NSG 3160 EXAM 250 ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE ALREADY
GRADED A+ LATEST UPDATE 2026-2027
The NSG 3160 exam is a comprehensive health assessment course
examination for nursing students, focusing on foundational clinical skills and
patient evaluation techniques. The exam covers key content areas including
health history taking, physical examination techniques (inspection, palpation,
percussion, auscultation), assessment of all body systems (cardiovascular,
respiratory, neurological, abdominal, musculoskeletal, integumentary), and
documentation of findings. Students must demonstrate proficiency in
recognizing normal versus abnormal findings, understanding cultural
considerations, applying evidence-based practice, and prioritizing patient
safety. The exam emphasizes clinical reasoning, communication skills, and the
ability to perform a systematic, head-to-toe assessment across the lifespan,
preparing students for safe and effective nursing practice.
1. During a cultural assessment, which approach is most effective for
understanding a patient's health beliefs?
A) Assuming the patient shares the same beliefs as the majority culture
B) Asking only about religious preferences
C) Using open-ended questions to explore the patient's health practices
D) Relying solely on information from the patient's family
Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions allow patients to express their unique health
beliefs and practices without feeling judged. Cultural assessments should include
asking about ethnic background, religious preference, family patterns, food
preferences, and health practices . It is important to know the key topics to address
before the assessment and know how to address them without offending the patient
and family.
2. Which of the following is a first-level priority during a health assessment?
A) Pain management
B) Risk for infection
C) Airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs)
,D) Patient teaching about a new medication
Answer: C
Rationale: First-level priorities are emergent, life-threatening events. The ABCs
(Airway, Breathing, Circulation) are always the highest priority . Second-level
priorities include threats such as altered mental status, acute pain, and risk of
infection, while third-level priorities are important but can be addressed after more
urgent problems.
3. A nurse is preparing to interview a patient. Which technique is most appropriate
for gathering subjective data?
A) Using closed-ended questions to save time
B) Asking open-ended questions like "How have you been feeling lately?"
C) Taking notes throughout the interview to avoid forgetting details
D) Relying on the patient's medical records rather than a direct interview
Answer: B
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage patients to share their own
perspective, providing richer and more accurate subjective data than closed-ended
questions . Over-reliance on note-taking can be a distraction during the interview,
so the nurse should maintain eye contact and listen actively.
4. During a physical examination, the nurse uses palpation to assess which of the
following?
A) Breath sounds
B) Heart rhythm
C) Skin temperature and moisture
D) Visual acuity
Answer: C
Rationale: Palpation applies the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature,
moisture, organ location and size, swelling, vibration, pulsation, rigidity,
crepitation, and tenderness . Breath sounds and heart rhythm are assessed with
auscultation, while visual acuity is tested using a Snellen chart or similar tool.
5. The nurse performs percussion during an abdominal assessment and hears
tympany. This finding is expected over which abdominal organ?
A) Liver
B) Spleen
C) Stomach
D) Kidney
Answer: C
,Rationale: Tympany, a hollow, drum-like sound, is normally heard over air-filled
organs like the stomach and bowel . The liver and spleen produce dullness on
percussion due to their solid nature.
6. A nurse is assessing an older adult patient and notices a change in mental status.
Which of the following is the most likely cause?
A) Normal aging
B) Dementia, delirium, or depression
C) Lack of sleep
D) Separation from family
Answer: B
Rationale: Altered cognition in older adults is commonly attributed to dementia,
delirium, and depression, often referred to as the "3 Ds" . These conditions are not
normal parts of aging and require prompt assessment and intervention.
7. What is the recommended order of examination techniques for the abdomen?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C) Percussion, auscultation, palpation, inspection
D) Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
Answer: B
Rationale: For the abdomen, the sequence is inspection, auscultation, percussion,
and palpation (IAPP). Auscultation is performed before palpation and percussion
to prevent altering bowel sounds . For other systems, the general order is
inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
8. A patient presents with costovertebral angle tenderness. This finding is most
indicative of:
A) Kidney inflammation
B) Gallbladder inflammation
C) Appendicitis
D) Pancreatitis
Answer: A
Rationale: Costovertebral angle tenderness is a classic sign of kidney inflammation
or infection (pyelonephritis) . Gallbladder inflammation presents with pain in the
right upper quadrant (Murphy's sign). Appendicitis presents with right lower
quadrant pain.
