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Growth and Development

Health Screening Across Lifespan Practice Questions

20 free Health Screening Across Lifespan practice questions for the NCLEX Exam. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.

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Question 1 of 20 Easy

At what age is routine blood pressure screening generally recommended to begin in adults?

  1. A Age 10
  2. B Age 18
  3. C Age 35
  4. D Age 50

Correct answer: Age 18

Most guidelines recommend beginning routine blood pressure screening in adults starting at age 18 to detect early hypertension and prevent cardiovascular disease.

Question 2 of 20 Easy

For average-risk adults, at what age should colorectal cancer screening start according to current recommendations?

  1. A Age 30
  2. B Age 40
  3. C Age 45
  4. D Age 55

Correct answer: Age 45

Current evidence supports initiating colorectal cancer screening at age ~45 in average-risk adults to maximize early detection.

Question 3 of 20 Medium

Which screening is specifically recommended for men aged 65–75 who have ever smoked?

  1. A Routine colonoscopy repeated every twenty years
  2. B Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening by ultrasound
  3. C Routine cardiac MRI for all older smokers
  4. D Monthly prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing

Correct answer: Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening by ultrasound

Guidelines recommend one-time AAA screening by ultrasound for men age 65–75 who have a history of smoking.

Question 4 of 20 Medium

A Pap test (or HPV-based cervical cancer screening) is recommended for women between which ages under standard guidelines?

  1. A From age 21 to 65
  2. B From age 15 to 50
  3. C From age 30 to 80 only
  4. D From age 25 to 40 only

Correct answer: From age 21 to 65

Standard cervical cancer screening guidelines recommend starting at age 21 and continuing through age 65 unless special risk factors apply.

Question 5 of 20 Medium

For adolescents, what screening becomes especially important as they begin adulthood?

  1. A Routine screening mammography
  2. B Lipid panel and cholesterol screening
  3. C Screening colonoscopy procedure
  4. D Bone mineral density scanning

Correct answer: Lipid panel and cholesterol screening

Lipid and cholesterol screening in adolescents/young adults helps identify early cardiovascular risk factors as they transition into adulthood.

Question 6 of 20 Easy

Newborn screening for certain metabolic and genetic disorders is defined by policy and law. Which is correct?

  1. A It is optional and offered only after age 6 months
  2. B It typically occurs within the first 24-48 hours of life
  3. C It is performed only for infants deemed high-risk
  4. D It is routinely discontinued after the first birthday

Correct answer: It typically occurs within the first 24-48 hours of life

Newborn screening for metabolic/genetic disorders commonly is conducted within the first 24–48 hours of life to identify treatable conditions early.

Question 7 of 20 Medium

For older adults (age 65+), screening decisions should consider which factor most strongly?

  1. A Chronological age considered on its own
  2. B Functional status, comorbidity and life expectancy
  3. C The patient's standing height measurement
  4. D A fixed schedule of once every twenty years

Correct answer: Functional status, comorbidity and life expectancy

In older adulthood, decisions about screening should be individualized based on functional status, comorbidities and life expectancy rather than age alone.

Question 8 of 20 Easy

At what frequency should women age 40–74 receive mammography screening under many current recommendations?

  1. A Every year
  2. B Every two years
  3. C Every five years
  4. D Never

Correct answer: Every two years

Many guidelines recommend biennial (every two years) mammography for women ages 40–74 as part of breast cancer screening.

Question 9 of 20 Easy

Which of the following is true of bone density (osteoporosis) screening?

  1. A It is not needed for patients at any age
  2. B Recommended for older adults, especially women, for fracture risk
  3. C Indicated only for adolescents during growth spurts
  4. D Performed routinely for infants and newborns

Correct answer: Recommended for older adults, especially women, for fracture risk

Bone density screening is appropriate in older adults (especially post-menopausal women) to assess risk for osteoporosis and fractures.

Question 10 of 20 Medium

Screening for tobacco-related lung cancer with low-dose CT is recommended in adults age 50–80 who have which history?

  1. A A person who has never smoked any tobacco
  2. B An FEV1 above 4.0 L with no other risk factors
  3. C A 20 pack-year history, current or quit within 15 years
  4. D Eligible only after passing the age of 80

Correct answer: A 20 pack-year history, current or quit within 15 years

Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT is recommended for adults age 50–80 with ~20 pack-year history and who currently smoke or quit within the past 15 years.

