lOMoARcPSD| 63525276
NSG 3160 PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT –
FULL BODY EXAM SCRIPT QUESTIONS
WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE
🧍♀️ HEAD-TO-TOE PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT — FINAL
FULL SCRIPT
✅NSG 3160L Competency ✔ Rubric + PDF-integrated
🧍 INTRODUCTION & SAFETY CHECK
“Hi, my name is [Your Name], I’m a nursing student, and I’ll be doing a full head-to-toe
physical assessment today.”
(Close privacy curtain.)
“Let me go ahead and wash my hands before we begin.” (Do it)
“Can you please tell me your full name and date of birth?”
“Do you have any allergies I should be aware of?”
“Are you in any pain today?”
“Do you have any cultural or religious beliefs that would prevent me from touching you during
this exam?”
“This exam will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes.”
“Would you like to use the restroom before we start?”
(Raise bed to working height and lower rails.)
“Now, I’m going to ask a few quick questions to assess your orientation.”
“Do you know where you are right now?”
“What month and year is it?”
“Who is the current president?”
✅“Patient is alert and oriented x4 and well groomed.”
, lOMoARcPSD| 63525276
🧍 HEAD (Wear gloves)
“I’m now palpating your head for bumps, lesions, or abnormalities.”
“No bumps, bruises, or abnormalities noted.”
“Hair is evenly distributed and clean.”
🧍 EARS
“Now I’m inspecting your ears using my penlight to check for any discharge or earwax buildup.”
“No cerumen or abnormalities observed.”
(Whisper test for hearing – CN VIII)
“Cover one ear, and repeat these three words after me: ‘apple, chair, book.’” (Repeat on other
ear.)
🧍 EYES & CRANIAL NERVES (CN II, III, IV, VI)
“I’m inspecting your eyes for symmetry, pupil size, sclera, and conjunctiva.”
“Pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation.” (PERRLA)
“Now follow my penlight with your eyes without moving your head.” (Six cardinal fields – CN
III, IV, VI)
“Now I’m testing your visual fields—cover one eye and tell me when you see my fingers
wiggle.” (CN II) or
🧍 NEUROLOGICAL / CRANIAL NERVE ASSESSMENT
"Now I’ll be checking your cranial nerves."
1. CN I - Olfactory (if tested):
“Please close your eyes and identify this scent.” (Use alcohol swab or coffee)
2. CN II - Optic:
“Read the smallest line you can on this Snellen chart.”
“Now cover one eye—I’m checking your peripheral vision. Tell me when you see my fingers
wiggle.” (Wiggle fingers in all four quadrants)
3. CN III, IV, VI - Oculomotor, Trochlear, Abducens:
NSG 3160 PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT –
FULL BODY EXAM SCRIPT QUESTIONS
WITH COMPLETE ANSWERS | 2026
UPDATE
🧍♀️ HEAD-TO-TOE PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT — FINAL
FULL SCRIPT
✅NSG 3160L Competency ✔ Rubric + PDF-integrated
🧍 INTRODUCTION & SAFETY CHECK
“Hi, my name is [Your Name], I’m a nursing student, and I’ll be doing a full head-to-toe
physical assessment today.”
(Close privacy curtain.)
“Let me go ahead and wash my hands before we begin.” (Do it)
“Can you please tell me your full name and date of birth?”
“Do you have any allergies I should be aware of?”
“Are you in any pain today?”
“Do you have any cultural or religious beliefs that would prevent me from touching you during
this exam?”
“This exam will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes.”
“Would you like to use the restroom before we start?”
(Raise bed to working height and lower rails.)
“Now, I’m going to ask a few quick questions to assess your orientation.”
“Do you know where you are right now?”
“What month and year is it?”
“Who is the current president?”
✅“Patient is alert and oriented x4 and well groomed.”
, lOMoARcPSD| 63525276
🧍 HEAD (Wear gloves)
“I’m now palpating your head for bumps, lesions, or abnormalities.”
“No bumps, bruises, or abnormalities noted.”
“Hair is evenly distributed and clean.”
🧍 EARS
“Now I’m inspecting your ears using my penlight to check for any discharge or earwax buildup.”
“No cerumen or abnormalities observed.”
(Whisper test for hearing – CN VIII)
“Cover one ear, and repeat these three words after me: ‘apple, chair, book.’” (Repeat on other
ear.)
🧍 EYES & CRANIAL NERVES (CN II, III, IV, VI)
“I’m inspecting your eyes for symmetry, pupil size, sclera, and conjunctiva.”
“Pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation.” (PERRLA)
“Now follow my penlight with your eyes without moving your head.” (Six cardinal fields – CN
III, IV, VI)
“Now I’m testing your visual fields—cover one eye and tell me when you see my fingers
wiggle.” (CN II) or
🧍 NEUROLOGICAL / CRANIAL NERVE ASSESSMENT
"Now I’ll be checking your cranial nerves."
1. CN I - Olfactory (if tested):
“Please close your eyes and identify this scent.” (Use alcohol swab or coffee)
2. CN II - Optic:
“Read the smallest line you can on this Snellen chart.”
“Now cover one eye—I’m checking your peripheral vision. Tell me when you see my fingers
wiggle.” (Wiggle fingers in all four quadrants)
3. CN III, IV, VI - Oculomotor, Trochlear, Abducens:
