Rasmussen University NUR 2180 Module 5 (pdf) | 2026/2027 |
Physical Assessment Q&A | Physical Assessment
**1. A nurse is preparing to assess a patient's abdomen. According to the
correct assessment order, which technique should the nurse perform
immediately after inspection?**
A) Palpation
B) Percussion
C) Auscultation
D) Light palpation
Correct Answer: C) Auscultation
Rationale: The correct order for abdominal assessment is inspection,
auscultation, percussion, and palpation. Auscultation is performed before
percussion and palpation because palpation and percussion can stimulate
intestinal movements, which would alter baseline bowel sounds and give a
false interpretation.
**2. A nurse is performing light palpation on a patient's abdomen. Which
technique is correct for light palpation?**
A) Using the fingertips to depress the skin about 2 cm
B) Using the first four fingers to depress the skin about 1 cm in a clockwise
rotation
C) Using the palm of the hand to apply deep pressure
D) Using sudden jabs to detect deep masses
Correct Answer: B) Using the first four fingers to depress the skin about 1 cm
in a clockwise rotation
,Rationale: Light palpation is performed using the first four fingers to depress
the skin about 1 cm and move in a rotational motion, clockwise. The
examiner uses the flat part of the hand or the pads of the fingers, not the
fingertips, and avoids sudden jabs.
**3. A nurse auscultates a patient's abdomen and counts 2 bowel sounds in
one minute. How should the nurse document this finding?**
A) Normoactive bowel sounds
B) Hyperactive bowel sounds
C) Hypoactive bowel sounds
D) Absent bowel sounds
Correct Answer: C) Hypoactive bowel sounds
Rationale: Normoactive bowel sounds are approximately 5-30 sounds per
minute; less than 5 sounds per minute are considered hypoactive; more than
30 sounds per minute are hyperactive. Two sounds in one minute is less than
5, so this is hypoactive.
**4. A nurse is assessing a patient's abdomen and notes high-pitched, loud,
rushing bowel sounds. Which condition is most consistent with this finding?**
A) Paralytic ileus
B) Peritonitis
C) Early intestinal obstruction
D) Constipation
Correct Answer: C) Early intestinal obstruction
Rationale: Hyperactive bowel sounds, which are loud, high-pitched, and
rushing, are often associated with early intestinal obstruction or diarrhea.
,Hypoactive or absent bowel sounds are associated with paralytic ileus,
peritonitis, or late obstruction.
**5. A nurse is assessing a patient for kidney tenderness. Which technique
should the nurse use?**
A) Place one hand over the costovertebral angle and thump it with the ulnar
edge of the other fist
B) Palpate deeply in the right upper quadrant
C) Percuss the abdomen in all four quadrants
D) Auscultate over the renal arteries for bruits
Correct Answer: A) Place one hand over the costovertebral angle and thump
it with the ulnar edge of the other fist
Rationale: To assess the kidney for tenderness, the nurse places one hand
over the 12th rib at the costovertebral angle (CVA) on the back and thumps
that hand with the ulnar edge of the other fist. Pain with this percussion is a
sign of kidney inflammation or infection.
**6. The nurse is assessing a patient's abdomen and notes that the abdomen
is scaphoid. Which of the following best describes this finding?**
A) The abdomen is rounded and protuberant
B) The abdomen is sunken in
C) The abdomen is flat and even
D) The abdomen is distended with visible veins
Correct Answer: B) The abdomen is sunken in
Rationale: A scaphoid abdomen is characterized by a sunken or concave
appearance. This finding can be seen in malnutrition or dehydration. A
, rounded or protuberant abdomen (A) may indicate obesity, ascites, or
pregnancy.
**7. The nurse is auscultating the abdomen and hears a bruit. Where should
the nurse listen to assess for renal artery bruits?**
A) Over the midline of the abdomen
B) In the right upper quadrant
C) At the costovertebral angle
D) Over the renal arteries, which are located in the epigastric and
periumbilical areas
Correct Answer: D) Over the renal arteries, which are located in the
epigastric and periumbilical areas
Rationale: Abdominal bruits are best heard using the bell of the stethoscope.
Renal artery bruits are auscultated in the epigastric and periumbilical areas.
A bruit over the renal arteries may indicate renal artery stenosis.
