NSG 3160: Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning
Examination With Correct Answers Version 2026/2027
1. What physical assessment technique uses the dorsal surface of the hand to evaluate
localized changes in a patient's skin temperature?
Correct Answer: Palpation
2. Which standard heart sound is generated by the synchronous closure of the aortic and
pulmonic valves during ventricular diastole?
Correct Answer: The second heart sound (S2)
3. What specific type of low-pitched, coarse, snoring lung sound is caused by thick secretions or
partial obstructions in the large airways?
Correct Answer: Rhonchi
4. What standard anatomical location is best for auscultating the closure of the pulmonic valve
during a comprehensive cardiac examination?
Correct Answer: Second intercostal space at the left sternal border
5. Which cranial nerve is evaluated when a nurse tests the patient's visual fields using the
confrontation assessment technique?
Correct Answer: Cranial Nerve II (Optic)
6. What objective visual screening tool is held 14 inches away from the face to evaluate a
patient's near visual acuity?
Correct Answer: The Rosenbaum card (or Jaeger chart)
7. What physical assessment test evaluates a patient's coordination by asking them to
repeatedly tap the pad of their thumb with each individual finger in rapid succession?
Correct Answer: Rapid alternating movements test
8. Which abnormal cardiac sound is generated by turbulent blood flow through a narrowed or
incompetent heart valve?
Correct Answer: Heart murmur
9. What peripheral vascular assessment site is located on the dorsum of the foot, running
laterally to the extensor tendon of the great toe?
Correct Answer: Dorsalis pedis pulse
10. What specific deep tendon reflex grading number describes a hyperactive, hyperreflexic
response accompanied by transient clonus?
Correct Answer: 4+
11. What specific tuning fork test compares air conduction to bone conduction by placing the
instrument on the mastoid process and then next to the ear canal?
Correct Answer: The Rinne test
12. What specific type of breath sound features a hollow, blowing quality where the inspiratory
phase is equal in duration to the expiratory phase, normally heard over the main stem
bronchi?
Correct Answer: Bronchovesicular breath sound
, 13. What terminology describes an area of permanent skin indentation left behind after a
clinician applies direct finger pressure over an edematous lower extremity?
Correct Answer: Pitting edema
14. What cognitive screening tool uses a 30-point questionnaire to evaluate a patient's
orientation, registration, recall, and language skills for dementia screening?
Correct Answer: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
15. What specific clinical term describes an asymmetric drooping of one upper eyelid, frequently
indicating an impairment of Cranial Nerve III?
Correct Answer: Ptosis
16. According to standard clinical assessment protocols, what is the exact chronological
sequence of the four physical examination techniques used during a comprehensive
abdominal exam?
Correct Answer: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation
17. What specialized low-pitched extra cardiac sound occurs early in diastole and is considered a
normal, physiological finding in healthy children or young adults?
Correct Answer: The third heart sound (S3)
18. What physical assessment term describes a palpable, rushing vibration felt over a turbulent
or narrowed blood vessel?
Correct Answer: Thrill
19. What specific pulse grading score describes a normal, easily palpable arterial pulse that can
be obliterated only with moderate, intentional finger pressure?
Correct Answer: 2+
20. What specialized percussion tone is normally produced when striking the abdominal surface
directly over air-filled, hollow visceral organs like the stomach?
Correct Answer: Tympany
21. What specialized physical assessment technique requires a patient to lie supine while the
nurse slowly raises the extended leg to check for underlying lumbosacral nerve root
compression?
Correct Answer: Straight leg raise test (Lasègue's sign)
22. What specific anatomical location marks the point where the nurse should position a
stethoscope to auscultate Erb’s point during a cardiac exam?
Correct Answer: Third intercostal space at the left sternal border
23. What objective skin assessment finding involves a widespread, generalized yellowish
discoloration of the skin and sclera caused by elevated serum bilirubin levels?
Correct Answer: Jaundice
24. What specific type of primary skin lesion is characterized by an elevated, palpable, fluid-filled
cavity measuring less than 1 centimeter in diameter, commonly known as a small blister?
Correct Answer: Vesicle
25. What non-invasive assessment technique is used to screen an infant for developmental hip
dysplasia by physically flexing and abducting the hip joints to check for a palpable click?
