobility for each joint, movement is deliberate and coordinated
Behavior ** Answers ** - Facial expression: person maintains eye contact, expressions are
appropriate
- Mood & effect: comfortable and cooperative with examiner and interacts pleasantly
- Speech: articulation clear and understandable, stream of talking is fluent, conveys clearly, word
choice appropriate, speaks language easily
- Dress: appropriate to climate, looks clean, fits well, appropriate to culture
- Personal hygiene: appears clean and groomed appropriately for his or her age, occupation, and
socioeconomic group
Weight ** Answers ** - Use a standardized scale
- Instruct to remove shoes or heavy outer clothing
- Record weight in kilograms and pounds
- Show person how their weight correlates to their height
- Compare person's current weight with previous visit
Measurements ** Answers ** - Height: use wall mounted device or measuring pole on scale,
shoeless and standing straight
- Body mass index: practical marker of optimal weight for height and an indicator of obesity or
protein-calorie malnutrition
Development ** Answers ** GENERAL SURVEY OF INFANTS/CHILDREN:
- Interpret based on age and developmental ability
- Behavior and parental bonding
- Measurement... weight and length
- Physical growth based on CDC growth chart
GENERAL SURVEY OF AGING ADULTS:
, - Normal consequence of aging changes posture and gait
Abnormalities in body weight and proportion ** Answers ** - Dwarfism
- Hypopituitary dwarfism
- Achondroplastic dwarfism
Gigantism versus acromegaly (hyperpituitarism)
-Anorexia nervosa
- Endogenous obesity - Cushing's syndrome
- Marfan syndrome
Purpose of Health Data ** Answers ** To document health status, track treatment outcomes,
and support research.
The Health History Sequence ** Answers ** - Biographic data
- Source of history
- Reason for seeking care
- Present health or history of present illness
- Past health
- Family history
- Review of systems
- Functional assessment including activities of daily living (ADLs)
Biographic Data ** Answers ** •Name, address, and phone number
•Age, birth date, and birthplace
•Gender (identification) and relationship status
•Race and ethnic origin
•Occupation: usual and present
What is a general survey? ** Answers ** A study of the whole person (holistic):
- General health state/physical characteristics
- Provides an impression
- Physical appearance, body structure, mobility, and behavior
VERBALLY TALKING OR PHYSICALLY OBSERVING - no contact
Objective Data ** Answers ** Physical appearance, body structure, gait, behavior,
measurements
Physical Appearance ** Answers ** - Age: person appears their age
- Sex: sexual development appropriate for gender and age
- Level of consciousness: alert and oriented, responds well
- Skin color: even skin tone, pigmentation varies with genetic background, skin intact with no
lesions
- Facial features: symmetric with movement
- Overall appearance: provide general statement, presence or absence of distress
Body structure ** Answers ** - Stature: height appears normal for age or genetic
- Nutrition: weight appears within normal range for height and body build; even body fat
distribution
- Symmetry: body parts look equal bilaterally and are in relative proportion
- Posture: person stands or sits comfortable erect as appropriate for age
- Position: description of patient's position during assessment
Gait ** Answers ** Normally base is as wide as shoulder width
- Foot placement: accurate, walks smooth, well balanced, symmetric arm swing
,- Range of motion: note full mobility for each joint, movement is deliberate and coordinated
Behavior ** Answers ** - Facial expression: person maintains eye contact, expressions are
appropriate
- Mood & effect: comfortable and cooperative with examiner and interacts pleasantly
- Speech: articulation clear and understandable, stream of talking is fluent, conveys clearly, word
choice appropriate, speaks language easily
- Dress: appropriate to climate, looks clean, fits well, appropriate to culture
- Personal hygiene: appears clean and groomed appropriately for his or her age, occupation, and
socioeconomic group
Weight ** Answers ** - Use a standardized scale
- Instruct to remove shoes or heavy outer clothing
- Record weight in kilograms and pounds
- Show person how their weight correlates to their height
- Compare person's current weight with previous visit
Measurements ** Answers ** - Height: use wall mounted device or measuring pole on scale,
shoeless and standing straight
- Body mass index: practical marker of optimal weight for height and an indicator of obesity or
protein-calorie malnutrition
Development ** Answers ** GENERAL SURVEY OF INFANTS/CHILDREN:
- Interpret based on age and developmental ability
- Behavior and parental bonding
- Measurement... weight and length
- Physical growth based on CDC growth chart
GENERAL SURVEY OF AGING ADULTS:
, - Normal consequence of aging changes posture and gait
Abnormalities in body weight and proportion ** Answers ** - Dwarfism
- Hypopituitary dwarfism
- Achondroplastic dwarfism
Gigantism versus acromegaly (hyperpituitarism)
-Anorexia nervosa
- Endogenous obesity - Cushing's syndrome
- Marfan syndrome
Purpose of Health Data ** Answers ** To document health status, track treatment outcomes,
and support research.
The Health History Sequence ** Answers ** - Biographic data
- Source of history
- Reason for seeking care
- Present health or history of present illness
- Past health
- Family history
- Review of systems
- Functional assessment including activities of daily living (ADLs)
Biographic Data ** Answers ** •Name, address, and phone number
•Age, birth date, and birthplace
•Gender (identification) and relationship status
•Race and ethnic origin
•Occupation: usual and present
