PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND
HEALTH ASSESSMENT
9TH EDITION
AUTHOR(S)CAROLYN JARVIS;
ANN L. ECKHARDT
TESTBANK
1. Reference: Unit 1. Assessment of the Whole Person —
Chapter 1. Evidence-Based Assessment
Stem: A newly hired nurse is preparing to assess a client
admitted with dizziness and fatigue. The nurse considers
using the same assessment questions used on all clients, but
the preceptor reminds the nurse to choose evidence-
supported questions that fit the client’s symptoms and risk
factors. Which action best reflects evidence-based
assessment?
Options:
A. Use only the nurse’s personal experience because it is
,faster
B. Combine best research evidence, clinical expertise, and
the client’s situation
C. Use the longest assessment form available to avoid
missing data
D. Ask only objective questions to reduce subjectivity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct Answer: Evidence-based assessment
requires the nurse to integrate current best evidence, clinical
judgment, and the individual client’s needs and context. This
approach improves the quality and relevance of the
assessment and supports safer decision-making.
Rationale — Incorrect Options:
A. Personal experience alone is limited and may not reflect
current best practice. It increases the risk of bias and
outdated care.
C. More questions do not necessarily produce better data if
they are not relevant to the client’s situation.
D. Assessment requires both subjective and objective data;
limiting questions can miss important information.
Teaching Point: Best practice blends research, nursing
judgment, and the client’s unique needs.
Citation: Jarvis, C., & Eckhardt, A. L. (2024). Physical
Examination and Health Assessment (9th ed.). Chapter 1:
Evidence-Based Assessment.
, 2. Reference: Unit 1. Assessment of the Whole Person —
Chapter 1. Evidence-Based Assessment
Stem: A nurse is choosing a fall-risk screening tool for an
older adult in a rehabilitation unit. The nurse wants a tool
that has been studied in similar patient populations and
shown to consistently identify risk. Which concept should
guide the nurse’s choice most directly?
Options:
A. Reliability and validity of the tool
B. The number of items on the tool
C. Whether the tool was created locally
D. Whether the tool is the shortest one available
Correct Answer: A
Rationale — Correct Answer: A useful assessment tool
should be both reliable and valid. Reliability means it
produces consistent results, and validity means it measures
what it is intended to measure.
Rationale — Incorrect Options:
B. Length alone does not guarantee accuracy or usefulness.
C. Local creation does not ensure scientific quality or clinical
utility.
D. Shortness may improve convenience, but it does not
ensure accuracy.
, Teaching Point: A good assessment tool must be both
consistent and accurate.
Citation: Jarvis, C., & Eckhardt, A. L. (2024). Physical
examination and health assessment (9th ed.). Chapter 1:
Evidence-Based Assessment.
3. Reference: Unit 1. Assessment of the Whole Person —
Chapter 1. Evidence-Based Assessment
Stem: During chart review, a nurse sees that a client’s pain
score was documented with a tool that was never validated
for adult postoperative patients. The client’s treatment plan
is based on that score. What is the nurse’s best concern?
Options:
A. The score may not accurately reflect the client’s pain
B. The client should not have been asked about pain
C. Objective data are always more accurate than client
report
D. Pain assessment tools do not matter if the nurse is
experienced
Correct Answer: A
Rationale — Correct Answer: Using a tool without evidence
of validity in that population can produce misleading results.
If the measure is not accurate, the treatment plan may be
based on faulty assessment data.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT
9TH EDITION
AUTHOR(S)CAROLYN JARVIS;
ANN L. ECKHARDT
TESTBANK
1. Reference: Unit 1. Assessment of the Whole Person —
Chapter 1. Evidence-Based Assessment
Stem: A newly hired nurse is preparing to assess a client
admitted with dizziness and fatigue. The nurse considers
using the same assessment questions used on all clients, but
the preceptor reminds the nurse to choose evidence-
supported questions that fit the client’s symptoms and risk
factors. Which action best reflects evidence-based
assessment?
Options:
A. Use only the nurse’s personal experience because it is
,faster
B. Combine best research evidence, clinical expertise, and
the client’s situation
C. Use the longest assessment form available to avoid
missing data
D. Ask only objective questions to reduce subjectivity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct Answer: Evidence-based assessment
requires the nurse to integrate current best evidence, clinical
judgment, and the individual client’s needs and context. This
approach improves the quality and relevance of the
assessment and supports safer decision-making.
Rationale — Incorrect Options:
A. Personal experience alone is limited and may not reflect
current best practice. It increases the risk of bias and
outdated care.
C. More questions do not necessarily produce better data if
they are not relevant to the client’s situation.
D. Assessment requires both subjective and objective data;
limiting questions can miss important information.
Teaching Point: Best practice blends research, nursing
judgment, and the client’s unique needs.
Citation: Jarvis, C., & Eckhardt, A. L. (2024). Physical
Examination and Health Assessment (9th ed.). Chapter 1:
Evidence-Based Assessment.
, 2. Reference: Unit 1. Assessment of the Whole Person —
Chapter 1. Evidence-Based Assessment
Stem: A nurse is choosing a fall-risk screening tool for an
older adult in a rehabilitation unit. The nurse wants a tool
that has been studied in similar patient populations and
shown to consistently identify risk. Which concept should
guide the nurse’s choice most directly?
Options:
A. Reliability and validity of the tool
B. The number of items on the tool
C. Whether the tool was created locally
D. Whether the tool is the shortest one available
Correct Answer: A
Rationale — Correct Answer: A useful assessment tool
should be both reliable and valid. Reliability means it
produces consistent results, and validity means it measures
what it is intended to measure.
Rationale — Incorrect Options:
B. Length alone does not guarantee accuracy or usefulness.
C. Local creation does not ensure scientific quality or clinical
utility.
D. Shortness may improve convenience, but it does not
ensure accuracy.
, Teaching Point: A good assessment tool must be both
consistent and accurate.
Citation: Jarvis, C., & Eckhardt, A. L. (2024). Physical
examination and health assessment (9th ed.). Chapter 1:
Evidence-Based Assessment.
3. Reference: Unit 1. Assessment of the Whole Person —
Chapter 1. Evidence-Based Assessment
Stem: During chart review, a nurse sees that a client’s pain
score was documented with a tool that was never validated
for adult postoperative patients. The client’s treatment plan
is based on that score. What is the nurse’s best concern?
Options:
A. The score may not accurately reflect the client’s pain
B. The client should not have been asked about pain
C. Objective data are always more accurate than client
report
D. Pain assessment tools do not matter if the nurse is
experienced
Correct Answer: A
Rationale — Correct Answer: Using a tool without evidence
of validity in that population can produce misleading results.
If the measure is not accurate, the treatment plan may be
based on faulty assessment data.