9. During an abdominal assessment, the nurse percusses an area of dullness above
the right costal margin measuring approximately 11 cm. This finding is:
, A) A sign of hepatomegaly
B) A sign of splenomegaly
C) Within normal limits for the liver
D) A sign of ascites
Answer: C
Rationale: A dullness above the right costal margin measuring about 11 cm is a
normal finding for the liver size . Hepatomegaly would present as a larger area of
dullness. Ascites would present with shifting dullness across the abdomen.
10. When assessing a patient's abdomen, the nurse notes a pulsating mass. This
finding is most concerning for:
A) Aortic aneurysm
B) Normal abdominal aorta
C) Hernia
D) Splenomegaly
Answer: A
Rationale: A pulsating mass in the abdomen is a classic finding of an abdominal
aortic aneurysm . This is a medical emergency requiring immediate referral. While
the aorta may be palpable in thin patients, a distinct pulsating mass is abnormal and
indicates an aneurysm.
11. The nurse is assessing a patient for appendicitis. Which of the following is the
correct technique for eliciting rebound tenderness?
A) Palpate the left lower quadrant deeply and observe for pain in the right lower
quadrant
B) Apply deep pressure to the right lower quadrant and release it quickly
C) Percuss the right upper quadrant
D) Auscultate for bowel sounds in the right lower quadrant
Answer: B
Rationale: Rebound tenderness (Blumberg's sign) is assessed by applying deep
pressure to the abdomen and then quickly releasing it. Pain upon release indicates
peritoneal irritation, a sign of appendicitis . Rovsing's sign is pain in the right lower
quadrant when pressure is applied to the left lower quadrant.
12. A patient has black, tarry stools. This finding is most likely caused by:
A) Upper gastrointestinal bleeding
B) Iron supplements
C) Lower gastrointestinal bleeding
D) Hemorrhoids
Answer: A
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALE ALREADY
GRADED A+ LATEST UPDATE 2026-2027
The NSG 3160 exam is a comprehensive health assessment course
examination for nursing students, focusing on foundational clinical skills and
patient evaluation techniques. The exam covers key content areas including
health history taking, physical examination techniques (inspection, palpation,
percussion, auscultation), assessment of all body systems (cardiovascular,
respiratory, neurological, abdominal, musculoskeletal, integumentary), and
documentation of findings. Students must demonstrate proficiency in
recognizing normal versus abnormal findings, understanding cultural
considerations, applying evidence-based practice, and prioritizing patient
safety. The exam emphasizes clinical reasoning, communication skills, and the
ability to perform a systematic, head-to-toe assessment across the lifespan,
preparing students for safe and effective nursing practice.
1. During a cultural assessment, which approach is most effective for
understanding a patient's health beliefs?
A) Assuming the patient shares the same beliefs as the majority culture
B) Asking only about religious preferences
C) Using open-ended questions to explore the patient's health practices
D) Relying solely on information from the patient's family
Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions allow patients to express their unique health
beliefs and practices without feeling judged. Cultural assessments should include
asking about ethnic background, religious preference, family patterns, food
preferences, and health practices . It is important to know the key topics to address
before the assessment and know how to address them without offending the patient
and family.
2. Which of the following is a first-level priority during a health assessment?
A) Pain management
B) Risk for infection
C) Airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs)
,D) Patient teaching about a new medication
Answer: C
Rationale: First-level priorities are emergent, life-threatening events. The ABCs
(Airway, Breathing, Circulation) are always the highest priority . Second-level
priorities include threats such as altered mental status, acute pain, and risk of
infection, while third-level priorities are important but can be addressed after more
urgent problems.
3. A nurse is preparing to interview a patient. Which technique is most appropriate
for gathering subjective data?
A) Using closed-ended questions to save time
B) Asking open-ended questions like "How have you been feeling lately?"