Question 11 of 20 Medium

For children aged 9-11 years, which screening is especially important?

  1. A Screening colonoscopy procedure
  2. B BMI/obesity screening and blood pressure checks
  3. C Routine screening mammography
  4. D Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing

Correct answer: BMI/obesity screening and blood pressure checks

For pre-adolescents, screening for BMI (obesity) and blood pressure is important to identify early risk for chronic diseases.

Question 12 of 20 Medium

For men who have never smoked and are age 65–75, which screening is optional and should be discussed?

  1. A Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening
  2. B Routine audiometry hearing test
  3. C Screening colonoscopy at age 20
  4. D Routine screening mammography

Correct answer: Abdominal aortic aneurysm screening

In men age 65–75 who have never smoked, abdominal aortic aneurysm screening may be considered based on risk factors; shared decision-making is recommended.

Question 13 of 20 Medium

Adolescents (age ~12–18) should be routinely screened for which of the following mental/behavioural health issues?

  1. A Lung cancer with low-dose CT
  2. B Hypertension and blood pressure only
  3. C Depression and suicidal ideation
  4. D Colorectal cancer with colonoscopy

Correct answer: Depression and suicidal ideation

Mental health screening (for depression, suicidal ideation) is recommended in adolescents as part of comprehensive preventive care.

Question 14 of 20 Easy

For women of reproductive age (ages ~21–29), which screening is part of preventive health care?

  1. A An annual bone mineral density scan
  2. B Pap/cervical screening every 3 years if low risk
  3. C A screening colonoscopy every two years
  4. D Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing

Correct answer: Pap/cervical screening every 3 years if low risk

Pap smear or cervical screening in women ages 21–29 (if low risk) is recommended about every 3 years in many guidelines.

Question 15 of 20 Medium

Which screening is generally not recommended once life expectancy is limited and comorbidities high?

  1. A Routine blood pressure measurement
  2. B Screening whose harms outweigh benefit (overscreening)
  3. C A routine periodic eye examination
  4. D A routine hearing/audiometry screening

Correct answer: Screening whose harms outweigh benefit (overscreening)

In older adults with limited life expectancy and multiple comorbidities, certain screenings may cause more harm than benefit (“overscreening”) and should be reconsidered.

Question 16 of 20 Easy

At what age should men begin regular lipid (cholesterol) screening if no risk factors?

  1. A Age 10
  2. B Age 20
  3. C Age 40
  4. D Age 60

Correct answer: Age 20

Lipid screening is recommended starting around age 20 in many adults to detect early dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk.

Question 17 of 20 Easy

For newborns, which screening is mandated in many countries shortly after birth?

  1. A Routine MRI scan of the infant brain
  2. B Pulse oximetry for congenital heart defects
  3. C Screening colonoscopy after delivery
  4. D Mammogram of the newborn chest

Correct answer: Pulse oximetry for congenital heart defects

Pulse oximetry newborn screening is used in many systems to detect critical congenital heart defects soon after birth as part of newborn screening programs.

Question 18 of 20 Medium

Women over age 65 with a history of normal cervical cancer screening may not need further Pap testing if:

  1. A They have a history of high-grade cervical lesions
  2. B Their last three Pap tests were normal and no risk factors
  3. C They have never previously been screened at all
  4. D They are currently pregnant at the time

Correct answer: Their last three Pap tests were normal and no risk factors

Many guidelines state that women over 65 with adequate prior screening and no risk factors may stop cervical screening.

Question 19 of 20 Easy

Which screening tool is recommended for men and women starting in early adulthood to prevent cardiovascular disease?

  1. A An audiometry hearing test on its own
  2. B Blood pressure, BMI and a lipid panel
  3. C A screening colonoscopy procedure
  4. D Routine screening mammography

Correct answer: Blood pressure, BMI and a lipid panel

Screening for cardiovascular risk (blood pressure, BMI, cholesterol) is recommended in young and middle adulthood to allow early intervention.

Question 20 of 20 Medium

For older adults, besides disease‐specific screening, which additional screening is increasingly recognized as important?

  1. A Functional status and fall-risk assessment
  2. B Screening only for colorectal cancer
  3. C Screening aimed at teenage behavior
  4. D Screening for childhood infectious diseases

Correct answer: Functional status and fall-risk assessment

In older adulthood, screening for functional status, frailty, fall risk and cognitive impairment is important in addition to traditional disease screening.

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