GNUR238 Final Exam Study Guide @
2024-2025
Answer: C
The supine position optimizes the ability to inspect, auscultate, percuss, and palpate. -
Answer The nurse is preparing to perform an abdominal assessment. In which position
should the patient be placed for abdominal assessment?
A. Sitting upright on the examination table
B. In a high-Fowler's position
C. Supine
D. In a left lateral position
Answer: A - Answer In which patient would a pulsation within the epigastric area be
considered a normal finding during inspection?
A. A very thin patient
B. An obese patient
C. A patient with ascites
D. An elderly patient
Answers: A, B, C, E - Answer The nurse is performing an abdominal assessment. What
assessment techniques should be included in the assessment? Select all that apply:
A. Inspection
B. Percussion
C. Palpation
D. Illumination
E. Auscultation
F. Mirror check
Answer: A
Tympany may not be pronounced if the stomach is full. - Answer The nurse is percussing
a patient's abdomen and hears tympany. Which anatomic features explain the finding of
tympany with stomach percussion?
,a. The stomach is hollow.
b. The stomach is flask-shaped.
c. The stomach secretes digestive enzymes.
d. The stomach is a muscular organ.
Answer: A - Answer The student nurse is studying the liver. The primary function of the
liver is to:
a. Metabolize nutrients
b. Store vitamin C
c. Produce red blood cells for circulation
d. Absorb most nutrients
Answer: C - Answer The nurse auscultates the abdomen to gain information regarding:
a. The metabolic activity of the liver
b. The production of erythrocytes by the spleen
c. The peristaltic activity of the intestinal tract
d. The perfusion of the mesentery
Answer: D --> The umbilical cord turns black before it falls off.
Wrong Answers:
a) A feeding problem would be noted by hydration status and weight loss.
b) An infected umbilicus would appear red and purulent.
c) Hepatitis would be manifested in several ways, usually as a metabolic problem. -
Answer The nurse notes a black umbilicus on a 5-day-old infant. What does this finding
indicate?
a. The infant may have a feeding problem.
b. The umbilicus is infected.
c. The infant has hepatitis.
d. This is a normal finding.
Answer: D --> This is performed with the patient in several positions and is known as
testing for shifting dullness.
Wrong Answers:
,a) Testing for fluid wave is done by palpation and inspection.
b) This is a finding consistent with an inflammation such as appendicitis.
c) Ascites causes a very tight, distended abdomen. - Answer The nurse is assessing a
patient's abdomen and suspects ascites. Which technique is used to confirm the
presence of abdominal ascites?
a. Auscultation of fluid movement within the abdominal cavity
b. Palpation of rebound tenderness
c. Palpation of pitting edema of the abdomen
d. Percussion of dullness over dependent areas of the abdomen
Answer: C --> Patients may incorrectly assume that myocardial ischemic pain is caused
by heartburn - Answer The nurse includes questions about chest pain as part of an
abdominal history because myocardial pain can be:
a. Associated with ulcer disease
b. Caused by esophageal herniation or rupture
c. Perceived as esophageal and stomach pain
d. Related to congenital abdominal defects
Answer: C --> If no bowel sounds are heard after several minutes, an absence of bowel
sounds can be documented. - Answer The nurse should auscultate the abdomen for at
least __________________ before documenting an absence of bowel sounds.
a. 5 to 15 seconds
b. 30 seconds
c. Several minutes
d. 1 hour
Answer: D - Answer What question does a nurse ask a patient with a history of
pancreatitis who is complaining of abdominal pain?
a. Which foods aggravate the pain?
b. Have you recently traveled outside the U.S.?
c. Have you noticed a change in your bowel habits?
d. How severe is the pain on a scale of 0-10?
Answer: a - Answer The nurse is interviewing a patient with a history of flank pain, fever,
, chills, and pain radiating to the groin. Which examination technique is most appropriate
for this patient?
a. Percussion of the costovertebral angle
b. Deep palpation of the abdomen
c. Testing for rebound tenderness
d. Auscultation of all quadrants of the abdomen
Answer: c - Answer A patient reports a gnawing, burning pain in the mid-epigastric area
that is aggravated by bending over or lying down. Which additional question does the
nurse ask for the symptom analysis?
a. Do you have a family history of this type of pain?
b. How long ago did you eat?
c. Do you have any symptoms such as nausea with this pain?
d. Have you noticed any yellow coloring in your eyes or on your skin?
Answer: A - Answer The nurse palpates the abdomen to gather data about which organs
located in the right upper quadrant?
a. Liver and gallbladder
b. Stomach and spleen
c. Uterus, if enlarged, and right ovary
d. Right ureter and ascending colon
Answer: C - Answer A nurse performing an abdominal examination on a 37 y.o. woman
would document which finding as abnormal?
a. Nonpalpable spleen or kidneys
b. Bowel sounds every 15 seconds in the lower quadrants
c. Bulges observed when coughing
d. Silver-white striae and a faint vascular network
Answer: B - Answer A 50 y.o. patient asks how he can reduce his risk of colon cancer.
What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?
a. A diet high in animal protein reduces the risk.
b. Regular exercise to reduce body fat helps prevent colon cancer.
