West Coast University NURS 190 Exam 1 (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Physical
Assessment Q&A | Nursing
1. A nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment on a client. Which
of the following is the correct order of the four basic physical assessment
techniques?
A) Palpation, Inspection, Percussion, Auscultation
B) Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
C) Inspection, Percussion, Palpation, Auscultation
D) Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
Correct Answer: Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
Rationale: The standard order for a general physical assessment is
Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, and Auscultation . This sequence prevents
altering findings (e.g., palpation and percussion can stimulate bowel sounds,
making auscultation less reliable). The abdominal assessment is an
exception where auscultation is performed after inspection but before
palpation and percussion to avoid altering bowel sounds .
2. A nurse is performing an abdominal assessment on a client. In which order
should the nurse perform the assessment techniques?
A) Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B) Inspection, Auscultation, Palpation, Percussion
C) Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
D) Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Correct Answer: Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
Rationale: For abdominal assessment, the order is Inspection, Auscultation,
Percussion, and Palpation . Auscultation is performed before palpation and
,percussion to avoid altering bowel sounds, which could lead to inaccurate
assessment of gastrointestinal motility.
3. A nurse is preparing to palpate a client's abdomen. Which part of the hand
should the nurse use to assess the texture, consistency, and size of
underlying structures?
A) The dorsal surface of the fingers
B) The palmar aspect of the fingers
C) The ulnar surface of the hand
D) The base of the fingers (metacarpophalangeal joints)
Correct Answer: The palmar aspect of the fingers
Rationale: The palmar aspect of the fingers is used to determine position,
consistency, texture, and size of underlying structures, as well as pain and
tenderness . The dorsal surface is most sensitive to temperature , the ulnar
surface is most sensitive to vibrations (fremitus) , and the base of the fingers
is best for perceiving vibrations .
4. A nurse is assessing a client's peripheral pulses. Which part of the hand
should the nurse use for optimal discrimination of pulses and superficial
lymph nodes?
A) The dorsal surface of the fingers
B) The palmar aspect of the fingers
C) The finger pads
D) The ulnar surface of the hand
Correct Answer: The finger pads
,Rationale: The finger pads are used for discrimination of underlying
structures and functions such as pulses, superficial lymph nodes, or
crepitus . The dorsal surface is for temperature, the palmar aspect for
texture and size, and the ulnar surface for vibrations such as fremitus.
5. The nurse is assessing a client's lungs for tactile fremitus. Which part of
the hand should the nurse use to best perceive these vibrations?
A) The finger pads
B) The dorsal surface of the fingers
C) The palmar aspect of the fingers
D) The ulnar surface of the hand
Correct Answer: The ulnar surface of the hand
Rationale: The ulnar surface of the hand, including the finger, is most
sensitive to vibrations such as fremitus . The finger pads are for pulses, the
dorsal surface is for temperature, and the palmar aspect is for texture and
size.
6. A nurse is performing light palpation on a client. What is the depth of light
palpation?
A) 0.5 cm
B) 1 cm
C) 2-4 cm
D) 5 cm
Correct Answer: 1 cm
Rationale: Light palpation is used with the pads of the fingers to help assess
the skin surface, pulses, textures, and tenderness at a depth of
, approximately 1 cm . Deep palpation is used to palpate the abdomen and
internal organs at a depth of 2-4 cm .
7. The nurse is performing deep palpation on a client's abdomen. Which
condition is a contraindication for deep palpation?
A) Constipation
B) Gastritis
C) Dissecting aneurysm
D) Urinary tract infection
Correct Answer: Dissecting aneurysm
Rationale: Deep palpation is contraindicated in clients with dissecting
aneurysms, peritonitis, or ectopic pregnancy . These conditions can be
exacerbated or ruptured by deep palpation, leading to life-threatening
complications.
8. A nurse is percussing a client's sinuses. Which percussion technique
should the nurse use?
A) Blunt percussion
B) Direct percussion
C) Indirect percussion
D) Fist percussion
Correct Answer: Direct percussion
Rationale: Direct percussion is the technique of tapping the body with the
fingertips of the dominant hand and is used to assess adult sinuses . Blunt
percussion is used for the gallbladder, liver, and kidneys . Indirect percussion
is the most commonly used technique for general assessment .
