Test Bank for Physical Examination and
Health Assessment 9th Edition by Carolyn
Jarvis and Ann L. Eckhardt| All chapters |
2026 Latest Update
CHAPTER 1: EVIDENCE-BASED ASSESSMENT
Question 1
The nurse is performing a physical assessment on a newly admitted patient. Which
action is the first step in the assessment process?
A) Palpation
B) Percussion
C) Auscultation
D) Inspection
Rationale: Inspection is always the first technique performed in a physical examination. It
begins with the first encounter and continues throughout the examination. Palpation,
percussion, and auscultation follow in sequence .
Question 2
,Which of these techniques uses the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature,
moisture, and swelling when the nurse is assessing a patient?
A) Inspection
B) Palpation
C) Percussion
D) Auscultation
Rationale: Palpation uses the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature, moisture, and
swelling. The fingertips are best for fine tactile discrimination, while the dorsal surface of
the hand is best for assessing temperature .
Question 3
The nurse is unable to identify any changes in sound when percussing over the
abdomen of an obese patient. What should the nurse do next?
A) Ask the patient to take deep breaths to relax the abdominal musculature
B) Consider this finding as normal, and proceed with the abdominal assessment
C) Increase the amount of strength used when attempting to percuss over the
abdomen
D) Decrease the amount of strength used when attempting to percuss over the
abdomen
Rationale: In an obese patient, increased adipose tissue dampens percussion sounds. The
nurse should increase the force of percussion to penetrate through the tissue layers to
assess underlying structures .
Question 4
The nurse hears bilateral loud, long, and low tones when percussing over the lungs of a
4-year-old child. The nurse should:
A) Palpate over the area for increased pain and tenderness
B) Ask the child to take shallow breaths, and percuss over the area again
,C) Immediately refer the child because of an increased amount of air in the lungs
D) Consider this finding as normal for a child this age, and proceed with the
examination
Rationale: In children, the chest wall is thinner and lung fields are smaller, producing a
more resonant percussion note than in adults. Loud, long, low tones (hyperresonance) are
a normal finding in children .
Question 5
A patient has suddenly developed shortness of breath and appears to be in significant
respiratory distress. After calling the physician and placing the patient on oxygen, which
of these actions is the best for the nurse to take when further assessing the patient?
A) Count the patient's respirations
B) Bilaterally percuss the thorax, noting any differences in percussion tones
C) Call for a chest x-ray study, and wait for the results before beginning an assessment
D) Inspect the thorax for any new masses and bleeding associated with respirations
Rationale: Percussion of the thorax can quickly identify abnormalities such as pleural
effusion (dullness) or pneumothorax (hyperresonance). This immediate assessment guides
further intervention while waiting for diagnostic studies .
Question 6
What is the purpose of assessment in nursing?
A) To collect information only for the medical record
B) To collect subjective and objective data about a patient's health to make a
judgment or diagnosis
C) To establish a therapeutic relationship with the patient
D) To determine the patient's insurance coverage
Rationale: The assessment phase of the nursing process involves collecting subjective and
objective data about a patient's health to make a clinical judgment or diagnosis .
, Question 7
What types of data are included in nursing assessment?
A) Subjective data (information from the patient) and objective data (information
obtained through observation and examination)
B) Only physical examination findings
C) Only laboratory and diagnostic test results
D) Only the patient's medical history
Rationale: Nursing assessment includes both subjective data (what the patient tells you)
and objective data (what you observe and measure). Both types of data are essential for
accurate clinical judgment .
Question 8
What is the difference between subjective and objective data?
A) Subjective data is always more reliable than objective data
B) Subjective data includes patient complaints and feelings, while objective data
includes observable and measurable facts
C) Objective data is collected only through laboratory tests
D) There is no difference between subjective and objective data
Rationale: Subjective data includes the patient's feelings, perceptions, and concerns.
Objective data includes observable and measurable information obtained through physical
examination, laboratory tests, and other diagnostic measures .
Question 9
What are the six phases of the nursing process?
