NR 302 HEALTH ASSESSMENT
FINAL EXAM PREP 150 HIGH
YIELD APPLICATION BASED
MCQS WITH EXPLANATORY
RATIONALES 2026
NR 302 Health Assessment: Master Exam Questions
Question 1
A 55-year-old male with a history of chronic alcohol use disorder
presents with abdominal distention. During percussion, the nurse
notes dullness in the dependent flanks and resonance
around the umbilicus while the client is supine. When the
client rolls onto his left side, the dullness shifts to the left
dependent side, and the right flank becomes resonant. What is the
pathophysiological significance of this finding?
A. Intestinal obstruction with fluid-filled bowel loops
B. Free peritoneal fluid accumulating under the influence of
gravity
C. Severe gaseous distention of the colon
D. Splenomegaly with displacement of the stomach
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATiONAlE: The shifting dullness test confirms ascites. Free
fluid in the peritoneal cavity drops to the dependent areas due to
,gravity, displacing air-filled, resonant bowel loops upward
toward the umbilicus.
Question 2
During a comprehensive cardiovascular assessment, the nurse
identifies a pulsus alternans while palpating the radial artery
and confirming with a blood pressure cuff. This physical finding is
most strongly associated with which clinical condition?
A. Cardiac tamponade
B. Constrictive pericarditis
C. Severe left ventricular systolic failure
D. Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATiONAlE: Pulsus alternans is characterized by an
alternating pattern of strong and weak peripheral pulses despite
a regular rhythm. It is a hallmark sign of advanced left-sided
heart failure and represents alternating stroke volumes.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a 42-year-old female complaining of a severe,
throbbing unilateral headache accompanied by photophobia. To
assess for meningeal irritation, the nurse attempts to passively
extend the client's leg at the knee while the hip is flexed at 90
degrees. The client resists extension and reports sharp pain along
the hamstrings. Which sign is positive?
A. Positive Brudzinski sign
B. Positive Kernig sign
C. Positive Lasegue sign
D. Positive Patrick sign
,CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATiONAlE: A positive Kernig sign is characterized by
resistance and pain during passive knee extension when the hip
is flexed at 90 degrees, indicating meningeal inflammation.
Question 4
While performing a respiratory assessment on a client with a
history of severe emphysema, the nurse notes a costal angle
greater than 90 degrees, an increased anteroposterior-to-
transverse chest diameter, and decreased tactile fremitus
bilaterally. What accounts for the decreased tactile fremitus?
A. Pulmonary consolidation from localized alveolar exudate
B. Increased density of lung tissue due to fibrotic changes
C. Hyperinflation of the lungs trapping excess air and dampening
vibrations
D. Fluid accumulation within the pleural space insulating the
chest wall
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATiONAlE: Tactile fremitus measures the transmission of
low-frequency vocal vibrations through lung tissue.
Hyperinflated lungs (barrel chest) contain excess trapped air,
which dampens sound and reduces palpable vibrations.
Question 5
During a musculoskeletal assessment, a nurse evaluates a 28-
year-old tennis player reporting lateral right elbow pain. The
nurse stabilizes the client's elbow, instructs the client to make a
fist and extend the wrist against resistance, which
immediately reproduces sharp pain at the lateral epicondyle. This
, finding confirms:
A. Medial epicondylitis (Golfer's elbow)
B. Olecranon bursitis
C. Lateral epicondylitis (Tennis elbow)
D. Radial nerve entrapment syndrome
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATiONAlE: Lateral epicondylitis involves inflammation of
the wrist extensor tendons at their insertion on the lateral
epicondyle. Pain is elicited by resisting wrist extension.
Question 6
A nurse performs an abdominal assessment and notes a normal
aortic pulsation in the epigastric region. However, on
auscultation, the nurse detects a harsh systolic bruit localized
2 cm superior and lateral to the umbilicus on the left side. What
condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
B. Renal artery stenosis
C. Splenic artery aneurysm
D. Inferior vena cava obstruction
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATiONAlE: A systolic bruit auscultated in the upper
quadrant or upper epigastrium lateral to the midline is highly
characteristic of turbulent blood flow caused by renal artery
stenosis, a major cause of secondary hypertension.