C) Taking notes throughout the interview to avoid forgetting details
D) Relying on the patient's medical records rather than a direct interview
Answer: B
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage patients to share their own
perspective, providing richer and more accurate subjective data than closed-ended
questions . Over-reliance on note-taking can be a distraction during the interview,
so the nurse should maintain eye contact and listen actively.
4. During a physical examination, the nurse uses palpation to assess which of the
following?
A) Breath sounds
B) Heart rhythm
C) Skin temperature and moisture
D) Visual acuity
Answer: C
Rationale: Palpation applies the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature,
moisture, organ location and size, swelling, vibration, pulsation, rigidity,
crepitation, and tenderness . Breath sounds and heart rhythm are assessed with
auscultation, while visual acuity is tested using a Snellen chart or similar tool.
5. The nurse performs percussion during an abdominal assessment and hears
tympany. This finding is expected over which abdominal organ?
A) Liver
B) Spleen
C) Stomach
D) Kidney
Answer: C
,Rationale: Tympany, a hollow, drum-like sound, is normally heard over air-filled
organs like the stomach and bowel . The liver and spleen produce dullness on
percussion due to their solid nature.
6. A nurse is assessing an older adult patient and notices a change in mental status.
Which of the following is the most likely cause?
A) Normal aging
B) Dementia, delirium, or depression
C) Lack of sleep
D) Separation from family
Answer: B
Rationale: Altered cognition in older adults is commonly attributed to dementia,
delirium, and depression, often referred to as the "3 Ds" . These conditions are not
normal parts of aging and require prompt assessment and intervention.
7. What is the recommended order of examination techniques for the abdomen?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C) Percussion, auscultation, palpation, inspection
D) Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
Answer: B
Rationale: For the abdomen, the sequence is inspection, auscultation, percussion,
and palpation (IAPP). Auscultation is performed before palpation and percussion
to prevent altering bowel sounds . For other systems, the general order is
inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
8. A patient presents with costovertebral angle tenderness. This finding is most
indicative of:
A) Kidney inflammation
B) Gallbladder inflammation
C) Appendicitis
D) Pancreatitis
Answer: A
Rationale: Costovertebral angle tenderness is a classic sign of kidney inflammation
or infection (pyelonephritis) . Gallbladder inflammation presents with pain in the
right upper quadrant (Murphy's sign). Appendicitis presents with right lower
quadrant pain.
9. During an abdominal assessment, the nurse percusses an area of dullness above
the right costal margin measuring approximately 11 cm. This finding is:
, A) A sign of hepatomegaly
B) A sign of splenomegaly
C) Within normal limits for the liver
D) A sign of ascites
Answer: C
Rationale: A dullness above the right costal margin measuring about 11 cm is a
normal finding for the liver size . Hepatomegaly would present as a larger area of
dullness. Ascites would present with shifting dullness across the abdomen.
10. When assessing a patient's abdomen, the nurse notes a pulsating mass. This
finding is most concerning for:
A) Aortic aneurysm
B) Normal abdominal aorta
C) Hernia
D) Splenomegaly
Answer: A
Rationale: A pulsating mass in the abdomen is a classic finding of an abdominal
aortic aneurysm . This is a medical emergency requiring immediate referral. While
the aorta may be palpable in thin patients, a distinct pulsating mass is abnormal and
indicates an aneurysm.
11. The nurse is assessing a patient for appendicitis. Which of the following is the
correct technique for eliciting rebound tenderness?
A) Palpate the left lower quadrant deeply and observe for pain in the right lower
quadrant
B) Apply deep pressure to the right lower quadrant and release it quickly
C) Percuss the right upper quadrant
D) Auscultate for bowel sounds in the right lower quadrant
Answer: B
Rationale: Rebound tenderness (Blumberg's sign) is assessed by applying deep
pressure to the abdomen and then quickly releasing it. Pain upon release indicates
peritoneal irritation, a sign of appendicitis . Rovsing's sign is pain in the right lower
quadrant when pressure is applied to the left lower quadrant.
12. A patient has black, tarry stools. This finding is most likely caused by:
A) Upper gastrointestinal bleeding
B) Iron supplements
C) Lower gastrointestinal bleeding
D) Hemorrhoids
Answer: A
