NUR 2092 HEALTH ASSESSMENT FINAL
EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. When performing a physical assessment, in what order should the nurse perform the
techniques for the abdominal examination?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
C. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
D. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: For the abdomen, auscultation is performed before percussion
and palpation to prevent the stimulation of bowel sounds, which could lead to a false
assessment.
2. Which percussion note would the nurse expect to hear over a normal, air-filled lung?
A. Resonance
B. Dullness
,C. Tympany
D. Hyperresonance
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Resonance is the low-pitched, clear, hollow sound heard over
healthy lung tissue. Tympany is heard over air-filled organs like the stomach, and dullness
over dense organs like the liver.
3. The nurse is assessing a patient’s radial pulse and notes that it is ‘full and bounding.’ How
should the nurse document this finding?
A. 1+
B. 2+
C. 4+
D. 3+
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: On a three-point scale, 3+ indicates a full, bounding pulse. 2+ is
normal, 1+ is weak/thready, and 0 is absent.
4. During an assessment of the cranial nerves, the nurse asks the patient to smile, frown, and
puff out their cheeks. Which cranial nerve is being tested?
A.
B. CN VII (Facial)
, C. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
D. CN X (Vagus)
B. CN V (Trigeminal)
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: CN VII, the facial nerve, controls facial expressions such as
smiling, frowning, and puffing out cheeks.
5. A patient presents with a ‘strawberry tongue.’ The nurse recognizes this as a potential
clinical manifestation of which condition?
A. Scarlet fever
B. Vitamin B12 deficiency
C. Oral candidiasis
D. Dehydration
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A ‘strawberry tongue’ is a classic sign of scarlet fever or
Kawasaki disease. Vitamin B12 deficiency often causes a smooth, glossy tongue.
6. While palpating the lymph nodes of the neck, the nurse finds a node that is hard, fixed, and
non-tender. This finding is most suggestive of:
A. Malignancy
B. Chronic inflammation
EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1. When performing a physical assessment, in what order should the nurse perform the
techniques for the abdominal examination?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
C. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
D. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: For the abdomen, auscultation is performed before percussion
and palpation to prevent the stimulation of bowel sounds, which could lead to a false
assessment.
2. Which percussion note would the nurse expect to hear over a normal, air-filled lung?
A. Resonance
B. Dullness
,C. Tympany
D. Hyperresonance
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Resonance is the low-pitched, clear, hollow sound heard over
healthy lung tissue. Tympany is heard over air-filled organs like the stomach, and dullness
over dense organs like the liver.
3. The nurse is assessing a patient’s radial pulse and notes that it is ‘full and bounding.’ How
should the nurse document this finding?
A. 1+
B. 2+
C. 4+
D. 3+
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: On a three-point scale, 3+ indicates a full, bounding pulse. 2+ is
normal, 1+ is weak/thready, and 0 is absent.
4. During an assessment of the cranial nerves, the nurse asks the patient to smile, frown, and
puff out their cheeks. Which cranial nerve is being tested?
A.
B. CN VII (Facial)
, C. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
D. CN X (Vagus)
B. CN V (Trigeminal)
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: CN VII, the facial nerve, controls facial expressions such as
smiling, frowning, and puffing out cheeks.
5. A patient presents with a ‘strawberry tongue.’ The nurse recognizes this as a potential
clinical manifestation of which condition?
A. Scarlet fever
B. Vitamin B12 deficiency
C. Oral candidiasis
D. Dehydration
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: A ‘strawberry tongue’ is a classic sign of scarlet fever or
Kawasaki disease. Vitamin B12 deficiency often causes a smooth, glossy tongue.
6. While palpating the lymph nodes of the neck, the nurse finds a node that is hard, fixed, and
non-tender. This finding is most suggestive of:
A. Malignancy
B. Chronic inflammation
