NURS 5220 Exam 2 – Health Assessment
University of Texas at Arlington | 2026 |
Advanced Health Assessment
Section 1: The Health History & Interviewing (Questions 1–
50)
1. A patient presents with chest pain. Which question best explores the quality of the
symptom?
A. "Where is the pain?"
B. "Can you describe the sensation?"
C. "How long does it last?"
D. "What makes it worse?"
Rationale: Quality asks about character (sharp, dull, burning, crushing).
2. The mnemonic OLD CARTS stands for?
A. Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing,
Severity
B. Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors,
Timing, Severity
C. Observation, Location, Duration, Cause, Aggravation, Relief, Timing, Symptoms
D. Onset, Length, Description, Cause, Aggravation, Relief, Treatment, Severity
Rationale: OLD CARTS is a standard mnemonic for symptom analysis.
3. A patient reports "dizziness." Which question helps differentiate vertigo from
presyncope?
A. "Do you feel lightheaded?"
B. "Do you feel like you or the room is spinning?"
C. "Do you feel faint?"
D. "Is it worse when you stand up?"
Rationale: Vertigo = sensation of movement; presyncope = lightheadedness.
,4. The review of systems (ROS) is best described as?
A. Past medical history
B. A systematic inventory of body systems
C. Family history
D. Social history
Rationale: ROS is a head-to-toe symptom inquiry.
5. A patient reports a family history of breast cancer. Which additional information is
most important?
A. Age of diagnosis
B. Age of diagnosis and first-degree vs second-degree relative
C. Treatment received
D. Current health status
Rationale: Early age and first-degree relative increase risk.
6. Which question is most appropriate to assess a patient's functional status?
A. "Do you have any diseases?"
B. "Can you bathe, dress, and prepare meals independently?"
C. "What medications do you take?"
D. "Do you smoke?"
Rationale: ADLs and IADLs assess functional status.
7. A patient avoids answering questions about alcohol use. Which approach is best?
A. Skip the question
B. Ask again in a nonjudgmental way; explain why it matters
C. Assume no use
D. Ask family member
Rationale: Nonjudgmental, therapeutic approach builds trust.
8. The CAGE questionnaire screens for?
A. Depression
B. Alcohol use disorder
C. Anxiety
D. Dementia
Rationale: CAGE: Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener.
,9. A patient reports "black stools." This should be documented as?
A. Hematochezia
B. Melena
C. Hemoptysis
D. Hematemesis
Rationale: Melena = black tarry stool from upper GI bleeding.
10. A patient reports coughing up blood. This is documented as?
A. Hematemesis
B. Hemoptysis
C. Epistaxis
D. Hematochezia
Rationale: Hemoptysis = coughing blood from respiratory tract.
11. Which question best screens for depression in a busy primary care visit?
A. "Are you sad?"
B. "Over the past 2 weeks, have you felt down, depressed, or hopeless?"
C. "Do you have suicidal thoughts?"
D. "How is your sleep?"
*Rationale: PHQ-2 is validated; first question screens for depression.*
12. A patient reports "chest pain that feels like an elephant sitting on my chest." This
describes?
A. Quality
B. Quality
C. Location
D. Severity
Rationale: Sensation description = quality.
13. The past medical history should include all EXCEPT?
A. Childhood illnesses
B. Review of systems
C. Hospitalizations
D. Surgeries
Rationale: ROS is separate from PMH.
, 14. A patient reports "my mother had a heart attack at age 50." This is documented in?
A. Past medical history
B. Family history
C. Social history
D. Review of systems
Rationale: Family history includes relatives' health conditions.
15. Which medication history detail is most important for a patient with hypertension?
A. Prescribing physician
B. Dose, frequency, adherence, and side effects
C. Pharmacy used
D. Cost of medication
Rationale: Adherence and side effects guide management.
16. A patient reports "I take my blood pressure medicine when I remember." This
indicates?
A. Non-adherence
B. Non-adherence
C. Drug allergy
D. Side effect
Rationale: Partial or inconsistent use = non-adherence.
17. The social history includes all EXCEPT?
A. Tobacco use
B. Genetic disorders
C. Alcohol use
D. Occupation
Rationale: Genetic disorders are family history.
18. Which question assesses a patient's sexual history in a respectful manner?
A. "Are you sexually active?"
B. "Do you have sex with men, women, or both?"
C. "Do you use protection?"
D. All of the above
Rationale: Inclusive, nonjudgmental language.
