Jarvis Physical Examination and Health Assessment
9th Edition Test Bank – All Chapters 1-32 Questions And
Verified Answers & Rationales (2025/2026 Version)
Question 1
During an initial interview, a patient tells the nurse that they have a throbbing
headache that began two hours ago. The nurse recognizes that this information
should be classified under which category of data?
A) Objective data
,B) Subjective data
C) Secondary data
D) Diagnostic data
VERIFIED ANSWER: B) Subjective data
EXPLANATION: Subjective data consists of information that the patient
perceives, experiences, and communicates verbally to the healthcare
professional, such as pain descriptors, timelines, and onset feelings. Objective
data, conversely, represents measurable physical findings obtained by the
provider through inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation, or
laboratory analysis. Because a throbbing sensation cannot be independently
measured or visualized by the clinician without the patient's testimony, it is
strictly classified as subjective.
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to conduct a physical examination on an anxious adult
patient. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate to help reduce the
patient's anxiety level?
A) Keep the room dimly lit to promote relaxation.
B) Explain each step of the assessment clearly before performing it.
C) Perform the most invasive or painful assessments first to get them out of the
way.
D) Avoid eye contact during the history gathering to allow the patient privacy.
VERIFIED ANSWER: B) Explain each step of the assessment clearly before
performing it.
EXPLANATION: Explaining procedures and physical steps clearly before
initiating physical touch fosters trust, de-escalates fear of the unknown, and
,dramatically reduces patient anxiety. Clinical spaces should remain well-lit
for precise clinical observation. Invasive or painful maneuvers (such as deep
abdominal palpation on a tender area) should always be delayed until the end
of the examination sequence so the patient does not guard defensively during
the remaining non-invasive portions.
Question 3
When assessing an older adult patient's skin turgor to evaluate hydration status,
which anatomical location should the nurse utilize to achieve the most accurate
and reliable result?
A) The dorsal aspect of the hand
B) The anterior aspect of the forearm
C) The skin immediately mobile over the sternum or clavicle
D) The abdominal midline region
VERIFIED ANSWER: C) The skin immediately mobile over the sternum or
clavicle
EXPLANATION: In older adults, aging leads to a natural loss of
subcutaneous tissue and skin elasticity on the extremities, meaning checking
turgor on the back of the hand or the arm can produce a false-positive
reading for dehydration. Testing skin mobility and recoil over a rigid bony
structural anchor, such as the sternum or beneath the clavicle, minimizes
age-related structural bias and yields a more accurate measurement of
systemic hydration.
, Question 4
While auscultating a patient's breath sounds, the nurse notes low-pitched,
snoring, adventitious sounds over the large bronchi during expiration. These
sounds clear significantly after the patient is asked to cough. How should the
nurse document this finding?
A) Pleural friction rub
B) Fine crackles
C) Wheezes
D) Rhonchi (coarse crackles/sonorous wheezes)
VERIFIED ANSWER: D) Rhonchi (coarse crackles/sonorous wheezes)
EXPLANATION: Rhonchi are continuous, low-pitched, musical or snoring
adventitious sounds produced by airflow alterations through passages
narrowed by thick mucus secretions or foreign debris within large airways.
Because these structural blockages reside within main bronchial loops, they
often change character or clear entirely when a vigorous cough mobilizes the
underlying mucus plugs. Regular wheezes are high-pitched, crackles are
discontinuous and popping, and friction rubs do not clear with coughing.
Question 5
During a routine cardiovascular assessment, the nurse palpates a distinct
vibration or buzzing sensation over the apex of the patient's heart. The nurse
should correctly document this palpable phenomenon as a:
A) Bruit
B) Thrill
C) Heave
D) Lift
9th Edition Test Bank – All Chapters 1-32 Questions And
Verified Answers & Rationales (2025/2026 Version)
Question 1
During an initial interview, a patient tells the nurse that they have a throbbing
headache that began two hours ago. The nurse recognizes that this information
should be classified under which category of data?
A) Objective data
,B) Subjective data
C) Secondary data
D) Diagnostic data
VERIFIED ANSWER: B) Subjective data
EXPLANATION: Subjective data consists of information that the patient
perceives, experiences, and communicates verbally to the healthcare
professional, such as pain descriptors, timelines, and onset feelings. Objective
data, conversely, represents measurable physical findings obtained by the
provider through inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation, or
laboratory analysis. Because a throbbing sensation cannot be independently
measured or visualized by the clinician without the patient's testimony, it is
strictly classified as subjective.
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to conduct a physical examination on an anxious adult
patient. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate to help reduce the
patient's anxiety level?
A) Keep the room dimly lit to promote relaxation.
B) Explain each step of the assessment clearly before performing it.
C) Perform the most invasive or painful assessments first to get them out of the
way.
D) Avoid eye contact during the history gathering to allow the patient privacy.
VERIFIED ANSWER: B) Explain each step of the assessment clearly before
performing it.
EXPLANATION: Explaining procedures and physical steps clearly before
initiating physical touch fosters trust, de-escalates fear of the unknown, and
,dramatically reduces patient anxiety. Clinical spaces should remain well-lit
for precise clinical observation. Invasive or painful maneuvers (such as deep
abdominal palpation on a tender area) should always be delayed until the end
of the examination sequence so the patient does not guard defensively during
the remaining non-invasive portions.
Question 3
When assessing an older adult patient's skin turgor to evaluate hydration status,
which anatomical location should the nurse utilize to achieve the most accurate
and reliable result?
A) The dorsal aspect of the hand
B) The anterior aspect of the forearm
C) The skin immediately mobile over the sternum or clavicle
D) The abdominal midline region
VERIFIED ANSWER: C) The skin immediately mobile over the sternum or
clavicle
EXPLANATION: In older adults, aging leads to a natural loss of
subcutaneous tissue and skin elasticity on the extremities, meaning checking
turgor on the back of the hand or the arm can produce a false-positive
reading for dehydration. Testing skin mobility and recoil over a rigid bony
structural anchor, such as the sternum or beneath the clavicle, minimizes
age-related structural bias and yields a more accurate measurement of
systemic hydration.
, Question 4
While auscultating a patient's breath sounds, the nurse notes low-pitched,
snoring, adventitious sounds over the large bronchi during expiration. These
sounds clear significantly after the patient is asked to cough. How should the
nurse document this finding?
A) Pleural friction rub
B) Fine crackles
C) Wheezes
D) Rhonchi (coarse crackles/sonorous wheezes)
VERIFIED ANSWER: D) Rhonchi (coarse crackles/sonorous wheezes)
EXPLANATION: Rhonchi are continuous, low-pitched, musical or snoring
adventitious sounds produced by airflow alterations through passages
narrowed by thick mucus secretions or foreign debris within large airways.
Because these structural blockages reside within main bronchial loops, they
often change character or clear entirely when a vigorous cough mobilizes the
underlying mucus plugs. Regular wheezes are high-pitched, crackles are
discontinuous and popping, and friction rubs do not clear with coughing.
Question 5
During a routine cardiovascular assessment, the nurse palpates a distinct
vibration or buzzing sensation over the apex of the patient's heart. The nurse
should correctly document this palpable phenomenon as a:
A) Bruit
B) Thrill
C) Heave
D) Lift
