TEST BANK FOR
Health Assessment for Nursing
Practice 7th Edition by Wilson
Chapters 1 - 24
,Chapter 01: Introduction to Health Assessment
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient comes to the emergency department and tells the triage nurse that he
is “having a heart attack.” What is the nurse’s top priority at this time?
a. Determine the patient’s personal data and
insurance coverage.
b. Ask the patient 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 this patient now.
ANSWER: D
The nurse needs to begin an assessment as soon as possible that is focused on this patient’s
cardiovascular system. The type of health assessment performed by the nurse is also driven
by patient need. Personal data and insurance information will be obtained, but in this
situation, these data can wait until after the patient is assessed. Based also on Maslow’s
hierarchy of needs, physiologic needs take precedence. Rather than asking the patient to
wait, the nurse needs to begin data collection, such as vital signs, immediately to determine
the patient’s health status. Complications can be prevented if an immediate assessment is
made to analyze the patient’s symptoms. 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. Eyes, ears, or a complete musculoskeletal or
mental health assessment is not a priority at this time.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: Box 1-3 | p. 3
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care:
Establishing Priorities
2. Which situation illustrates a screening assessment?
a. A patient 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 an urgent care center checks
the vital signs of a patient who is
complaining of leg pain.
, d. A patient newly diagnosed with diabetes
mellitus comes to test his fasting blood
glucose level.
ANSWER: B
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. A detailed history and
physical examination conducted during a first-time visit to an obstetric clinic is an example
of a comprehensive assessment. Assessing a patient complaining of leg pain in the triage
area of an urgent care center is an example of a problem-based/focused assessment. A
patient’s return appointment 1 month after today’s office visit to report fasting blood
glucose levels is an example of an episodic or follow-up assessment.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: Box 1-3 | p. 3
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Health Screening
3. For which person is a screening assessment indicated?
a. The person who had abdominal surgery
yesterday
b. The person who is unaware of his high
serum glucose levels
c. The person who is being admitted to a
long-term care facility
d. The person who is beginning rehabilitation
after a knee replacement
ANSWER: B
A screening assessment is performed for the purpose of disease detection. In this case this
person may have diabetes mellitus. A shift assessment is most appropriate for the person
who is recovering in the hospital from surgery. A comprehensive assessment is performed
during admission to a facility to obtain a detailed history and complete physical
examination. An episodic or follow-up assessment is performed after knee replacement to
evaluate the outcome of the procedure.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: Box 1-3 | p. 3
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care:
Establishing Priorities
4. For which person is a shift assessment indicated?
a. The person who had abdominal surgery
yesterday
b. The person who is unaware of his high
serum glucose levels
c. The person who is being admitted to a
long-term care facility
d. The person who is beginning rehabilitation
after a knee replacement
ANSWER: A
A shift assessment is most appropriate for the person who is recovering in the hospital from
surgery. A screening assessment is performed for the purpose of disease detection, in this
case diabetes mellitus. A comprehensive assessment is performed during admission to a
,facility to obtain a detailed history and complete physical examination. An episodic or
follow-up assessment is performed after knee replacement to evaluate the outcome of the
procedure.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: Box 1-3 | p. 4
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care:
Establishing Priorities
5. For which person is a comprehensive assessment indicated?
a. The person who had abdominal surgery
yesterday
b. The person who is unaware of his high
serum glucose levels
c. The person who is being admitted to a
long-term care facility
d. The person who is beginning rehabilitation
after a knee replacement
ANSWER: C
A comprehensive assessment is performed during admission to a facility to obtain a
detailed history and complete physical examination. A shift assessment is most appropriate
for the person who is recovering in the hospital from surgery. A screening assessment is
performed for the purpose of disease detection, in this case diabetes mellitus. An episodic
or follow-up assessment is performed after knee replacement to evaluate the outcome of
the procedure.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: Box 1-3 | p. 3
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care:
Establishing Priorities
6. For which person is an episodic or follow-up assessment indicated?
a. The person who had abdominal surgery
yesterday
b. The person who is unaware of his high
serum glucose levels
c. The person who is being admitted to a
long-term care facility
d. The person who is beginning rehabilitation
after a knee replacement
ANSWER: D
An episodic or follow-up assessment is performed after the knee replacement to evaluate
the outcome of the procedure. A shift assessment is most appropriate for the person who is
recovering in the hospital from surgery. A screening assessment is performed for the
purpose of disease detection, in this case diabetes mellitus. A comprehensive assessment is
performed during admission to a facility to obtain a detailed history and complete physical
examination.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: Box 1-3 | p. 3
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
,MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care:
Establishing Priorities
7. Which is an example of data a nurse collects during a physical
examination?