Correct Answer: Ortolani maneuver (or Barlow test)
Examination With Correct Answers Version 2026/2027
1. What physical assessment technique uses the dorsal surface of the hand to evaluate
localized changes in a patient's skin temperature?
Correct Answer: Palpation
2. Which standard heart sound is generated by the synchronous closure of the aortic and
pulmonic valves during ventricular diastole?
Correct Answer: The second heart sound (S2)
3. What specific type of low-pitched, coarse, snoring lung sound is caused by thick secretions or
partial obstructions in the large airways?
Correct Answer: Rhonchi
4. What standard anatomical location is best for auscultating the closure of the pulmonic valve
during a comprehensive cardiac examination?
Correct Answer: Second intercostal space at the left sternal border
5. Which cranial nerve is evaluated when a nurse tests the patient's visual fields using the
confrontation assessment technique?
Correct Answer: Cranial Nerve II (Optic)
6. What objective visual screening tool is held 14 inches away from the face to evaluate a
patient's near visual acuity?
Correct Answer: The Rosenbaum card (or Jaeger chart)
7. What physical assessment test evaluates a patient's coordination by asking them to
repeatedly tap the pad of their thumb with each individual finger in rapid succession?
Correct Answer: Rapid alternating movements test
8. Which abnormal cardiac sound is generated by turbulent blood flow through a narrowed or
incompetent heart valve?
Correct Answer: Heart murmur
9. What peripheral vascular assessment site is located on the dorsum of the foot, running
laterally to the extensor tendon of the great toe?
Correct Answer: Dorsalis pedis pulse
10. What specific deep tendon reflex grading number describes a hyperactive, hyperreflexic
response accompanied by transient clonus?
Correct Answer: 4+
11. What specific tuning fork test compares air conduction to bone conduction by placing the
instrument on the mastoid process and then next to the ear canal?
Correct Answer: The Rinne test
12. What specific type of breath sound features a hollow, blowing quality where the inspiratory
phase is equal in duration to the expiratory phase, normally heard over the main stem
bronchi?
Correct Answer: Bronchovesicular breath sound
, 13. What terminology describes an area of permanent skin indentation left behind after a
clinician applies direct finger pressure over an edematous lower extremity?
Correct Answer: Pitting edema
14. What cognitive screening tool uses a 30-point questionnaire to evaluate a patient's
orientation, registration, recall, and language skills for dementia screening?
Correct Answer: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
15. What specific clinical term describes an asymmetric drooping of one upper eyelid, frequently
indicating an impairment of Cranial Nerve III?
Correct Answer: Ptosis
16. According to standard clinical assessment protocols, what is the exact chronological
sequence of the four physical examination techniques used during a comprehensive
abdominal exam?
Correct Answer: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation
17. What specialized low-pitched extra cardiac sound occurs early in diastole and is considered a
normal, physiological finding in healthy children or young adults?
Correct Answer: The third heart sound (S3)
18. What physical assessment term describes a palpable, rushing vibration felt over a turbulent
or narrowed blood vessel?
Correct Answer: Thrill
19. What specific pulse grading score describes a normal, easily palpable arterial pulse that can
be obliterated only with moderate, intentional finger pressure?
Correct Answer: 2+
20. What specialized percussion tone is normally produced when striking the abdominal surface
directly over air-filled, hollow visceral organs like the stomach?
Correct Answer: Tympany
21. What specialized physical assessment technique requires a patient to lie supine while the
nurse slowly raises the extended leg to check for underlying lumbosacral nerve root
compression?
Correct Answer: Straight leg raise test (Lasègue's sign)
22. What specific anatomical location marks the point where the nurse should position a
stethoscope to auscultate Erb’s point during a cardiac exam?
Correct Answer: Third intercostal space at the left sternal border
23. What objective skin assessment finding involves a widespread, generalized yellowish
discoloration of the skin and sclera caused by elevated serum bilirubin levels?
Correct Answer: Jaundice
24. What specific type of primary skin lesion is characterized by an elevated, palpable, fluid-filled
cavity measuring less than 1 centimeter in diameter, commonly known as a small blister?
Correct Answer: Vesicle
25. What non-invasive assessment technique is used to screen an infant for developmental hip
dysplasia by physically flexing and abducting the hip joints to check for a palpable click?
Correct Answer: Ortolani maneuver (or Barlow test)