Health Assessment 9th Edition by Carolyn
Jarvis and Ann L. Eckhardt| All chapters |
2026 Latest Update
CHAPTER 1: EVIDENCE-BASED ASSESSMENT
Question 1
The nurse is performing a physical assessment on a newly admitted patient. Which
action is the first step in the assessment process?
A) Palpation
B) Percussion
C) Auscultation
D) Inspection
Rationale: Inspection is always the first technique performed in a physical examination. It
begins with the first encounter and continues throughout the examination. Palpation,
percussion, and auscultation follow in sequence .
Question 2
,Which of these techniques uses the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature,
moisture, and swelling when the nurse is assessing a patient?
A) Inspection
B) Palpation
C) Percussion
D) Auscultation
Rationale: Palpation uses the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature, moisture, and
swelling. The fingertips are best for fine tactile discrimination, while the dorsal surface of
the hand is best for assessing temperature .
Question 3
The nurse is unable to identify any changes in sound when percussing over the
abdomen of an obese patient. What should the nurse do next?
A) Ask the patient to take deep breaths to relax the abdominal musculature
B) Consider this finding as normal, and proceed with the abdominal assessment
C) Increase the amount of strength used when attempting to percuss over the
abdomen
D) Decrease the amount of strength used when attempting to percuss over the
abdomen
Rationale: In an obese patient, increased adipose tissue dampens percussion sounds. The
nurse should increase the force of percussion to penetrate through the tissue layers to
assess underlying structures .
Question 4
The nurse hears bilateral loud, long, and low tones when percussing over the lungs of a
4-year-old child. The nurse should:
A) Palpate over the area for increased pain and tenderness
B) Ask the child to take shallow breaths, and percuss over the area again
,C) Immediately refer the child because of an increased amount of air in the lungs
D) Consider this finding as normal for a child this age, and proceed with the
examination
Rationale: In children, the chest wall is thinner and lung fields are smaller, producing a
more resonant percussion note than in adults. Loud, long, low tones (hyperresonance) are
a normal finding in children .
Question 5
A patient has suddenly developed shortness of breath and appears to be in significant
respiratory distress. After calling the physician and placing the patient on oxygen, which
of these actions is the best for the nurse to take when further assessing the patient?
A) Count the patient's respirations
B) Bilaterally percuss the thorax, noting any differences in percussion tones
C) Call for a chest x-ray study, and wait for the results before beginning an assessment
D) Inspect the thorax for any new masses and bleeding associated with respirations
Rationale: Percussion of the thorax can quickly identify abnormalities such as pleural
effusion (dullness) or pneumothorax (hyperresonance). This immediate assessment guides
further intervention while waiting for diagnostic studies .
Question 6
What is the purpose of assessment in nursing?
A) To collect information only for the medical record
B) To collect subjective and objective data about a patient's health to make a
judgment or diagnosis
C) To establish a therapeutic relationship with the patient
D) To determine the patient's insurance coverage
Rationale: The assessment phase of the nursing process involves collecting subjective and
objective data about a patient's health to make a clinical judgment or diagnosis .
, Question 7
What types of data are included in nursing assessment?
A) Subjective data (information from the patient) and objective data (information
obtained through observation and examination)
B) Only physical examination findings
C) Only laboratory and diagnostic test results
D) Only the patient's medical history
Rationale: Nursing assessment includes both subjective data (what the patient tells you)
and objective data (what you observe and measure). Both types of data are essential for
accurate clinical judgment .
Question 8
What is the difference between subjective and objective data?
A) Subjective data is always more reliable than objective data
B) Subjective data includes patient complaints and feelings, while objective data
includes observable and measurable facts
C) Objective data is collected only through laboratory tests
D) There is no difference between subjective and objective data
Rationale: Subjective data includes the patient's feelings, perceptions, and concerns.
Objective data includes observable and measurable information obtained through physical
examination, laboratory tests, and other diagnostic measures .
Question 9
What are the six phases of the nursing process?