a. The patient’s lack of hair and shiny skin
over both shins
b. The patient’s stated concern about lack of
money for prescriptions
c. The patient’s complaints of tingling
sensations in the feet
d. The patient’s mother’s statements that the
patient is very nervous lately
ANSWER: A
The lack of hair and shiny skin over both shins are objective data or signs that are part of
the physical examination. A patient’s concerns about lack of money are subjective data and
are part of the health history. A patient’s complaints of tingling sensations in the feet are
subjective data and are part of the health history. A patient’s family statements are
considered secondary data, are subjective data, and are part of the health history.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: Box 1-3 | p. 3
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Physiologic Integrity: Reduction of Risk Potential: System
Specific Assessments
8. The nurse documents which information in the patient’s history?
a. The patient’s skin feels warm to the touch.
b. The patient is scratching his arm.
c. The patient’s temperature is 100° F.
d. The patient complains of itching.
ANSWER: D
A patient’s complaint of itching is subjective information, which means it is a symptom
and is documented in the history. The patient’s warm skin is objective information
gathered by the nurse through palpation, is also a sign, and is documented in the physical
examination. The patient’s scratching is objective information gathered by the nurse
through observation, is also a sign, and is documented in the physical examination. The
patient’s elevated temperature is objective information gathered by the nurse through
measurement, is also a sign, and is documented in the physical examination.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: p. 1 | p. 2 and Box 1-2
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care:
Establishing Priorities
9. Which patient information does the nurse document in the patient’s physical
assessment?
a. Slurred speech
b. Immunizations
c. Smoking habit
d. Allergies
,ANSWER: A
Slurred speech should be noticed by the nurse and documented as objective data in the
physical assessment. Data on immunizations are collected from the patient, are subjective,
and documented in the history. A smoking habit is information that comes from the patient,
making it subjective data that is documented in the history. Allergies are information that
come from the patient, making it subjective data that is documented in the history.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: p. 1-2 and Box 1-2
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care:
Establishing Priorities
10. After collecting the data, the nurse begins data analysis with which action?
a. Clustering data
b. Documenting subjective data
c. Reporting information to other health team
members
d. Documenting objective information
ANSWER: A
After collecting data, the nurse organizes or clusters the data so that the problems appear
more clearly. To cluster data, the nurse interprets the assessment data collected.
Documenting subjective data is necessary for the medical record, but does not provide
analysis. Before reporting data to health team members, the nurse clusters and interprets
data. Documenting objective data is necessary for the medical record, but does not provide
analysis.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: p. 4
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Safe and Effective Care Environment: Management of Care:
Establishing Priorities
11. Which activity illustrates the concept of primary prevention?
a. Monthly breast self-examination
b. Annual cervical (Papanicolaou test)
examination
c. Education about living with asthma
d. Exercising three times a week
ANSWER: D
Exercising is an example of primary prevention that prevents disease from developing by
maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Monthly breast self-examination is an example of
secondary prevention and screening efforts to promote early detection of disease. Annual
cervical (Papanicolaou test) examination is an example of secondary prevention and
screening efforts to promote early detection of disease. Teaching a patient how to live with
a chronic disease such as asthma is an example of tertiary prevention directed toward
minimizing the disability from chronic disease and helping the patient maximize his or her
health.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: Table 1-1 | p. 5-6
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Health Promotion Programs
, 12. A nurse is teaching a patient how to manage chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD). This intervention is an example of which level of health promotion?
a. Primary prevention
b. Secondary prevention
c. Tertiary prevention
d. Risk factor prevention
ANSWER: C
Teaching a patient how to live with a chronic disease is an example of tertiary prevention
directed toward minimizing the disability from chronic disease and helping the patient
maximize his or her health. The focus of primary prevention is to prevent a disease from
developing by promoting a healthy lifestyle. Secondary prevention consists of efforts to
promote early detection of disease. Risk factor prevention is part of primary prevention that
focuses on preventing disease by managing risk factors.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: Table 1-1 | p. 5-6
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Health Promotion Programs
13. Which activity illustrates the concept of secondary prevention?
a. Annual mammogram
b. Nutrition classes on low-fat cooking
c. Education on living with diabetes mellitus
d. Cardiac rehabilitation after coronary artery
bypass surgery
ANSWER: A
A mammogram screens for breast cancer and is an example of secondary prevention to
promote early detection of disease. Nutrition classes are an example of primary prevention
to prevent a disease from developing by promoting a healthy lifestyle. Education about
diabetes mellitus is an example of tertiary prevention directed toward minimizing the
disability from chronic disease and helping the patient maximize his or her health. Cardiac
rehabilitation after coronary artery bypass surgery is an example of tertiary prevention
directed toward minimizing the disability from chronic disease and helping the patient
maximize his or her health.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: Table 1-1 | p. 5-6
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Health Promotion Programs
14. A community organization sponsors a health fair to increase awareness of colon
cancer. At the health fair, colorectal cancer screening kits are distributed, and health care
professionals answer questions, take blood pressure, and distribute literature. What level of
health prevention is being implemented by this community organization?
