NSG 500 Advanced Health Assessment Practice
Questions And Answers With Verified Study Solutions
2025-2026 Updates
1. When palpating the thyroid gland, the nurse practitioner should position the client:
A. Supine with neck flexed
B. Sitting with neck slightly extended
C. Standing with arms above head
D. Lying on the left side
Answer: B
Rationale: The thyroid is best palpated from behind with the patient sitting and the neck slightly extended to
relax neck muscles.
2. During auscultation of heart sounds at the left 5th intercostal space midclavicular line, which valve area is
being assessed?
A. Aortic
B. Pulmonic
C. Tricuspid
D. Mitral
Answer: D
Rationale: The mitral area is at the cardiac apex at the left 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line.
3. An S3 heart sound in an adult over 40 is most often associated with:
A. Normal variation
B. Heart failure
C. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
D. Aortic stenosis
Answer: B
Rationale: S3 after age 40 usually indicates volume overload as in heart failure.
4. While performing an abdominal exam, you percuss a tympanic note over most of the abdomen. This finding:
,A. Is normal
B. Indicates ascites
C. Suggests peritonitis
D. Suggests a large solid mass
Answer: A
Rationale: Tympany from gas is the predominant normal sound over the abdomen.
5. When testing cranial nerve VII, the nurse practitioner asks the patient to:
A. Shrug shoulders
B. Stick out tongue
C. Smile and puff out cheeks
D. Follow finger with eyes
Answer: C
Rationale: Facial movements test the facial nerve (CN VII).
6. A 55-year-old with a 30-pack-year history presents for a lung exam. Which adventitious sound is most
characteristic of COPD?
A. Fine inspiratory crackles
B. Wheezes and prolonged expiratory phase
C. Pleural friction rub
D. Stridor
Answer: B
Rationale: Narrowed airways cause wheezing and prolonged expiration in COPD.
7. Which technique is used to estimate liver span during a physical exam?
A. Light palpation
B. Deep palpation
C. Percussion
D. Transillumination
Answer: C
Rationale: Percussion from lung resonance to liver dullness estimates liver span.
, 8. You suspect a pleural effusion. Which physical exam finding is most consistent?
A. Hyperresonance to percussion
B. Dullness to percussion
C. Increased tactile fremitus
D. Vesicular breath sounds
Answer: B
Rationale: Fluid in the pleural space produces dullness to percussion and decreased fremitus.
9. The best position for auscultating a left-sided heart murmur (mitral stenosis) is:
A. Supine
B. Left lateral decubitus
C. Sitting upright leaning forward
D. Standing
Answer: B
Rationale: Left lateral decubitus accentuates low-pitched mitral murmurs with the bell.
10. When assessing pupillary reaction to light, which cranial nerve is primarily being tested?
A. II (optic) and III (oculomotor)
B. IV (trochlear)
C. V (trigeminal)
D. VII (facial)
Answer: A
Rationale: CN II senses light; CN III controls pupillary constriction.
11. A bruit heard over the carotid artery indicates:
A. Normal laminar flow
B. Venous insufficiency
C. Turbulent flow from narrowing
D. Valve regurgitation
Answer: C
Questions And Answers With Verified Study Solutions
2025-2026 Updates
1. When palpating the thyroid gland, the nurse practitioner should position the client:
A. Supine with neck flexed
B. Sitting with neck slightly extended
C. Standing with arms above head
D. Lying on the left side
Answer: B
Rationale: The thyroid is best palpated from behind with the patient sitting and the neck slightly extended to
relax neck muscles.
2. During auscultation of heart sounds at the left 5th intercostal space midclavicular line, which valve area is
being assessed?
A. Aortic
B. Pulmonic
C. Tricuspid
D. Mitral
Answer: D
Rationale: The mitral area is at the cardiac apex at the left 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line.
3. An S3 heart sound in an adult over 40 is most often associated with:
A. Normal variation
B. Heart failure
C. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
D. Aortic stenosis
Answer: B
Rationale: S3 after age 40 usually indicates volume overload as in heart failure.
4. While performing an abdominal exam, you percuss a tympanic note over most of the abdomen. This finding:
,A. Is normal
B. Indicates ascites
C. Suggests peritonitis
D. Suggests a large solid mass
Answer: A
Rationale: Tympany from gas is the predominant normal sound over the abdomen.
5. When testing cranial nerve VII, the nurse practitioner asks the patient to:
A. Shrug shoulders
B. Stick out tongue
C. Smile and puff out cheeks
D. Follow finger with eyes
Answer: C
Rationale: Facial movements test the facial nerve (CN VII).
6. A 55-year-old with a 30-pack-year history presents for a lung exam. Which adventitious sound is most
characteristic of COPD?
A. Fine inspiratory crackles
B. Wheezes and prolonged expiratory phase
C. Pleural friction rub
D. Stridor
Answer: B
Rationale: Narrowed airways cause wheezing and prolonged expiration in COPD.
7. Which technique is used to estimate liver span during a physical exam?
A. Light palpation
B. Deep palpation
C. Percussion
D. Transillumination
Answer: C
Rationale: Percussion from lung resonance to liver dullness estimates liver span.
, 8. You suspect a pleural effusion. Which physical exam finding is most consistent?
A. Hyperresonance to percussion
B. Dullness to percussion
C. Increased tactile fremitus
D. Vesicular breath sounds
Answer: B
Rationale: Fluid in the pleural space produces dullness to percussion and decreased fremitus.
9. The best position for auscultating a left-sided heart murmur (mitral stenosis) is:
A. Supine
B. Left lateral decubitus
C. Sitting upright leaning forward
D. Standing
Answer: B
Rationale: Left lateral decubitus accentuates low-pitched mitral murmurs with the bell.
10. When assessing pupillary reaction to light, which cranial nerve is primarily being tested?
A. II (optic) and III (oculomotor)
B. IV (trochlear)
C. V (trigeminal)
D. VII (facial)
Answer: A
Rationale: CN II senses light; CN III controls pupillary constriction.
11. A bruit heard over the carotid artery indicates:
A. Normal laminar flow
B. Venous insufficiency
C. Turbulent flow from narrowing
D. Valve regurgitation
Answer: C
