Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) Practice Exam

Which of the following questions is NOT relevant for assessing headaches?

1. Do you feel dizzy?

2. How often do you have them?

3. When is your birthday?

4. What precipitates them?

The correct answer is: When is your birthday?

The choice regarding the birthday is not relevant for assessing headaches because it does not provide any information about the headache's characteristics, frequency, triggers, or associated symptoms. Assessing a patient's headache requires understanding the nature of the headache, such as duration, intensity, and precipitating factors, all of which are essential for forming a diagnosis or treatment plan. Questions about dizziness can help determine if there is a vestibular or neurological component to the headaches, while inquiries about the frequency of headaches and what precipitates them are crucial for understanding the headache's pattern and potential causes. Thus, while the other questions are pertinent for a comprehensive headache assessment, asking about the patient's birthday does not contribute to the clinical understanding of their headaches.