Galen NSG 3160 Exam 2 Health Assessment 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
✓ VERIFIED • 2026 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
Galen NSG 3160 Exam 2 Health Assessment 2026
UPDATE
Actual Exam Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations)
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Full Rationales
Status: Verified & Updated for 2026
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 1
,Galen NSG 3160 Exam 2 Health Assessment 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
Questions & Verified Answers
1. When percussing over healthy lung tissue, the nurse expects to hear which sound?
A. Dullness
B. Resonance
C. Hyperresonance
D. Tympany
Answer: B
Rationale: Resonance is the low-pitched, clear, hollow sound that predominates in healthy lung tissue in the
adult. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a
clear rationale essential for mastery. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based
practice and improves patient outcomes.
2. In which order should the nurse perform an abdominal assessment?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
C. Inspection, Percussion, Palpation, Auscultation
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Percussion, Palpation
Answer: B
Rationale: Auscultation is performed before percussion and palpation to avoid stimulating bowel sounds that
were not originally present. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (B)
requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this
principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
3. The S1 heart sound is caused by the closure of which valves?
A. Aortic and Pulmonic
B. Aortic and Mitral
C. Mitral and Tricuspid
D. Tricuspid and Pulmonic
Answer: C
Rationale: S1 occurs with the closure of the atrioventricular (AV) valves (mitral and tricuspid) and signals the
beginning of systole. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (C) requires
understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle
allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 2
, Galen NSG 3160 Exam 2 Health Assessment 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
4. A patient exhibits a ‘hunchback’ appearance of the thoracic spine. What is the medical term
for this?
A. Lordosis
B. Kyphosis
C. Scoliosis
D. Ankylosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Kyphosis is an exaggerated outward curvature of the thoracic spine, common in older adults. This is
an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (B) requires understanding both the
pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize
care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
5. Which cranial nerve is being tested when the nurse asks the patient to stick out their tongue?
A. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
B. CN X (Vagus)
C. CN XII (Hypoglossal
D. CN XI (Accessory)
Answer: C
Rationale: Cranial Nerve XII, the hypoglossal nerve, controls the muscles of the tongue. Exam questions often
test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for
mastery. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based practice and improves
patient outcomes.
6. A nurse finds a patient’s radial pulse is easily palpable but not bounding. How should this be
graded?
A. 2+
B. 1+
C. 3+
D. 4+
Answer: A
Rationale: A normal, easily palpable pulse is graded as 2+ on a 4-point scale. This is an important clinical
concept because selecting the correct answer (A) requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the
practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate
complications, and provide accurate patient education.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 3
✓ VERIFIED • 2026 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
Galen NSG 3160 Exam 2 Health Assessment 2026
UPDATE
Actual Exam Questions & Verified Answers
with Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations)
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Full Rationales
Status: Verified & Updated for 2026
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 1
,Galen NSG 3160 Exam 2 Health Assessment 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
Questions & Verified Answers
1. When percussing over healthy lung tissue, the nurse expects to hear which sound?
A. Dullness
B. Resonance
C. Hyperresonance
D. Tympany
Answer: B
Rationale: Resonance is the low-pitched, clear, hollow sound that predominates in healthy lung tissue in the
adult. Exam questions often test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a
clear rationale essential for mastery. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based
practice and improves patient outcomes.
2. In which order should the nurse perform an abdominal assessment?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
C. Inspection, Percussion, Palpation, Auscultation
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Percussion, Palpation
Answer: B
Rationale: Auscultation is performed before percussion and palpation to avoid stimulating bowel sounds that
were not originally present. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (B)
requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this
principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
3. The S1 heart sound is caused by the closure of which valves?
A. Aortic and Pulmonic
B. Aortic and Mitral
C. Mitral and Tricuspid
D. Tricuspid and Pulmonic
Answer: C
Rationale: S1 occurs with the closure of the atrioventricular (AV) valves (mitral and tricuspid) and signals the
beginning of systole. This is an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (C) requires
understanding both the pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle
allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 2
, Galen NSG 3160 Exam 2 Health Assessment 2026 UPDATE 2026 Update • Verified Answers
4. A patient exhibits a ‘hunchback’ appearance of the thoracic spine. What is the medical term
for this?
A. Lordosis
B. Kyphosis
C. Scoliosis
D. Ankylosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Kyphosis is an exaggerated outward curvature of the thoracic spine, common in older adults. This is
an important clinical concept because selecting the correct answer (B) requires understanding both the
pathophysiology and the practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize
care, anticipate complications, and provide accurate patient education.
5. Which cranial nerve is being tested when the nurse asks the patient to stick out their tongue?
A. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
B. CN X (Vagus)
C. CN XII (Hypoglossal
D. CN XI (Accessory)
Answer: C
Rationale: Cranial Nerve XII, the hypoglossal nerve, controls the muscles of the tongue. Exam questions often
test the ability to distinguish this concept from closely related distractors, making a clear rationale essential for
mastery. Applying this knowledge in clinical settings supports safe, evidence-based practice and improves
patient outcomes.
6. A nurse finds a patient’s radial pulse is easily palpable but not bounding. How should this be
graded?
A. 2+
B. 1+
C. 3+
D. 4+
Answer: A
Rationale: A normal, easily palpable pulse is graded as 2+ on a 4-point scale. This is an important clinical
concept because selecting the correct answer (A) requires understanding both the pathophysiology and the
practical nursing implications. Recognizing this principle allows the nurse to prioritize care, anticipate
complications, and provide accurate patient education.
Exam (Elaborations) • Actual Questions & Rationales Page 3