,NUR 2180 Module 8 Quiz | Physical Assessment (2026)
Q&A | Rasmussen College
1. A nursing student is preparing to perform an abdominal assessment on a patient
admitted with abdominal pain. In which order should the nurse perform the assessment
techniques?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Auscultation, inspection, percussion, palpation
C) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D) Percussion, auscultation, inspection, palpation
Correct Answer: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: The correct abdominal assessment sequence is inspection, auscultation,
percussion, and palpation. Auscultation must be performed before percussion and
palpation because these manipulative techniques can alter the frequency and character of
bowel sounds and vascular sounds such as bruits. This order differs from the typical head-
to-toe sequence and is a critical competency point.
2. A nurse is auscultating a patient's abdomen and begins in the right lower quadrant. What
is the primary rationale for starting auscultation in this location?
A) The right lower quadrant is the most tender area of the abdomen
B) The right lower quadrant contains the ileocecal valve, where bowel sounds are normally
always present
C) The right lower quadrant is the largest abdominal quadrant
D) The right lower quadrant is the standard starting point taught only at this university
Correct Answer: The right lower quadrant contains the ileocecal valve, where bowel
sounds are normally always present
,Rationale: Bowel sounds originate from the movement of air and fluid through the
intestines. The right lower quadrant is the preferred starting point for auscultation because
it contains the ileocecal valve, the area where bowel sounds are most consistently present.
The nurse should then proceed in a clockwise fashion across all quadrants.
3. A nurse documents that a patient's bowel sounds are hypoactive. Which finding supports
this documentation?
A) Bowel sounds occurring more than 30 times per minute
B) High-pitched, hyperactive rushing sounds in all quadrants
C) Bowel sounds occurring fewer than 5 times per minute
D) Absence of bowel sounds after 5 minutes of continuous auscultation
Correct Answer: Bowel sounds occurring fewer than 5 times per minute
Rationale: Hypoactive bowel sounds are defined as fewer than 5 sounds per minute.
Normal bowel sounds occur 5 to 30 times per minute and are characterized by high-pitched
gurgling sounds. Hyperactive bowel sounds exceed 30 per minute and may indicate bowel
obstruction or gastroenteritis.
4. A nurse is performing abdominal percussion on a patient and notes a dull sound over the
right upper quadrant. Which organ is most likely responsible for this finding?
A) Stomach
B) Spleen
C) Liver
D) Transverse colon
Correct Answer: Liver
, Rationale: Dullness on percussion indicates a solid organ or fluid-filled structure rather
than an air-filled one. The liver is located in the right upper quadrant and produces a dull
percussion note due to its dense tissue composition. The stomach and colon are air-filled
structures that produce tympany.
5. A nurse percusses a patient's abdomen in the midclavicular line and estimates the liver
span to be 14 cm. How should the nurse interpret this finding?
A) Normal liver span
B) Hepatomegaly (enlarged liver)
C) Decreased liver size consistent with cirrhosis
D) Liver span cannot be assessed by percussion
Correct Answer: Hepatomegaly (enlarged liver)
Rationale: The normal liver span measured by percussion along the midclavicular line is
6 to 12 cm. A span of 14 cm exceeds this range and indicates hepatomegaly, which may be
caused by conditions such as hepatitis, right-sided heart failure, fatty liver disease, or
hepatic malignancy.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient with suspected appendicitis. When the nurse releases
pressure on the patient's right lower quadrant, the patient reports increased sharp pain.
What is this finding called?
A) Rebound tenderness
B) Voluntary guarding
C) Murphy sign
D) CVA tenderness
Correct Answer: Rebound tenderness
Q&A | Rasmussen College
1. A nursing student is preparing to perform an abdominal assessment on a patient
admitted with abdominal pain. In which order should the nurse perform the assessment
techniques?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Auscultation, inspection, percussion, palpation
C) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D) Percussion, auscultation, inspection, palpation
Correct Answer: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: The correct abdominal assessment sequence is inspection, auscultation,
percussion, and palpation. Auscultation must be performed before percussion and
palpation because these manipulative techniques can alter the frequency and character of
bowel sounds and vascular sounds such as bruits. This order differs from the typical head-
to-toe sequence and is a critical competency point.
2. A nurse is auscultating a patient's abdomen and begins in the right lower quadrant. What
is the primary rationale for starting auscultation in this location?
A) The right lower quadrant is the most tender area of the abdomen
B) The right lower quadrant contains the ileocecal valve, where bowel sounds are normally
always present
C) The right lower quadrant is the largest abdominal quadrant
D) The right lower quadrant is the standard starting point taught only at this university
Correct Answer: The right lower quadrant contains the ileocecal valve, where bowel
sounds are normally always present
,Rationale: Bowel sounds originate from the movement of air and fluid through the
intestines. The right lower quadrant is the preferred starting point for auscultation because
it contains the ileocecal valve, the area where bowel sounds are most consistently present.
The nurse should then proceed in a clockwise fashion across all quadrants.
3. A nurse documents that a patient's bowel sounds are hypoactive. Which finding supports
this documentation?
A) Bowel sounds occurring more than 30 times per minute
B) High-pitched, hyperactive rushing sounds in all quadrants
C) Bowel sounds occurring fewer than 5 times per minute
D) Absence of bowel sounds after 5 minutes of continuous auscultation
Correct Answer: Bowel sounds occurring fewer than 5 times per minute
Rationale: Hypoactive bowel sounds are defined as fewer than 5 sounds per minute.
Normal bowel sounds occur 5 to 30 times per minute and are characterized by high-pitched
gurgling sounds. Hyperactive bowel sounds exceed 30 per minute and may indicate bowel
obstruction or gastroenteritis.
4. A nurse is performing abdominal percussion on a patient and notes a dull sound over the
right upper quadrant. Which organ is most likely responsible for this finding?
A) Stomach
B) Spleen
C) Liver
D) Transverse colon
Correct Answer: Liver
, Rationale: Dullness on percussion indicates a solid organ or fluid-filled structure rather
than an air-filled one. The liver is located in the right upper quadrant and produces a dull
percussion note due to its dense tissue composition. The stomach and colon are air-filled
structures that produce tympany.
5. A nurse percusses a patient's abdomen in the midclavicular line and estimates the liver
span to be 14 cm. How should the nurse interpret this finding?
A) Normal liver span
B) Hepatomegaly (enlarged liver)
C) Decreased liver size consistent with cirrhosis
D) Liver span cannot be assessed by percussion
Correct Answer: Hepatomegaly (enlarged liver)
Rationale: The normal liver span measured by percussion along the midclavicular line is
6 to 12 cm. A span of 14 cm exceeds this range and indicates hepatomegaly, which may be
caused by conditions such as hepatitis, right-sided heart failure, fatty liver disease, or
hepatic malignancy.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient with suspected appendicitis. When the nurse releases
pressure on the patient's right lower quadrant, the patient reports increased sharp pain.
What is this finding called?
A) Rebound tenderness
B) Voluntary guarding
C) Murphy sign
D) CVA tenderness
Correct Answer: Rebound tenderness
