NR 305 Cardiovascular & Respiratory Assessment Practice Pack 2026
|Chamberlain College
1. During a cardiovascular assessment, where is the apical pulse or Point of
Maximal Impulse (PMI) normally located?
A. Second intercostal space at the right sternal border
B. Fourth intercostal space at the left sternal border
C. Fifth intercostal space at the left midclavicular line
D. Second intercostal space at the left sternal border
Answer: C
Rationale: The apical pulse is found at the fifth intercostal space (ICS) at the midclavicular
line (MCL) in healthy adults.
2. Which heart sound is caused by the closure of the atrioventricular (mitral and
tricuspid) valves?
A. S2
B. S1
C. S3
D. S4
Answer: B
Rationale: S1 occurs with the closure of the AV valves and signals the beginning of systole.
,3. Where is the aortic valve auscultation area located?
A. Second left intercostal space
B. Fifth left intercostal space
C. Third left intercostal space
D. Second right intercostal space
Answer: D
Rationale: The aortic area is located in the second right intercostal space at the right
sternal border.
4. A nurse hears a high-pitched, musical sound during expiration while assessing
a patient’s lungs. This sound is documented as:
A. Crackles
B. Rhonchi
C. Stridor
D. Wheezes
Answer: D
Rationale: Wheezes are continuous musical sounds heard mainly over expiration, caused
by narrowed air passages.
5. Which assessment finding is most suggestive of right-sided heart failure?
A. Crackles in lung bases
B. Jugular venous distention (JVD)
C. Shortness of breath
D. Orthopnea
Answer: B
Rationale: Right-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the systemic circulation,
leading to JVD and peripheral edema.
, 6. When percussing the lungs of a healthy adult, which sound should the nurse
expect to hear?
A. Dullness
B. Hyperresonance
C. Flatness
D. Resonance
Answer: D
Rationale: Resonance is the low-pitched, clear, hollow sound that predominates in healthy
lung tissue.
7. What does an AP-to-transverse diameter ratio of 1:1 (barrel chest) typically
indicate?
A. Pneumonia
B. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
C. Normal aging
D. Heart failure
Answer: B
Rationale: A barrel chest is associated with chronic hyperinflation of the lungs, common in
COPD or emphysema.
8. The nurse is auscultating the heart and hears S2. This sound represents the
closure of which valves?
A. Mitral and Tricuspid
B. Aortic and Mitral
C. Aortic and Pulmonic
D. Pulmonic and Tricuspid
Answer: C
Rationale: S2 occurs with the closure of the semilunar valves (aortic and pulmonic) and
signals the end of systole.
|Chamberlain College
1. During a cardiovascular assessment, where is the apical pulse or Point of
Maximal Impulse (PMI) normally located?
A. Second intercostal space at the right sternal border
B. Fourth intercostal space at the left sternal border
C. Fifth intercostal space at the left midclavicular line
D. Second intercostal space at the left sternal border
Answer: C
Rationale: The apical pulse is found at the fifth intercostal space (ICS) at the midclavicular
line (MCL) in healthy adults.
2. Which heart sound is caused by the closure of the atrioventricular (mitral and
tricuspid) valves?
A. S2
B. S1
C. S3
D. S4
Answer: B
Rationale: S1 occurs with the closure of the AV valves and signals the beginning of systole.
,3. Where is the aortic valve auscultation area located?
A. Second left intercostal space
B. Fifth left intercostal space
C. Third left intercostal space
D. Second right intercostal space
Answer: D
Rationale: The aortic area is located in the second right intercostal space at the right
sternal border.
4. A nurse hears a high-pitched, musical sound during expiration while assessing
a patient’s lungs. This sound is documented as:
A. Crackles
B. Rhonchi
C. Stridor
D. Wheezes
Answer: D
Rationale: Wheezes are continuous musical sounds heard mainly over expiration, caused
by narrowed air passages.
5. Which assessment finding is most suggestive of right-sided heart failure?
A. Crackles in lung bases
B. Jugular venous distention (JVD)
C. Shortness of breath
D. Orthopnea
Answer: B
Rationale: Right-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the systemic circulation,
leading to JVD and peripheral edema.
, 6. When percussing the lungs of a healthy adult, which sound should the nurse
expect to hear?
A. Dullness
B. Hyperresonance
C. Flatness
D. Resonance
Answer: D
Rationale: Resonance is the low-pitched, clear, hollow sound that predominates in healthy
lung tissue.
7. What does an AP-to-transverse diameter ratio of 1:1 (barrel chest) typically
indicate?
A. Pneumonia
B. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
C. Normal aging
D. Heart failure
Answer: B
Rationale: A barrel chest is associated with chronic hyperinflation of the lungs, common in
COPD or emphysema.
8. The nurse is auscultating the heart and hears S2. This sound represents the
closure of which valves?
A. Mitral and Tricuspid
B. Aortic and Mitral
C. Aortic and Pulmonic
D. Pulmonic and Tricuspid
Answer: C
Rationale: S2 occurs with the closure of the semilunar valves (aortic and pulmonic) and
signals the end of systole.
