NSG 3160 Exam 3
Health Assessment
Galen College of Nursing
2026/2027 |Newly Released
50 Verified questions & Answers with Detailed Rationales
Graded A+
Q1: The nurse is reviewing the anatomy of the heart to prepare for an assessment. Which
sequence correctly traces the flow of oxygenated blood through the left side of the heart?
A. Left Ventricle → Left Atrium → Mitral Valve
B. Left Atrium → Mitral Valve → Left Ventricle → Aortic Valve [CORRECT]
C. Left Atrium → Aortic Valve → Left Ventricle → Mitral Valve
D. Right Atrium → Mitral Valve → Left Ventricle → Pulmonic Valve
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Blood returning from the lungs enters the left atrium, flows through the mitral valve
into the left ventricle, and is then pumped out through the aortic valve to the body.
Board Pearl: Left side flow: LA → Mitral → LV → Aorta.
Q2: While auscultating a patient’s heart sounds, the nurse places the diaphragm of the
stethoscope at the 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line. Which heart sound is best assessed at
this location?
A. S1 (Lub)
B. S2 (Dub) [CORRECT]
C. S3
D. S4
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line is the aortic area (Erb’s point),
which is where the second heart sound (S2), caused by the closure of the aortic and pulmonic
valves, is best heard.
Board Pearl: S2 is at the base (Erb’s point); S1 is at the apex.
, Q3: The nurse is evaluating a patient with a cardiovascular complaint. To inspect the apical
impulse of the heart, the nurse should place the stethoscope diaphragm at which location?
A. Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
B. Second intercostal space, left sternal border
C. Fifth intercostal space, left midaxillary line [CORRECT]
D. Second intercostal space, right sternal border
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The apical impulse (PMI) is located at the 5th intercostal space at the left midaxillary
line (the apex of the heart), which is the point of maximal impulse (PMI) where S1 is best heard.
Board Pearl: Apex is left midaxillary line.
Q4: Select all that apply. The nurse is assessing a patient for signs of Left-Sided Heart Failure.
Which of the following findings would be consistent with this diagnosis? (Select 3)
A. Bilateral crackles in the lung bases [CORRECT]
B. Peripheral edema of the feet
C. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND) [CORRECT]
D. Shortness of breath when lying flat (orthopnea) [CORRECT]
E. Jugular vein distention (JVD)
Correct Answer: A, C, D
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the lungs, leading to pulmonary
congestion and symptoms like crackles, PND, and orthopnea. Peripheral edema and JVD are
signs of Right-Sided Heart Failure.
Board Pearl: Left failure = Lungs (Crackles/PND); Right failure = Body (Edema/JVD).
Q5: When assessing Jugular Vein Distention (JVD), the nurse should position the patient in
which of the following ways to accurately visualize the venous pressure?
A. Lying flat (supine) with the head of bed (HOB) flat [CORRECT]
B. Sitting upright at 90 degrees
C. Trendelenburg position
D. Side-lying with one pillow under the head
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: JVD is best visualized with the patient supine and the trunk elevated to a 30-45
degree angle to distend the veins. However, the initial check is often done lying flat.
Board Pearl: Flat on back (or 30-45 deg up) reveals JVD best.
Q6: The nurse is assessing capillary refill on a patient’s finger. The nurse compresses the nail
bed until it blanches and then releases. Which refill time is considered normal?
A. 5 seconds
B. 4 seconds
C. 2 seconds [CORRECT]
D. 6 seconds or greater
Health Assessment
Galen College of Nursing
2026/2027 |Newly Released
50 Verified questions & Answers with Detailed Rationales
Graded A+
Q1: The nurse is reviewing the anatomy of the heart to prepare for an assessment. Which
sequence correctly traces the flow of oxygenated blood through the left side of the heart?
A. Left Ventricle → Left Atrium → Mitral Valve
B. Left Atrium → Mitral Valve → Left Ventricle → Aortic Valve [CORRECT]
C. Left Atrium → Aortic Valve → Left Ventricle → Mitral Valve
D. Right Atrium → Mitral Valve → Left Ventricle → Pulmonic Valve
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Blood returning from the lungs enters the left atrium, flows through the mitral valve
into the left ventricle, and is then pumped out through the aortic valve to the body.
Board Pearl: Left side flow: LA → Mitral → LV → Aorta.
Q2: While auscultating a patient’s heart sounds, the nurse places the diaphragm of the
stethoscope at the 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line. Which heart sound is best assessed at
this location?
A. S1 (Lub)
B. S2 (Dub) [CORRECT]
C. S3
D. S4
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line is the aortic area (Erb’s point),
which is where the second heart sound (S2), caused by the closure of the aortic and pulmonic
valves, is best heard.
Board Pearl: S2 is at the base (Erb’s point); S1 is at the apex.
, Q3: The nurse is evaluating a patient with a cardiovascular complaint. To inspect the apical
impulse of the heart, the nurse should place the stethoscope diaphragm at which location?
A. Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
B. Second intercostal space, left sternal border
C. Fifth intercostal space, left midaxillary line [CORRECT]
D. Second intercostal space, right sternal border
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The apical impulse (PMI) is located at the 5th intercostal space at the left midaxillary
line (the apex of the heart), which is the point of maximal impulse (PMI) where S1 is best heard.
Board Pearl: Apex is left midaxillary line.
Q4: Select all that apply. The nurse is assessing a patient for signs of Left-Sided Heart Failure.
Which of the following findings would be consistent with this diagnosis? (Select 3)
A. Bilateral crackles in the lung bases [CORRECT]
B. Peripheral edema of the feet
C. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND) [CORRECT]
D. Shortness of breath when lying flat (orthopnea) [CORRECT]
E. Jugular vein distention (JVD)
Correct Answer: A, C, D
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes blood to back up into the lungs, leading to pulmonary
congestion and symptoms like crackles, PND, and orthopnea. Peripheral edema and JVD are
signs of Right-Sided Heart Failure.
Board Pearl: Left failure = Lungs (Crackles/PND); Right failure = Body (Edema/JVD).
Q5: When assessing Jugular Vein Distention (JVD), the nurse should position the patient in
which of the following ways to accurately visualize the venous pressure?
A. Lying flat (supine) with the head of bed (HOB) flat [CORRECT]
B. Sitting upright at 90 degrees
C. Trendelenburg position
D. Side-lying with one pillow under the head
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: JVD is best visualized with the patient supine and the trunk elevated to a 30-45
degree angle to distend the veins. However, the initial check is often done lying flat.
Board Pearl: Flat on back (or 30-45 deg up) reveals JVD best.
Q6: The nurse is assessing capillary refill on a patient’s finger. The nurse compresses the nail
bed until it blanches and then releases. Which refill time is considered normal?
A. 5 seconds
B. 4 seconds
C. 2 seconds [CORRECT]
D. 6 seconds or greater
