NSG 3160 Health Assessment Exam 3 2026/2027 |
Questions and Correct Answers with Rationale |
Galen College of Nursing
Question 1
What should the nurse do when her patient's left femoral pulse is diminished (1+/4+)?
A) Document the finding
B) Auscultate the site for a bruit
C) Check for calf pain
D) Check capillary refill in the toes
Answer: B) Auscultate the site for a bruit
Rationale: If a pulse is weak or diminished at the femoral site, the nurse should
auscultate the area for a bruit. The presence of a bruit, or turbulent blood flow,
indicates partial occlusion of the artery. This finding requires further evaluation and
documentation.
Question 2
,During the Romberg test, the nurse should instruct the patient to:
A) Stand with feet together, arms at the sides, and eyes open
B) Stand with feet together, arms at the sides, and eyes closed
C) Stand with feet apart, arms at the sides, and eyes closed
D) Sit with feet together, arms at the sides, and eyes closed
Answer: B) Stand with feet together, arms at the sides, and eyes closed
Rationale: The Romberg test is performed by having the patient stand with feet
together, arms at the sides, and eyes closed for about 20 seconds. The nurse should
stand close to prevent falls. A positive Romberg test (falling or swaying
significantly) indicates cerebellar dysfunction or vestibular impairment.
Question 3
Which of the following tests assesses cerebellar function in the upper extremities?
A) Romberg test
B) Heel-to-shin test
C) Finger-to-nose test
D) Gait assessment
Answer: C) Finger-to-nose test
Rationale: The finger-to-nose test assesses upper extremity coordination and
cerebellar function. The heel-to-shin test assesses lower extremity coordination, and
the Romberg test assesses balance. Gait assessment evaluates overall coordination
and balance.
,Question 4
The nurse asks the patient to close their eyes and identify a number traced on their
palm. This test assesses:
A) Stereognosis
B) Graphesthesia
C) Kinesthesia
D) Point localization
Answer: B) Graphesthesia
Rationale: Graphesthesia is the ability to identify a number or letter traced on the
skin. This tests cortical sensory function. Stereognosis is the ability to identify an
object by touch alone, kinesthesia is detecting movement of joints, and point
localization is the ability to point to where they were touched .
Question 5
Which of these techniques uses the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature,
moisture, and swelling when assessing a patient?
A) Palpation
B) Inspection
C) Auscultation
D) Percussion
Answer: A) Palpation
, Rationale: Palpation is the technique of using the sense of touch to assess texture,
temperature, moisture, and swelling. The dorsal surface of the hand is best used to
assess temperature because the skin is thinner.
Question 6
During a cardiac examination, you auscultate a high-pitched, blowing diastolic murmur
at the left sternal border. Which valvular lesion is most consistent with these findings?
A) Aortic stenosis
B) Mitral regurgitation
C) Aortic regurgitation
D) Tricuspid stenosis
Answer: C) Aortic regurgitation
Rationale: Aortic regurgitation produces a high-pitched, blowing diastolic murmur
best heard at the left sternal border (often with the patient leaning forward,
expiration). Aortic stenosis is systolic, mitral regurgitation is systolic, and tricuspid
stenosis is a diastolic murmur that increases with inspiration .
Question 7
A patient has a positive psoas sign and rebound tenderness in the right lower quadrant.
Which additional finding would most support a diagnosis of appendicitis?
A) Rovsing's sign
B) Murphy's sign
Questions and Correct Answers with Rationale |
Galen College of Nursing
Question 1
What should the nurse do when her patient's left femoral pulse is diminished (1+/4+)?
A) Document the finding
B) Auscultate the site for a bruit
C) Check for calf pain
D) Check capillary refill in the toes
Answer: B) Auscultate the site for a bruit
Rationale: If a pulse is weak or diminished at the femoral site, the nurse should
auscultate the area for a bruit. The presence of a bruit, or turbulent blood flow,
indicates partial occlusion of the artery. This finding requires further evaluation and
documentation.
Question 2
,During the Romberg test, the nurse should instruct the patient to:
A) Stand with feet together, arms at the sides, and eyes open
B) Stand with feet together, arms at the sides, and eyes closed
C) Stand with feet apart, arms at the sides, and eyes closed
D) Sit with feet together, arms at the sides, and eyes closed
Answer: B) Stand with feet together, arms at the sides, and eyes closed
Rationale: The Romberg test is performed by having the patient stand with feet
together, arms at the sides, and eyes closed for about 20 seconds. The nurse should
stand close to prevent falls. A positive Romberg test (falling or swaying
significantly) indicates cerebellar dysfunction or vestibular impairment.
Question 3
Which of the following tests assesses cerebellar function in the upper extremities?
A) Romberg test
B) Heel-to-shin test
C) Finger-to-nose test
D) Gait assessment
Answer: C) Finger-to-nose test
Rationale: The finger-to-nose test assesses upper extremity coordination and
cerebellar function. The heel-to-shin test assesses lower extremity coordination, and
the Romberg test assesses balance. Gait assessment evaluates overall coordination
and balance.
,Question 4
The nurse asks the patient to close their eyes and identify a number traced on their
palm. This test assesses:
A) Stereognosis
B) Graphesthesia
C) Kinesthesia
D) Point localization
Answer: B) Graphesthesia
Rationale: Graphesthesia is the ability to identify a number or letter traced on the
skin. This tests cortical sensory function. Stereognosis is the ability to identify an
object by touch alone, kinesthesia is detecting movement of joints, and point
localization is the ability to point to where they were touched .
Question 5
Which of these techniques uses the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature,
moisture, and swelling when assessing a patient?
A) Palpation
B) Inspection
C) Auscultation
D) Percussion
Answer: A) Palpation
, Rationale: Palpation is the technique of using the sense of touch to assess texture,
temperature, moisture, and swelling. The dorsal surface of the hand is best used to
assess temperature because the skin is thinner.
Question 6
During a cardiac examination, you auscultate a high-pitched, blowing diastolic murmur
at the left sternal border. Which valvular lesion is most consistent with these findings?
A) Aortic stenosis
B) Mitral regurgitation
C) Aortic regurgitation
D) Tricuspid stenosis
Answer: C) Aortic regurgitation
Rationale: Aortic regurgitation produces a high-pitched, blowing diastolic murmur
best heard at the left sternal border (often with the patient leaning forward,
expiration). Aortic stenosis is systolic, mitral regurgitation is systolic, and tricuspid
stenosis is a diastolic murmur that increases with inspiration .
Question 7
A patient has a positive psoas sign and rebound tenderness in the right lower quadrant.
Which additional finding would most support a diagnosis of appendicitis?
A) Rovsing's sign
B) Murphy's sign
