NURS 190 PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT
COMPREHENSIVE WEEK 12 QUIZ
1. When performing a neurological assessment, the nurse asks the patient to shrug their
shoulders against resistance. Which cranial nerve is being evaluated?
A. Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory)
B. Cranial Nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal)
C. Cranial Nerve VII (Facial)
D. Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal)
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Cranial Nerve XI, the Spinal Accessory nerve, controls the
sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, which are responsible for shrugging the
shoulders and turning the head.
2. During an abdominal assessment, the nurse notes a positive Murphy’s sign. This finding is
most indicative of which condition?
A. Appendicitis
B. Splenomegaly
C. Peritonitis
,D. Cholecystitis
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A positive Murphy’s sign occurs when a patient experiences
sharp pain and abruptly stops inspiration during palpation of the right upper quadrant,
indicating gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis).
3. The nurse is assessing a patient with suspected consolidation in the right lower lobe. Which
finding would the nurse expect during tactile fremitus?
A. Decreased vibrations
B. Absent vibrations
C. Symmetric vibrations
D. Increased vibrations
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Tactile fremitus is increased over areas of lung consolidation
(such as pneumonia) because solid or fluid-filled tissue conducts sound vibrations better
than air.
4. When auscultating the heart, where is the best location to hear the Mitral valve?
A. Second intercostal space, right sternal border
B. Second intercostal space, left sternal border
C. Fourth intercostal space, left sternal border
, D. Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The mitral valve (apex of the heart) is best auscultated at the
fifth intercostal space at the left midclavicular line.
5. A patient presents with ‘clubbing’ of the fingernails. This physical finding is most commonly
associated with which chronic condition?
A. Vitamin D deficiency
B. Iron deficiency anemia
C. Acute bacterial infection
D. Chronic hypoxia
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Clubbing involves a change in the nail bed angle (greater than
180 degrees) and is typically caused by chronic hypoxia associated with congenital heart
disease or chronic lung disease.
6. The nurse performs the Weber test on a patient. The patient reports hearing the sound
louder in the right ear. This lateralization suggests:
A. Normal hearing in both ears
B. Sensorineural hearing loss in the right ear
C. Conductive hearing loss in the right ear or sensorineural loss in the left
COMPREHENSIVE WEEK 12 QUIZ
1. When performing a neurological assessment, the nurse asks the patient to shrug their
shoulders against resistance. Which cranial nerve is being evaluated?
A. Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory)
B. Cranial Nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal)
C. Cranial Nerve VII (Facial)
D. Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal)
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Cranial Nerve XI, the Spinal Accessory nerve, controls the
sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles, which are responsible for shrugging the
shoulders and turning the head.
2. During an abdominal assessment, the nurse notes a positive Murphy’s sign. This finding is
most indicative of which condition?
A. Appendicitis
B. Splenomegaly
C. Peritonitis
,D. Cholecystitis
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A positive Murphy’s sign occurs when a patient experiences
sharp pain and abruptly stops inspiration during palpation of the right upper quadrant,
indicating gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis).
3. The nurse is assessing a patient with suspected consolidation in the right lower lobe. Which
finding would the nurse expect during tactile fremitus?
A. Decreased vibrations
B. Absent vibrations
C. Symmetric vibrations
D. Increased vibrations
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Tactile fremitus is increased over areas of lung consolidation
(such as pneumonia) because solid or fluid-filled tissue conducts sound vibrations better
than air.
4. When auscultating the heart, where is the best location to hear the Mitral valve?
A. Second intercostal space, right sternal border
B. Second intercostal space, left sternal border
C. Fourth intercostal space, left sternal border
, D. Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The mitral valve (apex of the heart) is best auscultated at the
fifth intercostal space at the left midclavicular line.
5. A patient presents with ‘clubbing’ of the fingernails. This physical finding is most commonly
associated with which chronic condition?
A. Vitamin D deficiency
B. Iron deficiency anemia
C. Acute bacterial infection
D. Chronic hypoxia
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Clubbing involves a change in the nail bed angle (greater than
180 degrees) and is typically caused by chronic hypoxia associated with congenital heart
disease or chronic lung disease.
6. The nurse performs the Weber test on a patient. The patient reports hearing the sound
louder in the right ear. This lateralization suggests:
A. Normal hearing in both ears
B. Sensorineural hearing loss in the right ear
C. Conductive hearing loss in the right ear or sensorineural loss in the left
