HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM 2 -
ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. When assessing a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the nurse
notes a barrel chest. This clinical finding is primarily caused by which of the following?
A. Hyperinflation of the lungs and air trapping
B. Chronic inflammation of the bronchial tree
C. Weakness of the intercostal muscles
D. Collapse of the alveoli resulting in decreased lung volume
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A barrel chest is characterized by an increased anteroposterior
diameter, typically resulting from hyperinflation of the lungs and air trapping in conditions
like emphysema.
2. A nurse is performing tactile fremitus on a patient with suspected lobar pneumonia. What
finding should the nurse anticipate over the affected area?
A. Decreased fremitus
,B. Increased fremitus
C. Absent fremitus
D. Normal resonance
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Tactile fremitus increases with the compression or
consolidation of lung tissue, such as in lobar pneumonia, because sound travels better
through solid/liquid than air.
3. During percussion of the thorax, the nurse hears a high-pitched, drum-like sound over the
stomach. How should the nurse document this finding?
A. Resonance
B. Dullness
C. Tympany
D. Hyperresonance
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Tympany is a high-pitched, musical, drum-like sound produced
over air-filled viscera like the stomach.
4. The nurse is auscultating the lungs of a healthy adult. Which breath sounds should be
heard over the majority of the posterior lung fields?
A. Vesicular
, B. Bronchovesicular
C. Bronchial
D. Tracheal
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Vesicular breath sounds are soft, low-pitched sounds heard over
fine airways and the majority of the peripheral lung fields.
5. A client presents with a cough that produces rust-colored sputum. Which condition does
the nurse most likely suspect?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Tuberculosis
C. Chronic bronchitis
D. Pneumococcal pneumonia
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Rust-colored sputum is a classic clinical indicator of
pneumococcal pneumonia, whereas pulmonary edema produces pink frothy sputum.
6. When auscultating the heart, the nurse identifies the S1 sound. This sound corresponds to
the closure of which valves?
A. Aortic and Pulmonic
B. Tricuspid and Pulmonic
ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. When assessing a client with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the nurse
notes a barrel chest. This clinical finding is primarily caused by which of the following?
A. Hyperinflation of the lungs and air trapping
B. Chronic inflammation of the bronchial tree
C. Weakness of the intercostal muscles
D. Collapse of the alveoli resulting in decreased lung volume
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A barrel chest is characterized by an increased anteroposterior
diameter, typically resulting from hyperinflation of the lungs and air trapping in conditions
like emphysema.
2. A nurse is performing tactile fremitus on a patient with suspected lobar pneumonia. What
finding should the nurse anticipate over the affected area?
A. Decreased fremitus
,B. Increased fremitus
C. Absent fremitus
D. Normal resonance
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Tactile fremitus increases with the compression or
consolidation of lung tissue, such as in lobar pneumonia, because sound travels better
through solid/liquid than air.
3. During percussion of the thorax, the nurse hears a high-pitched, drum-like sound over the
stomach. How should the nurse document this finding?
A. Resonance
B. Dullness
C. Tympany
D. Hyperresonance
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Tympany is a high-pitched, musical, drum-like sound produced
over air-filled viscera like the stomach.
4. The nurse is auscultating the lungs of a healthy adult. Which breath sounds should be
heard over the majority of the posterior lung fields?
A. Vesicular
, B. Bronchovesicular
C. Bronchial
D. Tracheal
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Vesicular breath sounds are soft, low-pitched sounds heard over
fine airways and the majority of the peripheral lung fields.
5. A client presents with a cough that produces rust-colored sputum. Which condition does
the nurse most likely suspect?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Tuberculosis
C. Chronic bronchitis
D. Pneumococcal pneumonia
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Rust-colored sputum is a classic clinical indicator of
pneumococcal pneumonia, whereas pulmonary edema produces pink frothy sputum.
6. When auscultating the heart, the nurse identifies the S1 sound. This sound corresponds to
the closure of which valves?
A. Aortic and Pulmonic
B. Tricuspid and Pulmonic
