NSG 6020 Advanced Health & Physical Assessment COMPLETED EXAM 2026/2027 (21pages)

1. What are the four components of a comprehensive health history? Explain the purpose and content of each component. (4 points) Answer: The four components of a comprehensive health history are: - Biographical data: This includes basic information about the patient such as name, age, gender, occupation, marital status, etc. The purpose is to identify the patient and provide demographic information that may be relevant to their health condition. - Chief complaint: This is the reason why the patient seeks health care, usually stated in their own words. The purpose is to identify the patient's main concern and guide the rest of the history taking. - History of present illness: This is a detailed description of the patient's current symptoms, including onset, duration, frequency, intensity, location, quality, aggravating and relieving factors, associated symptoms, etc. The purpose is to obtain a complete picture of the patient's problem and its impact on their life. - Past medical history: This includes information about the patient's previous illnesses, surgeries, hospitalizations, medications, allergies, immunizations, family history, social history, and review of systems. The purpose is to identify any risk factors, comorbidities, or relevant background information that may affect the patient's current condition or treatment plan. 2. What are the three phases of the physical examination? Describe the techniques and tools used in each phase. (3 points) Answer: The three phases of the physical examination are: - Inspection: This is the visual examination of the patient's body and behavior. The techniques used are observation and inspection with a penlight or an otoscope. The tools used are a penlight, an otoscope, an ophthalmoscope, and a magnifying glass. - Palpation: This is the tactile examination of the patient's skin, organs, and pulses. The techniques used are light and deep palpation with the fingers or hands. The tools used are gloves and a stethoscope. - Auscultation: This is the auditory examination of the patient's heart, lungs, and abdomen. The technique used is listening with a stethoscope. The tool used is a stethoscope.