NURS 5220 Exam 2 – Practice Questions, Study Guide & Nursing Exam
Review 2026
Aaron sign - correct answer ✔✔Pain or distress occurs in the area of the patient's heart or
stomach on palpation of McBurney's point
Appendicitis
Ballance sign - correct answer ✔✔Fixed dullness to percussion in left flank, and dullness in right
flank that disappears on change of position
Peritonitis
Blumberg sign - correct answer ✔✔rebound tenderness
peritonitis, appendicitis
Cullen sign - correct answer ✔✔bruising around umbilicus
pancreatitis or ectopic pregnancy
Dance sign - correct answer ✔✔absence of bowel sounds in RLQ
intussusception
Grey Turner sign - correct answer ✔✔Ecchymosis of flanks
Hemoperitoneum; pancreatitis
Kehr sign - correct answer ✔✔abdominal pain radiating to the left shoulder
spleen rupture, ectopic pregnancy, renal calculi
, Markle sign (heel jar) - correct answer ✔✔abdominal pain when running, jumping, RLQ pain
when pt drops from tip toes to heel with jarring landing
appendicitis, peritonitis
McBurney's sign - correct answer ✔✔rebound tenderness associated with appendicitis (RLQ)
Murphy's sign - correct answer ✔✔Abrupt cessation of inspiration with palpation of gall bladder
cholecystitis
Romberg test - correct answer ✔✔Ask client to stand with feet at comfortable distance apart,
arms at sides, and eyes closed
-expected finding: client should be able to stand with minimal swaying for at least 5 seconds
-strangulated obturator hernia
Rovsing's sign - correct answer ✔✔Pain in RLQ with palpation of LLQ indicative of appendicitis
Iliopsoas muscle test - correct answer ✔✔RLQ pain that occurs when placing pressure against a
raised leg, suggesting appendicitis
Obturator muscle test - correct answer ✔✔have patient flex right leg at hip and knee; then
rotate hip externally and lower leg medially
-possible appendicitis, pelvic abscess
Percussion for ascites - correct answer ✔✔- Fluid associated with ascites will sink with GRAVITY
and gas filled loops of bowel will rise to top of abdomen
- Percussion sounds will be dull in dependent areas of abdomen
- Assess for shifting dullness by having patient lie on the side
-fluid wave
Review 2026
Aaron sign - correct answer ✔✔Pain or distress occurs in the area of the patient's heart or
stomach on palpation of McBurney's point
Appendicitis
Ballance sign - correct answer ✔✔Fixed dullness to percussion in left flank, and dullness in right
flank that disappears on change of position
Peritonitis
Blumberg sign - correct answer ✔✔rebound tenderness
peritonitis, appendicitis
Cullen sign - correct answer ✔✔bruising around umbilicus
pancreatitis or ectopic pregnancy
Dance sign - correct answer ✔✔absence of bowel sounds in RLQ
intussusception
Grey Turner sign - correct answer ✔✔Ecchymosis of flanks
Hemoperitoneum; pancreatitis
Kehr sign - correct answer ✔✔abdominal pain radiating to the left shoulder
spleen rupture, ectopic pregnancy, renal calculi
, Markle sign (heel jar) - correct answer ✔✔abdominal pain when running, jumping, RLQ pain
when pt drops from tip toes to heel with jarring landing
appendicitis, peritonitis
McBurney's sign - correct answer ✔✔rebound tenderness associated with appendicitis (RLQ)
Murphy's sign - correct answer ✔✔Abrupt cessation of inspiration with palpation of gall bladder
cholecystitis
Romberg test - correct answer ✔✔Ask client to stand with feet at comfortable distance apart,
arms at sides, and eyes closed
-expected finding: client should be able to stand with minimal swaying for at least 5 seconds
-strangulated obturator hernia
Rovsing's sign - correct answer ✔✔Pain in RLQ with palpation of LLQ indicative of appendicitis
Iliopsoas muscle test - correct answer ✔✔RLQ pain that occurs when placing pressure against a
raised leg, suggesting appendicitis
Obturator muscle test - correct answer ✔✔have patient flex right leg at hip and knee; then
rotate hip externally and lower leg medially
-possible appendicitis, pelvic abscess
Percussion for ascites - correct answer ✔✔- Fluid associated with ascites will sink with GRAVITY
and gas filled loops of bowel will rise to top of abdomen
- Percussion sounds will be dull in dependent areas of abdomen
- Assess for shifting dullness by having patient lie on the side
-fluid wave
