ESTUDYR
NR509 / NU522 Advanced Physical Assessment Chapter 1 – Comprehensive 70-
Question Practice Exam
When performing a head-to-toe physical assessment, the first technique the nurse should routinely
use is:
A. Palpation
B. Inspection
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Rationale: Inspection is the first step—visual examination yields immediate information and guides
subsequent techniques.
Which statement about inspection during a physical exam is true?
A. It is quick and reveals little useful information.
B. It should be performed after percussion.
C. It is best done with the patient clothed.
D. It takes time and often reveals a surprising amount of information.
Rationale: Careful inspection yields important clues (color, symmetry, movement) and should
not be rushed.
To assess skin temperature most accurately, the nurse should use the:
A. Palmar surface of the hand
B. Fingertips
C. Dorsal surface of the hand
D. Heel of the hand
Rationale: The dorsal (back) surface has thinner skin and better detects subtle temperature
differences.
Which assessment technique best evaluates texture, temperature, moisture, and swelling?
A. Auscultation
B. Inspection
C. Palpation
D. Percussion
Rationale: Palpation uses touch to assess surface and subcutaneous characteristics.
When beginning abdominal palpation, the correct approach is to:
A. Begin with deep palpation over all quadrants
B. Always begin with auscultation and skip palpation
C. Begin with light palpation to detect surface characteristics and accustom the patient to
touch
D. Ask the patient to perform a Valsalva maneuver first
Rationale: Light palpation reduces discomfort and identifies areas that may need deeper
assessment.
Bimanual palpation is most appropriate when assessing the:
A. Liver edge on the left side only
, ESTUDYR
B. Kidneys and uterus
C. Carotid pulses
D. Lungs for fremitus
Rationale: Bimanual technique (one hand supporting, one palpating) helps assess organs deep
or mobile in the body.
Percussion of the abdomen assesses the underlying tissue’s:
A. Temperature
B. Vibration
C. Sound quality only
D. Density
Rationale: Percussion elicits tones influenced by underlying tissue density (air, fluid, solid).
Which percussion technique indicates more review is needed by a new nurse?
A. Using the middle finger as the plexor and pleximeter
B. Percussing over lung fields in a systematic pattern
C. Using light to moderate tapping force based on area
D. Percussing once over each area and moving on
Rationale: Percussion requires repeated, systematic taps and comparison; single taps are
inadequate.
Percussion over the liver typically produces a:
A. Tympanic sound
B. Hyperresonant tone
C. Dull sound (expected over solid organs)
D. Flat absent sound (pathologic)
Rationale: Solid organs produce dullness on percussion; dull over liver is normal.
When percussion over the abdomen of an obese patient yields no discernible sound changes,
the next step is to:
A. Stop the exam and document as normal
B. Switch to auscultation only
C. Increase percussion force/technique or use alternative methods (e.g., palpation,
ultrasound)
D. Request immediate imaging without further exam
Rationale: Extra adipose tissue may require modified technique or adjuncts like
Doppler/ultrasound.
Percussing the lungs of a 4-year-old yields bilateral loud, low tones; the nurse should:
A. Immediately suspect consolidation
B. Call for emergent imaging
C. Consider this a normal finding for a young child and continue the exam
D. Start chest physiotherapy
Rationale: Children have more resonant lung sounds due to thin chest wall; findings must be
age-appropriate.
A patient presents with sudden dyspnea and respiratory distress. After positioning and
oxygen, the nurse should next:
A. Start chest compressions
B. Begin suctioning immediately
NR509 / NU522 Advanced Physical Assessment Chapter 1 – Comprehensive 70-
Question Practice Exam
When performing a head-to-toe physical assessment, the first technique the nurse should routinely
use is:
A. Palpation
B. Inspection
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Rationale: Inspection is the first step—visual examination yields immediate information and guides
subsequent techniques.
Which statement about inspection during a physical exam is true?
A. It is quick and reveals little useful information.
B. It should be performed after percussion.
C. It is best done with the patient clothed.
D. It takes time and often reveals a surprising amount of information.
Rationale: Careful inspection yields important clues (color, symmetry, movement) and should
not be rushed.
To assess skin temperature most accurately, the nurse should use the:
A. Palmar surface of the hand
B. Fingertips
C. Dorsal surface of the hand
D. Heel of the hand
Rationale: The dorsal (back) surface has thinner skin and better detects subtle temperature
differences.
Which assessment technique best evaluates texture, temperature, moisture, and swelling?
A. Auscultation
B. Inspection
C. Palpation
D. Percussion
Rationale: Palpation uses touch to assess surface and subcutaneous characteristics.
When beginning abdominal palpation, the correct approach is to:
A. Begin with deep palpation over all quadrants
B. Always begin with auscultation and skip palpation
C. Begin with light palpation to detect surface characteristics and accustom the patient to
touch
D. Ask the patient to perform a Valsalva maneuver first
Rationale: Light palpation reduces discomfort and identifies areas that may need deeper
assessment.
Bimanual palpation is most appropriate when assessing the:
A. Liver edge on the left side only
, ESTUDYR
B. Kidneys and uterus
C. Carotid pulses
D. Lungs for fremitus
Rationale: Bimanual technique (one hand supporting, one palpating) helps assess organs deep
or mobile in the body.
Percussion of the abdomen assesses the underlying tissue’s:
A. Temperature
B. Vibration
C. Sound quality only
D. Density
Rationale: Percussion elicits tones influenced by underlying tissue density (air, fluid, solid).
Which percussion technique indicates more review is needed by a new nurse?
A. Using the middle finger as the plexor and pleximeter
B. Percussing over lung fields in a systematic pattern
C. Using light to moderate tapping force based on area
D. Percussing once over each area and moving on
Rationale: Percussion requires repeated, systematic taps and comparison; single taps are
inadequate.
Percussion over the liver typically produces a:
A. Tympanic sound
B. Hyperresonant tone
C. Dull sound (expected over solid organs)
D. Flat absent sound (pathologic)
Rationale: Solid organs produce dullness on percussion; dull over liver is normal.
When percussion over the abdomen of an obese patient yields no discernible sound changes,
the next step is to:
A. Stop the exam and document as normal
B. Switch to auscultation only
C. Increase percussion force/technique or use alternative methods (e.g., palpation,
ultrasound)
D. Request immediate imaging without further exam
Rationale: Extra adipose tissue may require modified technique or adjuncts like
Doppler/ultrasound.
Percussing the lungs of a 4-year-old yields bilateral loud, low tones; the nurse should:
A. Immediately suspect consolidation
B. Call for emergent imaging
C. Consider this a normal finding for a young child and continue the exam
D. Start chest physiotherapy
Rationale: Children have more resonant lung sounds due to thin chest wall; findings must be
age-appropriate.
A patient presents with sudden dyspnea and respiratory distress. After positioning and
oxygen, the nurse should next:
A. Start chest compressions
B. Begin suctioning immediately
