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ATI Physical Assessment Practice Exam Preparation
With Complete Questions And Correct Answers With
Rationales Already Graded A+ Brand New Version!!
1. A nurse is preparing to perform a comprehensive physical
assessment on an adult client. Which of the following should the nurse
do first?
A. Palpate the abdomen
B. Auscultate breath sounds
C. Inspect the client's general appearance
D. Percuss the thorax
Answer: C. Inspection is always the first assessment technique used in a
physical examination. It begins the moment the nurse meets the client
and continues throughout the assessment. Palpation, percussion, and
auscultation follow inspection to avoid altering findings before
observation is complete.
2. A nurse is assessing a client's skin turgor. Which of the following is
the correct technique?
A. Pinch the skin on the client's forearm
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B. Pinch the skin on the client's sternum
C. Pinch the skin on the client's abdomen
D. Pinch the skin on the client's hand
Answer: A. Skin turgor is best assessed by pinching the skin on the
client's forearm or the back of the hand. Reduced turgor, indicated by
skin that does not return to its normal position quickly, suggests
dehydration.
3. A nurse auscultates a client's lungs and hears wet, popping sounds
during inspiration. The nurse should document this finding as:
A. Wheezes
B. Rhonchi
C. Crackles
D. Stridor
Answer: C. Crackles are discontinuous, high-pitched, popping sounds
heard during inspiration, often associated with fluid in the alveoli.
Wheezes are continuous, musical sounds; rhonchi are low-pitched
snoring sounds; stridor is a high-pitched crowing sound heard on
inspiration, indicating upper airway obstruction.
4. A client reports pain in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. The
nurse applies pressure to the area and notes increased pain when the
pressure is released. This finding is known as:
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A. Rebound tenderness
B. Guarding
C. Rigidity
D. CVA tenderness
Answer: A. Rebound tenderness, or Blumberg's sign, is pain that
increases when pressure is removed from the abdomen. It is a classic
sign of peritoneal irritation, such as that seen in appendicitis.
5. A nurse is performing the Romberg test on a client. The purpose of
this test is to assess:
A. Hearing acuity
B. Balance and cerebellar function
C. Visual acuity
D. Sensation in the lower extremities
Answer: B. The Romberg test evaluates balance and cerebellar function
by asking the client to stand with feet together and eyes closed.
Swaying or loss of balance indicates a positive Romberg test, suggesting
cerebellar or vestibular dysfunction.
6. Which of the following pulses is palpated by placing fingers on the
great toe and the toe next to it?
A. Posterior tibial
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B. Dorsalis pedis
C. Popliteal
D. Femoral
Answer: B. The dorsalis pedis pulse is palpated on the dorsum of the
foot, between the extensor tendons of the great toe and the second toe.
It is an important pulse for assessing perfusion to the foot.
7. A nurse is assessing a client's cranial nerves. Which of the following
actions indicates that cranial nerve I (olfactory) is intact?
A. The client can identify a minty scent
B. The client can read a Snellen chart
C. The client can taste a sweet substance
D. The client can move their tongue from side to side
Answer: A. Cranial nerve I, the olfactory nerve, is responsible for the
sense of smell. Asking the client to identify a familiar scent, such as mint
or coffee, tests this nerve. The Snellen chart tests vision (CN II), taste
tests CN VII and IX, and tongue movement tests CN XII.
8. A nurse is preparing to auscultate a client's abdomen. In which order
should the nurse perform abdominal assessment techniques?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
ATI Physical Assessment Practice Exam Preparation
With Complete Questions And Correct Answers With
Rationales Already Graded A+ Brand New Version!!
1. A nurse is preparing to perform a comprehensive physical
assessment on an adult client. Which of the following should the nurse
do first?
A. Palpate the abdomen
B. Auscultate breath sounds
C. Inspect the client's general appearance
D. Percuss the thorax
Answer: C. Inspection is always the first assessment technique used in a
physical examination. It begins the moment the nurse meets the client
and continues throughout the assessment. Palpation, percussion, and
auscultation follow inspection to avoid altering findings before
observation is complete.
2. A nurse is assessing a client's skin turgor. Which of the following is
the correct technique?
A. Pinch the skin on the client's forearm
,2|Page
B. Pinch the skin on the client's sternum
C. Pinch the skin on the client's abdomen
D. Pinch the skin on the client's hand
Answer: A. Skin turgor is best assessed by pinching the skin on the
client's forearm or the back of the hand. Reduced turgor, indicated by
skin that does not return to its normal position quickly, suggests
dehydration.
3. A nurse auscultates a client's lungs and hears wet, popping sounds
during inspiration. The nurse should document this finding as:
A. Wheezes
B. Rhonchi
C. Crackles
D. Stridor
Answer: C. Crackles are discontinuous, high-pitched, popping sounds
heard during inspiration, often associated with fluid in the alveoli.
Wheezes are continuous, musical sounds; rhonchi are low-pitched
snoring sounds; stridor is a high-pitched crowing sound heard on
inspiration, indicating upper airway obstruction.
4. A client reports pain in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. The
nurse applies pressure to the area and notes increased pain when the
pressure is released. This finding is known as:
,3|Page
A. Rebound tenderness
B. Guarding
C. Rigidity
D. CVA tenderness
Answer: A. Rebound tenderness, or Blumberg's sign, is pain that
increases when pressure is removed from the abdomen. It is a classic
sign of peritoneal irritation, such as that seen in appendicitis.
5. A nurse is performing the Romberg test on a client. The purpose of
this test is to assess:
A. Hearing acuity
B. Balance and cerebellar function
C. Visual acuity
D. Sensation in the lower extremities
Answer: B. The Romberg test evaluates balance and cerebellar function
by asking the client to stand with feet together and eyes closed.
Swaying or loss of balance indicates a positive Romberg test, suggesting
cerebellar or vestibular dysfunction.
6. Which of the following pulses is palpated by placing fingers on the
great toe and the toe next to it?
A. Posterior tibial
, 4|Page
B. Dorsalis pedis
C. Popliteal
D. Femoral
Answer: B. The dorsalis pedis pulse is palpated on the dorsum of the
foot, between the extensor tendons of the great toe and the second toe.
It is an important pulse for assessing perfusion to the foot.
7. A nurse is assessing a client's cranial nerves. Which of the following
actions indicates that cranial nerve I (olfactory) is intact?
A. The client can identify a minty scent
B. The client can read a Snellen chart
C. The client can taste a sweet substance
D. The client can move their tongue from side to side
Answer: A. Cranial nerve I, the olfactory nerve, is responsible for the
sense of smell. Asking the client to identify a familiar scent, such as mint
or coffee, tests this nerve. The Snellen chart tests vision (CN II), taste
tests CN VII and IX, and tongue movement tests CN XII.
8. A nurse is preparing to auscultate a client's abdomen. In which order
should the nurse perform abdominal assessment techniques?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