2024-2025
Answer: C
The supine position optimizes the ability to inspect, auscultate, percuss, and palpate. -
Answer The nurse is preparing to perform an abdominal assessment. In which position
should the patient be placed for abdominal assessment?
A. Sitting upright on the examination table
B. In a high-Fowler's position
C. Supine
D. In a left lateral position
Answer: A - Answer In which patient would a pulsation within the epigastric area be
considered a normal finding during inspection?
A. A very thin patient
B. An obese patient
C. A patient with ascites
D. An elderly patient
Answers: A, B, C, E - Answer The nurse is performing an abdominal assessment. What
assessment techniques should be included in the assessment? Select all that apply:
A. Inspection
B. Percussion
C. Palpation
D. Illumination
E. Auscultation
F. Mirror check
Answer: A
Tympany may not be pronounced if the stomach is full. - Answer The nurse is percussing
a patient's abdomen and hears tympany. Which anatomic features explain the finding of
tympany with stomach percussion?
,a. The stomach is hollow.
b. The stomach is flask-shaped.
c. The stomach secretes digestive enzymes.
d. The stomach is a muscular organ.
Answer: A - Answer The student nurse is studying the liver. The primary function of the
liver is to:
a. Metabolize nutrients
b. Store vitamin C
c. Produce red blood cells for circulation
d. Absorb most nutrients
Answer: C - Answer The nurse auscultates the abdomen to gain information regarding:
a. The metabolic activity of the liver
b. The production of erythrocytes by the spleen
c. The peristaltic activity of the intestinal tract
d. The perfusion of the mesentery
Answer: D --> The umbilical cord turns black before it falls off.
Wrong Answers:
a) A feeding problem would be noted by hydration status and weight loss.
b) An infected umbilicus would appear red and purulent.
c) Hepatitis would be manifested in several ways, usually as a metabolic problem. -
Answer The nurse notes a black umbilicus on a 5-day-old infant. What does this finding
indicate?
a. The infant may have a feeding problem.
b. The umbilicus is infected.
c. The infant has hepatitis.
d. This is a normal finding.
Answer: D --> This is performed with the patient in several positions and is known as
testing for shifting dullness.
Wrong Answers:
,a) Testing for fluid wave is done by palpation and inspection.
b) This is a finding consistent with an inflammation such as appendicitis.
c) Ascites causes a very tight, distended abdomen. - Answer The nurse is assessing a
patient's abdomen and suspects ascites. Which technique is used to confirm the
presence of abdominal ascites?
a. Auscultation of fluid movement within the abdominal cavity
b. Palpation of rebound tenderness
c. Palpation of pitting edema of the abdomen
d. Percussion of dullness over dependent areas of the abdomen
Answer: C --> Patients may incorrectly assume that myocardial ischemic pain is caused
by heartburn - Answer The nurse includes questions about chest pain as part of an
abdominal history because myocardial pain can be:
a. Associated with ulcer disease
b. Caused by esophageal herniation or rupture
c. Perceived as esophageal and stomach pain
d. Related to congenital abdominal defects
Answer: C --> If no bowel sounds are heard after several minutes, an absence of bowel
sounds can be documented. - Answer The nurse should auscultate the abdomen for at
least __________________ before documenting an absence of bowel sounds.
a. 5 to 15 seconds
b. 30 seconds
c. Several minutes
d. 1 hour
Answer: D - Answer What question does a nurse ask a patient with a history of
pancreatitis who is complaining of abdominal pain?
a. Which foods aggravate the pain?
b. Have you recently traveled outside the U.S.?
c. Have you noticed a change in your bowel habits?
d. How severe is the pain on a scale of 0-10?
Answer: a - Answer The nurse is interviewing a patient with a history of flank pain, fever,
, chills, and pain radiating to the groin. Which examination technique is most appropriate
for this patient?
a. Percussion of the costovertebral angle
b. Deep palpation of the abdomen
c. Testing for rebound tenderness
d. Auscultation of all quadrants of the abdomen
Answer: c - Answer A patient reports a gnawing, burning pain in the mid-epigastric area
that is aggravated by bending over or lying down. Which additional question does the
nurse ask for the symptom analysis?
a. Do you have a family history of this type of pain?
b. How long ago did you eat?
c. Do you have any symptoms such as nausea with this pain?
d. Have you noticed any yellow coloring in your eyes or on your skin?
Answer: A - Answer The nurse palpates the abdomen to gather data about which organs
located in the right upper quadrant?
a. Liver and gallbladder
b. Stomach and spleen
c. Uterus, if enlarged, and right ovary
d. Right ureter and ascending colon
Answer: C - Answer A nurse performing an abdominal examination on a 37 y.o. woman
would document which finding as abnormal?
a. Nonpalpable spleen or kidneys
b. Bowel sounds every 15 seconds in the lower quadrants
c. Bulges observed when coughing
d. Silver-white striae and a faint vascular network
Answer: B - Answer A 50 y.o. patient asks how he can reduce his risk of colon cancer.
What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?
a. A diet high in animal protein reduces the risk.
b. Regular exercise to reduce body fat helps prevent colon cancer.
