Chapter 3: Health History and Physical Examination

Chapter 3: Health History and Physical Examination

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A patient who is having difficulty breathing is admitted to the hospital. The best approach
for the nurse to use to obtain a complete health history is to
a. obtain subjective data about the patient from family members.
b. omit subjective data collection and obtain the physical examination.
c. use the health care provider’s medical history to obtain subjective data.
d. schedule several short sessions with the patient to gather subjective data.
ANS: D
In an emergency situation, the nurse may need to ask only the most pertinent questions
for a specific problem and obtain more information later. A complete health history will
include subjective information that is not available in the health care provider’s medical
history. Family members may be able to provide some subjective data, but only the
patient will be able to give subjective information about the shortness of breath. Since the
subjective data about the patient’s respiratory status will be essential, obtaining the
physical examination alone will not provide sufficient information.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 38
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
2. Immediate surgery is planned for a patient with acute abdominal pain. The question used
by the nurse that will elicit the most complete information about the patient’s coping-
stress tolerance pattern is
a. “Can you tell me how intense your pain is now?”
b. “What do you think caused this abdominal pain?”
c. “How do you feel about yourself and your hospitalization?”
d. “Are there other major problems that are a concern right now?”
ANS: D
The coping-stress tolerance pattern includes information about other major stressors
confronting the patient. The health perception–health management pattern includes
information about the patient’s ideas about risk factors. Feelings about self and the
hospitalization are assessed in the self-perception–self-concept pattern. Intensity of pain
is part of the cognitive-perceptual pattern.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: 41-42
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
3. During the health history interview, a patient tells the nurse about periodic fainting spells.
Which question by the nurse will be most helpful in determining the setting in which the
fainting spells occur?
Test Bank 3-2
a. “How frequently do you have the fainting spells?”
b. “Where are you when you have the fainting spells?”
c. “Do the spells tend to occur at any special time of day?”
d. “Do you have any other symptoms along with the spells?”
ANS: B
Information about the setting is obtained by asking where the patient was and what the
patient was doing when the symptom occurred. The other questions from the nurse are
appropriate for obtaining information about chronology, frequency, and associated
clinical manifestations.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: 39
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. The nurse records the following general survey of a patient: “The patient is a 68-year-old
male Asian attended by his wife and two daughters. Alert and oriented. Does not make
eye contact with the nurse and responds slowly, but appropriately, to questions. No
apparent disabilities or distinguishing features.” Additional information that should be
added to this general survey includes
a. nutritional status.
b. intake and output.
c. reasons for contact with the health care system.
d. comments of family members about his condition.
ANS: A
The general survey also describes the patient’s general nutritional status. The other
information will be obtained when doing the complete nursing history and examination
but is not obtained through the initial scanning of a patient.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 44
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance