NURS 101L | Fundamentals of Nursing Skills Lab | Week 5
Comprehensive Quiz 2026 |WCU
1. During a physical assessment, a nurse notices a patient has a grade 3+ edema
in the lower extremities. What is the best description of this finding?
A. Deep pitting, 6mm indentation, remains for a short time.
B. Mild pitting, 2mm indentation, disappears rapidly.
C. Moderate pitting, 4mm indentation, disappears in 10-15 seconds.
D. Very deep pitting, 8mm indentation, remains for a long time.
Answer: A
Rationale: Edema is graded on a scale of 1+ to 4+. Grade 3+ indicates a deep pitting
indentation of approximately 6mm that remains for a short period.
2. When auscultating the heart, where is the best location to hear the Mitral
valve sound (Apex)?
A. Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line.
B. Second intercostal space, left sternal border.
C. Fourth intercostal space, left sternal border.
D. Second intercostal space, right sternal border.
Answer: A
Rationale: The mitral valve is best auscultated at the apex of the heart, located at the fifth
intercostal space at the left midclavicular line.
,3. In what order should the nurse perform an abdominal assessment?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation.
B. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation.
C. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion.
D. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection.
Answer: B
Rationale: For abdominal assessments, auscultation follows inspection to prevent bowel
sounds from being altered by percussion or palpation.
4. A patient is in the hospital for a suspected respiratory infection. Which sound
heard during auscultation indicates narrow airways?
A. Crackles
B. Rhonchi
C. Wheezes
D. Pleural friction rub
Answer: C
Rationale: Wheezes are high-pitched, musical sounds caused by air flowing through
narrowed or obstructed airways, common in asthma or COPD.
5. Which cranial nerve is responsible for the movement of the tongue during
speech and swallowing?
A. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
B. CN X (Vagus)
C. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
D. CN VII (Facial)
Answer: A
Rationale: The Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) is primarily responsible for motor control of the
tongue muscles.
, 6. A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which action would violate the principles
of surgical asepsis?
A. Holding sterile gloved hands above the waist.
B. Opening the outermost flap of a sterile kit away from the body.
C. Turning one’s back to the sterile field to grab a trash can.
D. Dropping a sterile item onto the field from 6 inches above.
Answer: C
Rationale: A sterile field is considered contaminated if it is out of the visual range of the
nurse or if the nurse turns their back on it.
7. When assessing a patient’s pupillary response, the nurse notes both pupils
constrict when light is shone into one eye. This is known as:
A. Direct reaction
B. Consensual reaction
C. Accommodation
D. Nystagmus
Answer: B
Rationale: A consensual reaction is the simultaneous constriction of the pupil in the eye
that does not have light directly shining on it.
8. Which vital sign should be prioritized for a patient who just received a dose of
opioid medication?
A. Blood Pressure
B. Heart Rate
C. Temperature
D. Respiratory Rate
Answer: D
Rationale: Opioids can cause respiratory depression; therefore, monitoring the respiratory
rate is a safety priority.
Comprehensive Quiz 2026 |WCU
1. During a physical assessment, a nurse notices a patient has a grade 3+ edema
in the lower extremities. What is the best description of this finding?
A. Deep pitting, 6mm indentation, remains for a short time.
B. Mild pitting, 2mm indentation, disappears rapidly.
C. Moderate pitting, 4mm indentation, disappears in 10-15 seconds.
D. Very deep pitting, 8mm indentation, remains for a long time.
Answer: A
Rationale: Edema is graded on a scale of 1+ to 4+. Grade 3+ indicates a deep pitting
indentation of approximately 6mm that remains for a short period.
2. When auscultating the heart, where is the best location to hear the Mitral
valve sound (Apex)?
A. Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line.
B. Second intercostal space, left sternal border.
C. Fourth intercostal space, left sternal border.
D. Second intercostal space, right sternal border.
Answer: A
Rationale: The mitral valve is best auscultated at the apex of the heart, located at the fifth
intercostal space at the left midclavicular line.
,3. In what order should the nurse perform an abdominal assessment?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation.
B. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation.
C. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion.
D. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection.
Answer: B
Rationale: For abdominal assessments, auscultation follows inspection to prevent bowel
sounds from being altered by percussion or palpation.
4. A patient is in the hospital for a suspected respiratory infection. Which sound
heard during auscultation indicates narrow airways?
A. Crackles
B. Rhonchi
C. Wheezes
D. Pleural friction rub
Answer: C
Rationale: Wheezes are high-pitched, musical sounds caused by air flowing through
narrowed or obstructed airways, common in asthma or COPD.
5. Which cranial nerve is responsible for the movement of the tongue during
speech and swallowing?
A. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
B. CN X (Vagus)
C. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
D. CN VII (Facial)
Answer: A
Rationale: The Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) is primarily responsible for motor control of the
tongue muscles.
, 6. A nurse is preparing a sterile field. Which action would violate the principles
of surgical asepsis?
A. Holding sterile gloved hands above the waist.
B. Opening the outermost flap of a sterile kit away from the body.
C. Turning one’s back to the sterile field to grab a trash can.
D. Dropping a sterile item onto the field from 6 inches above.
Answer: C
Rationale: A sterile field is considered contaminated if it is out of the visual range of the
nurse or if the nurse turns their back on it.
7. When assessing a patient’s pupillary response, the nurse notes both pupils
constrict when light is shone into one eye. This is known as:
A. Direct reaction
B. Consensual reaction
C. Accommodation
D. Nystagmus
Answer: B
Rationale: A consensual reaction is the simultaneous constriction of the pupil in the eye
that does not have light directly shining on it.
8. Which vital sign should be prioritized for a patient who just received a dose of
opioid medication?
A. Blood Pressure
B. Heart Rate
C. Temperature
D. Respiratory Rate
Answer: D
Rationale: Opioids can cause respiratory depression; therefore, monitoring the respiratory
rate is a safety priority.