a. Primary
b. Secondary
c. Tertiary
d. Risk factor
ANSWER: B
Secondary prevention consists of screening efforts to promote early detection of disease —
in this scenario, colorectal cancer and hypertension. Primary prevention is focused on
preventing disease from developing through the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Tertiary
, prevention is directed toward minimizing the disability from chronic disease and helping
the patient maximize his or her health. Risk factor prevention is part of primary prevention
that focuses on preventing disease by managing risk factors.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: Table 1-1 | p. 5-6
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance: Health Promotion Programs
P owered by T CP DF (www.tp
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,Chapter 02: Obtaining a Health History
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which statement or question does the nurse use during the introduction
phase of the interview?
a. “I’m here to learn more about the pain
you’re experiencing.”
b. “Can you describe the pain that you’re
experiencing?”
c. “I heard you say that the pain is ‘all over’
your body.”
d. “What relieves the pain you are having?”
ANSWER: A
“I’m here to learn more about the pain you’re experiencing” is an example of the
introduction phase a nurse may use to explain the purpose of the interview to a patient.
“Can you describe the pain that you’re experiencing?” is an example of part of a symptom
analysis that occurs in the discussion phase. “I heard you say that the pain is ‘all over’ your
body” is an example of a summary statement by the nurse that occurs in the summary
phase. “What relieves the pain you are having?” is an example of part of a symptom
analysis that occurs in the discussion phase.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: Box 2-1 | p. 8-9
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Psychosocial Integrity: Therapeutic Communications
2. Which statement is appropriate to use when beginning an interview with a
new patient?
a. “Have you ever been a patient in this clinic
before?”
b. “What is your purpose for coming to the
clinic today?”
c. “Tell me a little about yourself and your
family.”
d. “Did you have any difficulty finding the
clinic?”
ANSWER: B
“What is your purpose for coming to the clinic today?” is an open-ended question that
focuses on the patient’s reason for seeking care. “Have you ever been a patient in this clinic
before?” is a close-ended question that yields a “yes” or “no” response. This question may
be asked on the first visit, but not as an opening question for a health interview. “Tell me a
little about yourself and your family” is an open-ended question, but it is too general, and it
is at least two questions: one about the patient and another about the family. “Did you have
, any difficulty finding the clinic?” is a social question and does not focus on the patient’s
purpose for the visit.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand REF: p. 8
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Psychosocial Integrity: Therapeutic Communications
3. Which statement by the nurse demonstrates a patient-centered interview?
a. “I need to complete this questionnaire
about your medical and family history.”
b. “The hospital requires me to complete this
assessment as soon as possible.”
c. “Tell me about the symptoms you’ve been
having.”
d. “I’ve had the same symptoms that you’ve
described.”
ANSWER: C
“Tell me about the symptoms you’ve been having” focuses on the needs of the patient so
that the patient is free to share concerns, beliefs, and values in his or her own words. “I
need to complete this questionnaire about your medical and family history” focuses on the
nurse’s need to complete the assessment rather than the needs of the patient. “The hospital
requires me to complete this assessment as soon as possible” focuses on the nurse’s need to
meet hospital requirements rather than the needs of the patient. “I’ve had the same
symptoms that you’ve described” focuses on the nurse rather than on the patient.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply REF: p. 8
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX Patient Needs: Psychosocial Integrity: Therapeutic Communications
4. Which question is an example of an open-ended question?
a. “Have you experienced this pain before?”
b. “Do you have someone to help you at
home?”
c. “How many times a day do you use your
inhaler?”
d. “What were you doing when you felt the
pain?”
ANSWER: D
“What were you doing when you felt the pain?” is a broadly stated question that
encourages a free-flowing, open response. “Have you experienced this pain before?” is
closed-ended, which can obtain a “yes” or “no” answer to the question without any
additional data. “Do you have someone to help you at home?” is closed-ended, which can
obtain a “yes” or “no” answer to the question without any additional data. “How many
times a day do you use your inhaler?” is closed-ended, which can obtain an answer of a
specific number without any additional data.
