NR 305 Abdominal and Gastrointestinal Assessment Practice Pack
2026 |Chamberlain College
1. Which of the following is the correct sequence for performing an abdominal
assessment?
A. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
B. Inspection, Percussion, Palpation, Auscultation
C. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Percussion, Palpation
Answer: A
Rationale: Auscultation is performed before percussion and palpation to prevent
stimulating bowel activity, which would provide inaccurate findings.
2. In which quadrant would the nurse expect to find the appendix?
A. Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)
B. Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)
C. Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)
D. Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)
Answer: C
Rationale: The appendix is located in the Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ).
,3. What is the primary percussion note heard over most of the abdomen?
A. Hyperresonance
B. Dullness
C. Resonance
D. Tympany
Answer: D
Rationale: Tympany is the predominant sound because air in the intestines rises to the
surface when the patient is supine.
4. How long must a nurse listen to the abdomen before documenting ‘absent
bowel sounds’?
A. 1 minute
B. 2 minutes
C. 5 minutes
D. 3 minutes
Answer: C
Rationale: Absent bowel sounds are rare and must be confirmed by listening for a full 5
minutes in each quadrant if necessary.
5. A positive Murphy sign is most suggestive of which condition?
A. Splenomegaly
B. Appendicitis
C. Pancreatitis
D. Cholecystitis
Answer: D
Rationale: Murphy sign involves pain during deep inspiration while the nurse palpates the
liver border, indicating gallbladder inflammation.
, 6. Which sound is considered normal when percussing over the liver?
A. Dullness
B. Tympany
C. Flatness
D. Resonance
Answer: A
Rationale: Dullness is the expected percussion sound over solid organs like the liver.
7. The nurse notes a patient has ‘borborygmi.’ What does this term refer to?
A. Hyperactive ‘stomach growling’ sounds
B. Absent bowel sounds
C. Vascular bruits
D. Hypoactive bowel sounds
Answer: A
Rationale: Borborygmi are hyperactive bowel sounds characterized by loud, prolonged
gurgles, often called ‘stomach growling.’
8. Rebound tenderness (Blumberg sign) is a clinical indicator for:
A. Kidney stones
B. Peritoneal irritation or appendicitis
C. Liver failure
D. Gastroesophageal reflux
Answer: B
Rationale: Rebound tenderness occurs when pain is felt upon the release of pressure,
suggesting peritoneal inflammation or appendicitis.
2026 |Chamberlain College
1. Which of the following is the correct sequence for performing an abdominal
assessment?
A. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
B. Inspection, Percussion, Palpation, Auscultation
C. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Percussion, Palpation
Answer: A
Rationale: Auscultation is performed before percussion and palpation to prevent
stimulating bowel activity, which would provide inaccurate findings.
2. In which quadrant would the nurse expect to find the appendix?
A. Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)
B. Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)
C. Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)
D. Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)
Answer: C
Rationale: The appendix is located in the Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ).
,3. What is the primary percussion note heard over most of the abdomen?
A. Hyperresonance
B. Dullness
C. Resonance
D. Tympany
Answer: D
Rationale: Tympany is the predominant sound because air in the intestines rises to the
surface when the patient is supine.
4. How long must a nurse listen to the abdomen before documenting ‘absent
bowel sounds’?
A. 1 minute
B. 2 minutes
C. 5 minutes
D. 3 minutes
Answer: C
Rationale: Absent bowel sounds are rare and must be confirmed by listening for a full 5
minutes in each quadrant if necessary.
5. A positive Murphy sign is most suggestive of which condition?
A. Splenomegaly
B. Appendicitis
C. Pancreatitis
D. Cholecystitis
Answer: D
Rationale: Murphy sign involves pain during deep inspiration while the nurse palpates the
liver border, indicating gallbladder inflammation.
, 6. Which sound is considered normal when percussing over the liver?
A. Dullness
B. Tympany
C. Flatness
D. Resonance
Answer: A
Rationale: Dullness is the expected percussion sound over solid organs like the liver.
7. The nurse notes a patient has ‘borborygmi.’ What does this term refer to?
A. Hyperactive ‘stomach growling’ sounds
B. Absent bowel sounds
C. Vascular bruits
D. Hypoactive bowel sounds
Answer: A
Rationale: Borborygmi are hyperactive bowel sounds characterized by loud, prolonged
gurgles, often called ‘stomach growling.’
8. Rebound tenderness (Blumberg sign) is a clinical indicator for:
A. Kidney stones
B. Peritoneal irritation or appendicitis
C. Liver failure
D. Gastroesophageal reflux
Answer: B
Rationale: Rebound tenderness occurs when pain is felt upon the release of pressure,
suggesting peritoneal inflammation or appendicitis.
