Health Assessment 246

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Sample questions from Health Assessment 246

This material has 90 questions with answers and rationales. Here are the first 5.

1. 1.During the opening of a health history, which question is most appropriate to begin exploring the patient's reason for seeking care?

   • A.What brings you in today?
   • B.You have not had this problem before, correct?
   • C.Why did you wait so long to seek care?
   • D.Is the pain sharp or dull?

   Rationale: An open-ended question lets the patient describe the concern in their own words and establishes the patient's agenda. Option B is leading and assumes facts not yet established. Option C is judgmental and may discourage disclosure. Option D is a focused question that is more appropriate after the patient has introduced the concern; begin with an open invitation.

2. 2.A patient reports new chest discomfort. Which follow-up question best assesses the timing component of the symptom?

   • A.What does the discomfort feel like?
   • B.When did the discomfort start, and how long does it last?
   • C.Does the discomfort move anywhere?
   • D.What makes the discomfort better?

   Rationale: Asking when the symptom began and how long it lasts assesses onset and duration, key parts of symptom analysis. Option A assesses quality. Option C assesses radiation or location of spread. Option D assesses relieving factors; ask about these dimensions systematically rather than treating them as interchangeable.

3. 3.A patient says, "I take a little white pill for my blood pressure, but I do not know its name." What is the nurse's best response?

   • A.Document that the patient takes an antihypertensive medication.
   • B.Ask the patient to bring in the medication container or provide a pharmacy list.
   • C.Record the medication as unknown and move on.
   • D.Tell the patient that medication names are required before the visit can continue.

   Rationale: A medication container or verified pharmacy list can help identify the drug, dose, and schedule accurately. Option A makes an unverified assumption about the medication. Option C leaves an important safety gap when clarification is possible. Option D is unnecessarily coercive; medication reconciliation should be collaborative and nonjudgmental.

4. 4.A patient describes a previous reaction to an antibiotic as "my stomach felt upset." Which additional question is most important when clarifying the allergy history?

   • A.Did you experience hives, swelling, breathing difficulty, or another reaction?
   • B.Do you prefer tablets or capsules?
   • C.How many doses of the antibiotic were left?
   • D.Would you like the medication prescribed again?

   Answer and rationale are in the full material.

5. 5.Which statement best demonstrates therapeutic use of silence during an interview?

   • A.The nurse pauses and maintains an attentive presence after the patient becomes tearful.
   • B.The nurse changes the subject when the patient stops speaking.
   • C.The nurse asks several questions quickly to keep the interview moving.
   • D.The nurse finishes the patient's sentence to reduce discomfort.

   Answer and rationale are in the full material.