Page 1 of 58
NR.120.503
Health Assessment I Exam Practice Questions
Download now
Johns Hopkins University
School of Nursing
HIGH YIELDS QUESTIONS
NEWEST MODEL 2026 EXAM LATEST
VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS VERIFIED 100 %
Exam
, Page 2 of 58
Health Assessment Final Exam Practice Questions
Which of the following is an open ended question?
a. What brought you in today?
b. Where does it hurt?
c. Have you been checking your blood pressure?
d. When was the last time you were seen by
a doctor?
Answer:A. It is the only choice that would invite a paragraph for an answer rather
than a short statement.
Which of the following is the most basic function and therefore should be
tested first
in an assessment of mental status?
a.Behavior
b. Consciousness
c. Judgment
d. Language
Answer: B. According to your textbook, consciousness is the most fundamental of
these particular characteristics; therefore, it would be tested first.
Which of the following is not a significant contributor to the assessment of
mental status?
a.Known illness or health problem
b. Current medications known to affect mood or cognition
c. Racial background
, Page 3 of 58
d. Personal history; current stress, social habits, sleep habits, drug and
alcohol use
Answer: C. The other choices are all elements of the interview that contribute to
interpretation of the findings of the examination.
Correct order of physical examination skills:
Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
NCLEX question
The nurse is preparing to percuss the abdomen of a patient. The purpose of
the percussion is to assess the underlying tissue:
A) turgor.
B)texture.
C)density.
D)consistency.
ANSWER: C
Percussion yields a sound that depicts the location, size, and density of the
underlying organ. Turgor and texture are assessed with palpation.
NCLEX question
The nurse is reviewing percussion techniques with a newly graduated nurse.
Which technique, if used by the new nurse, indicates that more review is
needed? The nurse:
A)percusses once over each area.
B)lifts the striking finger off quickly after each stroke.
C)strikes with the finger tip, not the finger pad.
D)uses the wrist to make the strikes, not the arm.
ANSWER: A
For percussion, the nurse should percuss two times over each location. The striking
finger should be lifted off quickly because a resting finger damps off vibrations. The
tip of the striking finger should make contact, not the pad of the finger. The wrist
must be relaxed, and it is used to make the strikes, not the arm
NCLEX question
The nurse is teaching a class on basic assessment skills. Which of these
statements is true regarding the stethoscope and its use?
, Page 4 of 58
A)The slope of the earpieces should point posteriorly (toward the occiput).
B)The stethoscope does not magnify sound but does block out extraneous
room noise.
C)The fit and quality of the stethoscope are not as important as its ability to
magnify sound.
D)The ideal tubing length should be 22 inches to dampen distortion of sound.
ANSWER: B
The stethoscope does not magnify sound but does block out extraneous room
sounds. The slope of the earpieces should point forward toward the examiner's nose.
Longer tubing will distort sound. The fit and quality of the stethoscope are important.
NCLEX question
The nurse is unable to palpate the right radial pulse on a patient. The best
action would be to:
A)auscultate over the area with a fetoscope.
B)use a goniometer to measure the pulsations.
C)use a Doppler device to check for pulsations over the area.
D)check for the presence of pulsations with a stethoscope.
ANSWER: C
Doppler devices are used to augment pulse or blood pressure measurements.
Goniometers measure joint range of motion. A fetoscope is used to auscultate fetal
heart tones. Stethoscopes are used to auscultate breath, bowel, and heart sounds.
NCLEX question
When performing a physical examination, safety must be considered to protect
the examiner and the patient against the spread of infection. Which of these
statements describes the most appropriate action the nurse should take when
performing a physical examination?
A)There is no need to wash one's hands after removing gloves, as long as the
gloves are still intact.
B)Wash hands before and after every physical patient encounter.
C)Wash hands between the examination of each body system to prevent the
spread of bacteria from one part of the body to another.
NR.120.503
Health Assessment I Exam Practice Questions
Download now
Johns Hopkins University
School of Nursing
HIGH YIELDS QUESTIONS
NEWEST MODEL 2026 EXAM LATEST
VERSION SOLVED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS VERIFIED 100 %
Exam
, Page 2 of 58
Health Assessment Final Exam Practice Questions
Which of the following is an open ended question?
a. What brought you in today?
b. Where does it hurt?
c. Have you been checking your blood pressure?
d. When was the last time you were seen by
a doctor?
Answer:A. It is the only choice that would invite a paragraph for an answer rather
than a short statement.
Which of the following is the most basic function and therefore should be
tested first
in an assessment of mental status?
a.Behavior
b. Consciousness
c. Judgment
d. Language
Answer: B. According to your textbook, consciousness is the most fundamental of
these particular characteristics; therefore, it would be tested first.
Which of the following is not a significant contributor to the assessment of
mental status?
a.Known illness or health problem
b. Current medications known to affect mood or cognition
c. Racial background
, Page 3 of 58
d. Personal history; current stress, social habits, sleep habits, drug and
alcohol use
Answer: C. The other choices are all elements of the interview that contribute to
interpretation of the findings of the examination.
Correct order of physical examination skills:
Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
NCLEX question
The nurse is preparing to percuss the abdomen of a patient. The purpose of
the percussion is to assess the underlying tissue:
A) turgor.
B)texture.
C)density.
D)consistency.
ANSWER: C
Percussion yields a sound that depicts the location, size, and density of the
underlying organ. Turgor and texture are assessed with palpation.
NCLEX question
The nurse is reviewing percussion techniques with a newly graduated nurse.
Which technique, if used by the new nurse, indicates that more review is
needed? The nurse:
A)percusses once over each area.
B)lifts the striking finger off quickly after each stroke.
C)strikes with the finger tip, not the finger pad.
D)uses the wrist to make the strikes, not the arm.
ANSWER: A
For percussion, the nurse should percuss two times over each location. The striking
finger should be lifted off quickly because a resting finger damps off vibrations. The
tip of the striking finger should make contact, not the pad of the finger. The wrist
must be relaxed, and it is used to make the strikes, not the arm
NCLEX question
The nurse is teaching a class on basic assessment skills. Which of these
statements is true regarding the stethoscope and its use?
, Page 4 of 58
A)The slope of the earpieces should point posteriorly (toward the occiput).
B)The stethoscope does not magnify sound but does block out extraneous
room noise.
C)The fit and quality of the stethoscope are not as important as its ability to
magnify sound.
D)The ideal tubing length should be 22 inches to dampen distortion of sound.
ANSWER: B
The stethoscope does not magnify sound but does block out extraneous room
sounds. The slope of the earpieces should point forward toward the examiner's nose.
Longer tubing will distort sound. The fit and quality of the stethoscope are important.
NCLEX question
The nurse is unable to palpate the right radial pulse on a patient. The best
action would be to:
A)auscultate over the area with a fetoscope.
B)use a goniometer to measure the pulsations.
C)use a Doppler device to check for pulsations over the area.
D)check for the presence of pulsations with a stethoscope.
ANSWER: C
Doppler devices are used to augment pulse or blood pressure measurements.
Goniometers measure joint range of motion. A fetoscope is used to auscultate fetal
heart tones. Stethoscopes are used to auscultate breath, bowel, and heart sounds.
NCLEX question
When performing a physical examination, safety must be considered to protect
the examiner and the patient against the spread of infection. Which of these
statements describes the most appropriate action the nurse should take when
performing a physical examination?
A)There is no need to wash one's hands after removing gloves, as long as the
gloves are still intact.
B)Wash hands before and after every physical patient encounter.
C)Wash hands between the examination of each body system to prevent the
spread of bacteria from one part of the body to another.
