,NUR101 Health Assessment Exam 2 Study
Guide & 150 Practice Questions Fortis College
2026/2027
1. A nurse is preparing to perform a whispered voice test to assess a patient's hearing. Which
technique is correct for this test?
A. Stand directly in front of the patient and whisper a two-syllable word.
B. Stand behind the patient at a distance of 1–2 feet, occlude one ear, and whisper a two-
syllable word.
C. Stand 6 feet away from the patient and whisper a sentence.
D. Ask the patient to repeat a word while covering both ears.
Correct Answer: B. Stand behind the patient at a distance of 1–2 feet, occlude one ear, and
whisper a two-syllable word.
Rationale: The whispered voice test is performed by standing behind the patient at a distance of
1–2 feet, occluding one ear, and whispering a two-syllable word for the patient to repeat. Each
ear is tested separately.
2. A nurse is assessing a patient's ears using an otoscope. Which action should the nurse take to
straighten the ear canal in an adult patient?
,A. Pull the auricle up and back.
B. Pull the auricle down and back.
C. Pull the auricle straight out.
D. Pull the auricle forward.
Correct Answer: A. Pull the auricle up and back.
Rationale: In adults, the ear canal is straightened by pulling the auricle up and back. In children
under 3 years, the auricle is pulled down and back.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient's tympanic membrane. Which finding indicates a possible
infection?
A. Pearly gray, translucent membrane
B. Red, bulging, and immobile membrane
C. Visible light reflex
D. Intact cone of light
Correct Answer: B. Red, bulging, and immobile membrane
, Rationale: A red, bulging, and immobile tympanic membrane suggests acute otitis media
(middle ear infection). A normal tympanic membrane is pearly gray, translucent, and mobile,
with a visible cone of light.
4. A nurse is assessing a patient's hearing using the Rinne test. Which finding indicates normal
hearing?
A. Air conduction is longer than bone conduction.
B. Bone conduction is longer than air conduction.
C. Air and bone conduction are equal.
D. Neither air nor bone conduction is heard.
Correct Answer: A. Air conduction is longer than bone conduction.
Rationale: The Rinne test compares air conduction and bone conduction. Normally, air
conduction is longer than bone conduction (AC > BC). If bone conduction is longer than air
conduction, it indicates conductive hearing loss.
Guide & 150 Practice Questions Fortis College
2026/2027
1. A nurse is preparing to perform a whispered voice test to assess a patient's hearing. Which
technique is correct for this test?
A. Stand directly in front of the patient and whisper a two-syllable word.
B. Stand behind the patient at a distance of 1–2 feet, occlude one ear, and whisper a two-
syllable word.
C. Stand 6 feet away from the patient and whisper a sentence.
D. Ask the patient to repeat a word while covering both ears.
Correct Answer: B. Stand behind the patient at a distance of 1–2 feet, occlude one ear, and
whisper a two-syllable word.
Rationale: The whispered voice test is performed by standing behind the patient at a distance of
1–2 feet, occluding one ear, and whispering a two-syllable word for the patient to repeat. Each
ear is tested separately.
2. A nurse is assessing a patient's ears using an otoscope. Which action should the nurse take to
straighten the ear canal in an adult patient?
,A. Pull the auricle up and back.
B. Pull the auricle down and back.
C. Pull the auricle straight out.
D. Pull the auricle forward.
Correct Answer: A. Pull the auricle up and back.
Rationale: In adults, the ear canal is straightened by pulling the auricle up and back. In children
under 3 years, the auricle is pulled down and back.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient's tympanic membrane. Which finding indicates a possible
infection?
A. Pearly gray, translucent membrane
B. Red, bulging, and immobile membrane
C. Visible light reflex
D. Intact cone of light
Correct Answer: B. Red, bulging, and immobile membrane
, Rationale: A red, bulging, and immobile tympanic membrane suggests acute otitis media
(middle ear infection). A normal tympanic membrane is pearly gray, translucent, and mobile,
with a visible cone of light.
4. A nurse is assessing a patient's hearing using the Rinne test. Which finding indicates normal
hearing?
A. Air conduction is longer than bone conduction.
B. Bone conduction is longer than air conduction.
C. Air and bone conduction are equal.
D. Neither air nor bone conduction is heard.
Correct Answer: A. Air conduction is longer than bone conduction.
Rationale: The Rinne test compares air conduction and bone conduction. Normally, air
conduction is longer than bone conduction (AC > BC). If bone conduction is longer than air
conduction, it indicates conductive hearing loss.