University of Texas at Arlington | 2026 |
Advanced Health Assessment
Section 1: The Health History & Interviewing (Questions 1–
50)
1. A patient presents with chest pain. Which question best explores the quality of the
symptom?
A. "Where is the pain?"
B. "Can you describe the sensation?"
C. "How long does it last?"
D. "What makes it worse?"
Rationale: Quality asks about character (sharp, dull, burning, crushing).
2. The mnemonic OLD CARTS stands for?
A. Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors, Timing,
Severity
B. Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving factors,
Timing, Severity
C. Observation, Location, Duration, Cause, Aggravation, Relief, Timing, Symptoms
D. Onset, Length, Description, Cause, Aggravation, Relief, Treatment, Severity
Rationale: OLD CARTS is a standard mnemonic for symptom analysis.
3. A patient reports "dizziness." Which question helps differentiate vertigo from
presyncope?
A. "Do you feel lightheaded?"
B. "Do you feel like you or the room is spinning?"
C. "Do you feel faint?"
D. "Is it worse when you stand up?"
Rationale: Vertigo = sensation of movement; presyncope = lightheadedness.
,4. The review of systems (ROS) is best described as?
A. Past medical history
B. A systematic inventory of body systems
C. Family history
D. Social history
Rationale: ROS is a head-to-toe symptom inquiry.
5. A patient reports a family history of breast cancer. Which additional information is
most important?
A. Age of diagnosis
B. Age of diagnosis and first-degree vs second-degree relative
C. Treatment received
D. Current health status
Rationale: Early age and first-degree relative increase risk.
6. Which question is most appropriate to assess a patient's functional status?
A. "Do you have any diseases?"
B. "Can you bathe, dress, and prepare meals independently?"
C. "What medications do you take?"
D. "Do you smoke?"
Rationale: ADLs and IADLs assess functional status.
7. A patient avoids answering questions about alcohol use. Which approach is best?
A. Skip the question
B. Ask again in a nonjudgmental way; explain why it matters
C. Assume no use
D. Ask family member
Rationale: Nonjudgmental, therapeutic approach builds trust.
8. The CAGE questionnaire screens for?
A. Depression
B. Alcohol use disorder
C. Anxiety
D. Dementia
Rationale: CAGE: Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener.
,9. A patient reports "black stools." This should be documented as?
A. Hematochezia
B. Melena
C. Hemoptysis
D. Hematemesis
Rationale: Melena = black tarry stool from upper GI bleeding.
10. A patient reports coughing up blood. This is documented as?
A. Hematemesis
B. Hemoptysis
C. Epistaxis
D. Hematochezia
Rationale: Hemoptysis = coughing blood from respiratory tract.
11. Which question best screens for depression in a busy primary care visit?
A. "Are you sad?"
B. "Over the past 2 weeks, have you felt down, depressed, or hopeless?"
C. "Do you have suicidal thoughts?"
D. "How is your sleep?"
*Rationale: PHQ-2 is validated; first question screens for depression.*
12. A patient reports "chest pain that feels like an elephant sitting on my chest." This
describes?
A. Quality
B. Quality
C. Location
D. Severity
Rationale: Sensation description = quality.
13. The past medical history should include all EXCEPT?
A. Childhood illnesses
B. Review of systems
C. Hospitalizations
D. Surgeries
Rationale: ROS is separate from PMH.
, 14. A patient reports "my mother had a heart attack at age 50." This is documented in?
A. Past medical history
B. Family history
C. Social history
D. Review of systems
Rationale: Family history includes relatives' health conditions.
15. Which medication history detail is most important for a patient with hypertension?
A. Prescribing physician
B. Dose, frequency, adherence, and side effects
C. Pharmacy used
D. Cost of medication
Rationale: Adherence and side effects guide management.
16. A patient reports "I take my blood pressure medicine when I remember." This
indicates?
A. Non-adherence
B. Non-adherence
C. Drug allergy
D. Side effect
Rationale: Partial or inconsistent use = non-adherence.
17. The social history includes all EXCEPT?
A. Tobacco use
B. Genetic disorders
C. Alcohol use
D. Occupation
Rationale: Genetic disorders are family history.
18. Which question assesses a patient's sexual history in a respectful manner?
A. "Are you sexually active?"
B. "Do you have sex with men, women, or both?"
C. "Do you use protection?"
D. All of the above
Rationale: Inclusive, nonjudgmental language.