**8. A patient reports severe right lower quadrant pain. The nurse suspects
appendicitis. Which of the following is a classic sign of appendicitis?**
A) Pain that radiates to the right shoulder
B) Rebound tenderness at McBurney's point
C) A positive Murphy's sign
D) Pain that is relieved by eating
Correct Answer: B) Rebound tenderness at McBurney's point
Rationale: Rebound tenderness at McBurney's point (located in the right
lower quadrant) is a classic sign of appendicitis. Pain that radiates to the
Physical Assessment Q&A | Physical Assessment
**1. A nurse is preparing to assess a patient's abdomen. According to the
correct assessment order, which technique should the nurse perform
immediately after inspection?**
A) Palpation
B) Percussion
C) Auscultation
D) Light palpation
Correct Answer: C) Auscultation
Rationale: The correct order for abdominal assessment is inspection,
auscultation, percussion, and palpation. Auscultation is performed before
percussion and palpation because palpation and percussion can stimulate
intestinal movements, which would alter baseline bowel sounds and give a
false interpretation.
**2. A nurse is performing light palpation on a patient's abdomen. Which
technique is correct for light palpation?**
A) Using the fingertips to depress the skin about 2 cm
B) Using the first four fingers to depress the skin about 1 cm in a clockwise
rotation
C) Using the palm of the hand to apply deep pressure
D) Using sudden jabs to detect deep masses
Correct Answer: B) Using the first four fingers to depress the skin about 1 cm
in a clockwise rotation
,Rationale: Light palpation is performed using the first four fingers to depress
the skin about 1 cm and move in a rotational motion, clockwise. The
examiner uses the flat part of the hand or the pads of the fingers, not the
fingertips, and avoids sudden jabs.
**3. A nurse auscultates a patient's abdomen and counts 2 bowel sounds in
one minute. How should the nurse document this finding?**
A) Normoactive bowel sounds
B) Hyperactive bowel sounds
C) Hypoactive bowel sounds
D) Absent bowel sounds
Correct Answer: C) Hypoactive bowel sounds
Rationale: Normoactive bowel sounds are approximately 5-30 sounds per
minute; less than 5 sounds per minute are considered hypoactive; more than
30 sounds per minute are hyperactive. Two sounds in one minute is less than
5, so this is hypoactive.
**4. A nurse is assessing a patient's abdomen and notes high-pitched, loud,
rushing bowel sounds. Which condition is most consistent with this finding?**
A) Paralytic ileus
B) Peritonitis
C) Early intestinal obstruction
D) Constipation
Correct Answer: C) Early intestinal obstruction
Rationale: Hyperactive bowel sounds, which are loud, high-pitched, and
rushing, are often associated with early intestinal obstruction or diarrhea.
,Hypoactive or absent bowel sounds are associated with paralytic ileus,
peritonitis, or late obstruction.
**5. A nurse is assessing a patient for kidney tenderness. Which technique
should the nurse use?**
A) Place one hand over the costovertebral angle and thump it with the ulnar
edge of the other fist
B) Palpate deeply in the right upper quadrant
C) Percuss the abdomen in all four quadrants
D) Auscultate over the renal arteries for bruits
Correct Answer: A) Place one hand over the costovertebral angle and thump
it with the ulnar edge of the other fist
Rationale: To assess the kidney for tenderness, the nurse places one hand
over the 12th rib at the costovertebral angle (CVA) on the back and thumps
that hand with the ulnar edge of the other fist. Pain with this percussion is a
sign of kidney inflammation or infection.
**6. The nurse is assessing a patient's abdomen and notes that the abdomen
is scaphoid. Which of the following best describes this finding?**
A) The abdomen is rounded and protuberant
B) The abdomen is sunken in
C) The abdomen is flat and even
D) The abdomen is distended with visible veins
Correct Answer: B) The abdomen is sunken in
Rationale: A scaphoid abdomen is characterized by a sunken or concave
appearance. This finding can be seen in malnutrition or dehydration. A
, rounded or protuberant abdomen (A) may indicate obesity, ascites, or
pregnancy.
**7. The nurse is auscultating the abdomen and hears a bruit. Where should
the nurse listen to assess for renal artery bruits?**
A) Over the midline of the abdomen
B) In the right upper quadrant
C) At the costovertebral angle
D) Over the renal arteries, which are located in the epigastric and
periumbilical areas
Correct Answer: D) Over the renal arteries, which are located in the
epigastric and periumbilical areas
Rationale: Abdominal bruits are best heard using the bell of the stethoscope.
Renal artery bruits are auscultated in the epigastric and periumbilical areas.
A bruit over the renal arteries may indicate renal artery stenosis.
**8. A patient reports severe right lower quadrant pain. The nurse suspects
appendicitis. Which of the following is a classic sign of appendicitis?**
A) Pain that radiates to the right shoulder
B) Rebound tenderness at McBurney's point
C) A positive Murphy's sign
D) Pain that is relieved by eating
Correct Answer: B) Rebound tenderness at McBurney's point
Rationale: Rebound tenderness at McBurney's point (located in the right
lower quadrant) is a classic sign of appendicitis. Pain that radiates to the
