Health Interview, Physical Assessment & General Survey Fall 2025 Notes

1. Who improved soldier outcomes during the Crimean War and elevated nursing as a profession?

A. Clara Barton
B. Florence Nightingale
C. Lillian Wald
D. Dorothea Dix

2. Which purpose of nursing care focuses on preventing disease before it happens?

A. Illness prevention
B. Health promotion
C. Health restoration
D. End-of-life care

3. Which quality helps a nurse remain calm and balanced during stressful situations?

A. Competence
B. Emotional stability
C. Organizational skills
D. Physical stamina

4. How long does a diploma nursing program typically take?

A. 1 year
B. 2 years
C. 3 years
D. 4 years

5. A nurse who completes 8 semesters at a university earns which degree?

A. Diploma in Nursing
B. Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
C. Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing (BSN)
D. Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

6. What exam must all nurses pass to obtain licensure?

A. HESI
B. GRE
C. NCLEX
D. TEAS

7. Who is responsible for regulating nursing practice within each state?

A. The Joint Commission
B. Nurse Practice Act and State Board of Nursing
C. Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
D. American Nurses Association

8. Which organization publishes the National Patient Safety Goals each year?

A. CDC
B. State Board of Nursing
C. The Joint Commission
D. World Health Organization

9. Which type of care is focused on sudden illness or injury and preventing deterioration?

A. Primary care
B. Secondary care
C. Acute care
D. Tertiary care

10. A long-term care facility mainly provides assistance with which activity?

A. Emergency stabilization
B. Activities of daily living (ADLs)
C. Hospice care
D. Outpatient surgery

11. Which healthcare service is provided in community shelters or clinics?

A. Hospice care
B. Ambulatory care
C. Public health care
D. Extended care

12. Primary care services are directed toward:

A. Keeping clients well and preventing illness
B. Diagnosing disease at an early stage
C. Providing rehabilitation after illness
D. Managing end-of-life comfort

13. What is the single most important factor for a successful patient interview?

A. The physical setting
B. Communication skills of the nurse
C. The type of questions asked
D. Patient’s behavior

14. Which communication technique encourages the patient to elaborate by saying “Tell me more about that”?

A. Exploring
B. Reflecting
C. Summarizing
D. Clarification

15. Which law protects patient privacy and confidentiality?

A. HIPAA
B. OSHA
C. Nurse Practice Act
D. SBAR

16. Clean air, safe housing, and transportation are examples of which social determinant of health?

A. Economic stability
B. Education access
C. Neighborhood and environment
D. Social and community context

17. Which step of the nursing process comes first?

A. Assessment
B. Diagnosis
C. Planning
D. Evaluation

18. Which mnemonic is used for analyzing patient symptoms?

A. SBAR
B. PQRST
C. OLDCARTS
D. SPICES

19. The General Survey of a patient begins:

A. After the physical examination
B. At the first contact with the patient
C. During vital sign assessment
D. At the end of the interview

20. Which mnemonic is used specifically for pain assessment?

A. SPICES
B. PQRST
C. OLDCARTS
D. SOAP

21. “What brings you to the clinic today?” is an example of which type of question?

A. Open-ended
B. Close-ended
C. Directive
D. Transitional

22. Which type of data includes what the patient communicates about their symptoms?

A. Objective data
B. Subjective data
C. Observed data
D. Clinical manifestations

23. Which section of the health history includes surgeries, allergies, and immunizations?

A. Biographic data
B. Past medical history
C. Family history
D. Personal and psychosocial history

24. Which part of the health history includes smoking habits and stress management?

A. Biographic data
B. Family history
C. Personal and psychosocial history
D. Review of systems

25. Which exam includes a head-to-toe assessment of all body systems?

A. Comprehensive assessment
B. Focused assessment
C. System-specific assessment
D. Ongoing assessment

26. What is the correct order of exam techniques for most systems?

A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Palpation, Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion
C. Inspection, Percussion, Palpation, Auscultation
D. Palpation, Auscultation, Inspection, Percussion

27. Which exam requires the order IAPP instead of IPPA?

A. Lungs
B. Abdomen
C. Heart
D. Musculoskeletal

28. Which part of the hand is used to assess temperature?

A. Fingertips
B. Palm
C. Dorsum (back of hand)
D. Thumb

29. Which percussion sound is normally heard over the abdomen?

A. Resonance
B. Dullness
C. Tympany
D. Flatness

30. Which part of the stethoscope is used to hear low-pitched sounds?

A. Diaphragm
B. Bell
C. Tubing
D. Chestpiece

31. Which technique uses sight to gather data such as skin color or lesions?

A. Palpation
B. Percussion
C. Inspection
D. Auscultation

32. Which age group benefits from using a doll to reduce fear during exams?

A. Infants
B. Toddlers
C. Preschoolers
D. Adolescents

33. Which acronym helps identify common health concerns in older adults?

A. SPICES
B. SOAP
C. SBAR
D. OLDCARTS

34. What does the “C” in SPICES stand for?

A. Coping
B. Confusion
C. Comfort
D. Communication

35. Which acronym is used when giving a hand-off report to another nurse?

A. SOAP
B. PIE
C. SBAR
D. OLDCARTS

36. Which format for nurses’ notes includes Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan?

A. PIE
B. Narrative
C. SOAP
D. Electronic entry

37. Which documentation rule is emphasized by the phrase “Not documented, not done”?

A. Documentation must be detailed and lengthy
B. Documentation must be clear, accurate, complete, and timely
C. Documentation must include full sentences
D. Documentation should include personal opinions

38. Which type of facility provides short-term rehabilitation after hospitalization?

A. Hospice
B. Assisted living
C. Skilled nursing facility (SNF)
D. Long-term care facility

39. Which communication technique involves restating a patient’s feelings to show understanding?

A. Clarification
B. Reflecting
C. Exploring
D. Summarizing

40. Which part of the health history includes the “chief complaint”?

A. Biographic data
B. Reason for seeking care
C. Family history
D. Functional assessment