Assessment Q&A | Nursing
1. A nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment on a client. Which
of the following is the correct order of the four basic physical assessment
techniques?
A) Palpation, Inspection, Percussion, Auscultation
B) Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
C) Inspection, Percussion, Palpation, Auscultation
D) Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
Correct Answer: Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
Rationale: The standard order for a general physical assessment is
Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, and Auscultation . This sequence prevents
altering findings (e.g., palpation and percussion can stimulate bowel sounds,
making auscultation less reliable). The abdominal assessment is an
exception where auscultation is performed after inspection but before
palpation and percussion to avoid altering bowel sounds .
2. A nurse is performing an abdominal assessment on a client. In which order
should the nurse perform the assessment techniques?
A) Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B) Inspection, Auscultation, Palpation, Percussion
C) Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
D) Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Correct Answer: Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
Rationale: For abdominal assessment, the order is Inspection, Auscultation,
Percussion, and Palpation . Auscultation is performed before palpation and
,percussion to avoid altering bowel sounds, which could lead to inaccurate
assessment of gastrointestinal motility.
3. A nurse is preparing to palpate a client's abdomen. Which part of the hand
should the nurse use to assess the texture, consistency, and size of
underlying structures?
A) The dorsal surface of the fingers
B) The palmar aspect of the fingers
C) The ulnar surface of the hand
D) The base of the fingers (metacarpophalangeal joints)
Correct Answer: The palmar aspect of the fingers
Rationale: The palmar aspect of the fingers is used to determine position,
consistency, texture, and size of underlying structures, as well as pain and
tenderness . The dorsal surface is most sensitive to temperature , the ulnar
surface is most sensitive to vibrations (fremitus) , and the base of the fingers
is best for perceiving vibrations .
4. A nurse is assessing a client's peripheral pulses. Which part of the hand
should the nurse use for optimal discrimination of pulses and superficial
lymph nodes?
A) The dorsal surface of the fingers
B) The palmar aspect of the fingers
C) The finger pads
D) The ulnar surface of the hand
Correct Answer: The finger pads
,Rationale: The finger pads are used for discrimination of underlying
structures and functions such as pulses, superficial lymph nodes, or
crepitus . The dorsal surface is for temperature, the palmar aspect for
texture and size, and the ulnar surface for vibrations such as fremitus.
5. The nurse is assessing a client's lungs for tactile fremitus. Which part of
the hand should the nurse use to best perceive these vibrations?
A) The finger pads
B) The dorsal surface of the fingers
C) The palmar aspect of the fingers
D) The ulnar surface of the hand
Correct Answer: The ulnar surface of the hand
Rationale: The ulnar surface of the hand, including the finger, is most
sensitive to vibrations such as fremitus . The finger pads are for pulses, the
dorsal surface is for temperature, and the palmar aspect is for texture and
size.
6. A nurse is performing light palpation on a client. What is the depth of light
palpation?
A) 0.5 cm
B) 1 cm
C) 2-4 cm
D) 5 cm
Correct Answer: 1 cm
Rationale: Light palpation is used with the pads of the fingers to help assess
the skin surface, pulses, textures, and tenderness at a depth of
, approximately 1 cm . Deep palpation is used to palpate the abdomen and
internal organs at a depth of 2-4 cm .
7. The nurse is performing deep palpation on a client's abdomen. Which
condition is a contraindication for deep palpation?
A) Constipation
B) Gastritis
C) Dissecting aneurysm
D) Urinary tract infection
Correct Answer: Dissecting aneurysm
Rationale: Deep palpation is contraindicated in clients with dissecting
aneurysms, peritonitis, or ectopic pregnancy . These conditions can be
exacerbated or ruptured by deep palpation, leading to life-threatening
complications.
8. A nurse is percussing a client's sinuses. Which percussion technique
should the nurse use?
A) Blunt percussion
B) Direct percussion
C) Indirect percussion
D) Fist percussion
Correct Answer: Direct percussion
Rationale: Direct percussion is the technique of tapping the body with the
fingertips of the dominant hand and is used to assess adult sinuses . Blunt
percussion is used for the gallbladder, liver, and kidneys . Indirect percussion
is the most commonly used technique for general assessment .
