NR 305 | Health Assessment in Nursing | Final Exam Version 3
Practice Questions 2026 |Chamberlain College
1. When assessing a patient’s abdomen, what is the correct sequence of physical
examination techniques?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
C. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: C
Rationale: For the abdominal assessment, auscultation is performed before palpation and
percussion to avoid stimulating bowel sounds that were not originally present.
2. The nurse is using the bell of the stethoscope during a cardiac assessment.
Which sounds is the nurse specifically listening for?
A. High-pitched sounds like breath sounds
B. Low-pitched sounds such as murmurs or bruits
C. Normal heart sounds S1 and S2
D. Abdominal bowel sounds
Answer: B
Rationale: The bell of the stethoscope is best for hearing low-pitched sounds like heart
murmurs, bruits, and S3/S4 sounds.
,3. Which part of the hand is most sensitive to vibrations and should be used to
assess tactile fremitus?
A. Dorsum of the hand
B. Palmar surface or ulnar edge of the hand
C. Fingertips
D. The thumb
Answer: B
Rationale: The ulnar surface or the base of the fingers (metacarpophalangeal joints) is the
most sensitive area for detecting vibrations.
4. A patient complains of a sharp, stabbing pain in the chest that worsens with
deep breathing. This is an example of what type of data?
A. Objective data
B. Secondary data
C. Subjective data
D. Observable data
Answer: C
Rationale: Subjective data is information provided by the patient that cannot be measured
directly by the nurse, such as pain descriptions.
5. Which of the following describes the ‘P’ in the PQRST mnemonic for pain
assessment?
A. Pattern: Does the pain come and go?
B. Palpitation: Does the pain feel like a heartbeat?
C. Position: Where is the pain located?
D. Provocation/Palliative: What makes the pain better or worse?
Answer: D
Rationale: In the PQRST mnemonic, P stands for Provocation or Palliative factors, asking
what triggers the pain or relieves it.
, 6. A nurse observes a patient’s skin and notes a bluish discoloration around the
lips and nail beds. This finding is documented as:
A. Jaundice
B. Erythema
C. Pallor
D. Cyanosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Cyanosis is a bluish discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes resulting
from poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood.
7. When assessing skin turgor in an elderly patient, which location is most
reliable to check for dehydration?
A. Back of the hand
B. Over the sternum or under the clavicle
C. Forehead
D. The abdomen
Answer: B
Rationale: In older adults, the skin on the back of the hand loses elasticity naturally.
Testing turgor over the sternum or clavicle provides a more accurate assessment of
hydration.
8. The nurse notes a pupillary response where the pupils constrict when
focusing on a near object. This is known as:
A. Direct reflex
B. Consensual reflex
C. Nystagmus
D. Accommodation
Answer: D
Practice Questions 2026 |Chamberlain College
1. When assessing a patient’s abdomen, what is the correct sequence of physical
examination techniques?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
C. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: C
Rationale: For the abdominal assessment, auscultation is performed before palpation and
percussion to avoid stimulating bowel sounds that were not originally present.
2. The nurse is using the bell of the stethoscope during a cardiac assessment.
Which sounds is the nurse specifically listening for?
A. High-pitched sounds like breath sounds
B. Low-pitched sounds such as murmurs or bruits
C. Normal heart sounds S1 and S2
D. Abdominal bowel sounds
Answer: B
Rationale: The bell of the stethoscope is best for hearing low-pitched sounds like heart
murmurs, bruits, and S3/S4 sounds.
,3. Which part of the hand is most sensitive to vibrations and should be used to
assess tactile fremitus?
A. Dorsum of the hand
B. Palmar surface or ulnar edge of the hand
C. Fingertips
D. The thumb
Answer: B
Rationale: The ulnar surface or the base of the fingers (metacarpophalangeal joints) is the
most sensitive area for detecting vibrations.
4. A patient complains of a sharp, stabbing pain in the chest that worsens with
deep breathing. This is an example of what type of data?
A. Objective data
B. Secondary data
C. Subjective data
D. Observable data
Answer: C
Rationale: Subjective data is information provided by the patient that cannot be measured
directly by the nurse, such as pain descriptions.
5. Which of the following describes the ‘P’ in the PQRST mnemonic for pain
assessment?
A. Pattern: Does the pain come and go?
B. Palpitation: Does the pain feel like a heartbeat?
C. Position: Where is the pain located?
D. Provocation/Palliative: What makes the pain better or worse?
Answer: D
Rationale: In the PQRST mnemonic, P stands for Provocation or Palliative factors, asking
what triggers the pain or relieves it.
, 6. A nurse observes a patient’s skin and notes a bluish discoloration around the
lips and nail beds. This finding is documented as:
A. Jaundice
B. Erythema
C. Pallor
D. Cyanosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Cyanosis is a bluish discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes resulting
from poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood.
7. When assessing skin turgor in an elderly patient, which location is most
reliable to check for dehydration?
A. Back of the hand
B. Over the sternum or under the clavicle
C. Forehead
D. The abdomen
Answer: B
Rationale: In older adults, the skin on the back of the hand loses elasticity naturally.
Testing turgor over the sternum or clavicle provides a more accurate assessment of
hydration.
8. The nurse notes a pupillary response where the pupils constrict when
focusing on a near object. This is known as:
A. Direct reflex
B. Consensual reflex
C. Nystagmus
D. Accommodation
Answer: D