Question 7
During an assessment of the cranial nerves, the nurse touches the
client's cornea lightly with a wisp of cotton. The nurse observes
FINAL EXAM PREP 150 HIGH
YIELD APPLICATION BASED
MCQS WITH EXPLANATORY
RATIONALES 2026
NR 302 Health Assessment: Master Exam Questions
Question 1
A 55-year-old male with a history of chronic alcohol use disorder
presents with abdominal distention. During percussion, the nurse
notes dullness in the dependent flanks and resonance
around the umbilicus while the client is supine. When the
client rolls onto his left side, the dullness shifts to the left
dependent side, and the right flank becomes resonant. What is the
pathophysiological significance of this finding?
A. Intestinal obstruction with fluid-filled bowel loops
B. Free peritoneal fluid accumulating under the influence of
gravity
C. Severe gaseous distention of the colon
D. Splenomegaly with displacement of the stomach
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATiONAlE: The shifting dullness test confirms ascites. Free
fluid in the peritoneal cavity drops to the dependent areas due to
,gravity, displacing air-filled, resonant bowel loops upward
toward the umbilicus.
Question 2
During a comprehensive cardiovascular assessment, the nurse
identifies a pulsus alternans while palpating the radial artery
and confirming with a blood pressure cuff. This physical finding is
most strongly associated with which clinical condition?
A. Cardiac tamponade
B. Constrictive pericarditis
C. Severe left ventricular systolic failure
D. Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATiONAlE: Pulsus alternans is characterized by an
alternating pattern of strong and weak peripheral pulses despite
a regular rhythm. It is a hallmark sign of advanced left-sided
heart failure and represents alternating stroke volumes.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a 42-year-old female complaining of a severe,
throbbing unilateral headache accompanied by photophobia. To
assess for meningeal irritation, the nurse attempts to passively
extend the client's leg at the knee while the hip is flexed at 90
degrees. The client resists extension and reports sharp pain along
the hamstrings. Which sign is positive?
A. Positive Brudzinski sign
B. Positive Kernig sign
C. Positive Lasegue sign
D. Positive Patrick sign
,CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATiONAlE: A positive Kernig sign is characterized by
resistance and pain during passive knee extension when the hip
is flexed at 90 degrees, indicating meningeal inflammation.
Question 4
While performing a respiratory assessment on a client with a
history of severe emphysema, the nurse notes a costal angle
greater than 90 degrees, an increased anteroposterior-to-
transverse chest diameter, and decreased tactile fremitus
bilaterally. What accounts for the decreased tactile fremitus?
A. Pulmonary consolidation from localized alveolar exudate
B. Increased density of lung tissue due to fibrotic changes
C. Hyperinflation of the lungs trapping excess air and dampening
vibrations
D. Fluid accumulation within the pleural space insulating the
chest wall
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATiONAlE: Tactile fremitus measures the transmission of
low-frequency vocal vibrations through lung tissue.
Hyperinflated lungs (barrel chest) contain excess trapped air,
which dampens sound and reduces palpable vibrations.
Question 5
During a musculoskeletal assessment, a nurse evaluates a 28-
year-old tennis player reporting lateral right elbow pain. The
nurse stabilizes the client's elbow, instructs the client to make a
fist and extend the wrist against resistance, which
immediately reproduces sharp pain at the lateral epicondyle. This
, finding confirms:
A. Medial epicondylitis (Golfer's elbow)
B. Olecranon bursitis
C. Lateral epicondylitis (Tennis elbow)
D. Radial nerve entrapment syndrome
CORRECT ANSWER: C
RATiONAlE: Lateral epicondylitis involves inflammation of
the wrist extensor tendons at their insertion on the lateral
epicondyle. Pain is elicited by resisting wrist extension.
Question 6
A nurse performs an abdominal assessment and notes a normal
aortic pulsation in the epigastric region. However, on
auscultation, the nurse detects a harsh systolic bruit localized
2 cm superior and lateral to the umbilicus on the left side. What
condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)
B. Renal artery stenosis
C. Splenic artery aneurysm
D. Inferior vena cava obstruction
CORRECT ANSWER: B
RATiONAlE: A systolic bruit auscultated in the upper
quadrant or upper epigastrium lateral to the midline is highly
characteristic of turbulent blood flow caused by renal artery
stenosis, a major cause of secondary hypertension.
Question 7
During an assessment of the cranial nerves, the nurse touches the
client's cornea lightly with a wisp of cotton. The nurse observes
