NURS 190 QUIZ 1 | STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
2026/2027
4 basic physical assessment techniques - ANS ✔✔inspection
palpation
percussion
auscultation
How to do a physical assessment on the abdomen? And why? - ANS ✔✔inspection
auscultation
percussion
palpation
- so that we DO NOT allow for hyperactive bowel sounds before auscultating
What are the sensitive areas of the hand? - ANS ✔✔• The finger pads are used for
discrimination of underlying structures and functions such as pulses, superficial lymph nodes, or
crepitus.
• Vibrations (vibrations) are best perceived by the examiner when using the base of the fingers
(metacarpophalangeal joints).
• The ulnar surface of the hand, including the finger, is most sensitive to vibrations such as
fremitus.
• The palmar aspect of the fingers is used to determine position, consistency, texture, size of
structures, pain, and tenderness.
• The dorsal surface of the fingers is most sensitive to temperature.
, • The dominant hand is always more sensitive than the non-dominant hand.
What is light palpation used for? - ANS ✔✔Light palpation is used with the pads of the fingers to
help assess the skin surface, pulses, textures, tenderness (1cm)
What is deep palpation? - ANS ✔✔Used to palpate abdomen and internal organs
(2-4cm)
What is contraindicated for deep palpation? - ANS ✔✔Dissecting aneurysms, peritonitis, ectopic
pregnancy
What is percussion? - ANS ✔✔tapping the person's skin with short, sharp strokes to assess
underlying structures
What is direct percussion? - ANS ✔✔Technique of tapping the body with the fingertips of the
dominant hand.
What is direct percussion used to assess for? - ANS ✔✔Adult sinuses
What is blunt percussion? - ANS ✔✔Non dominant hand is flat and dominant hand hits over
non dominant with a fist
What is blunt percussion used for? - ANS ✔✔Assess for pain and tenderness in gallbladder, liver,
and kidneys
What is indirect percussion? - ANS ✔✔It's the technique most commonly used (sounds are
clearer & more easily interpreted). A hammer or tapping finger is used
2026/2027
4 basic physical assessment techniques - ANS ✔✔inspection
palpation
percussion
auscultation
How to do a physical assessment on the abdomen? And why? - ANS ✔✔inspection
auscultation
percussion
palpation
- so that we DO NOT allow for hyperactive bowel sounds before auscultating
What are the sensitive areas of the hand? - ANS ✔✔• The finger pads are used for
discrimination of underlying structures and functions such as pulses, superficial lymph nodes, or
crepitus.
• Vibrations (vibrations) are best perceived by the examiner when using the base of the fingers
(metacarpophalangeal joints).
• The ulnar surface of the hand, including the finger, is most sensitive to vibrations such as
fremitus.
• The palmar aspect of the fingers is used to determine position, consistency, texture, size of
structures, pain, and tenderness.
• The dorsal surface of the fingers is most sensitive to temperature.
, • The dominant hand is always more sensitive than the non-dominant hand.
What is light palpation used for? - ANS ✔✔Light palpation is used with the pads of the fingers to
help assess the skin surface, pulses, textures, tenderness (1cm)
What is deep palpation? - ANS ✔✔Used to palpate abdomen and internal organs
(2-4cm)
What is contraindicated for deep palpation? - ANS ✔✔Dissecting aneurysms, peritonitis, ectopic
pregnancy
What is percussion? - ANS ✔✔tapping the person's skin with short, sharp strokes to assess
underlying structures
What is direct percussion? - ANS ✔✔Technique of tapping the body with the fingertips of the
dominant hand.
What is direct percussion used to assess for? - ANS ✔✔Adult sinuses
What is blunt percussion? - ANS ✔✔Non dominant hand is flat and dominant hand hits over
non dominant with a fist
What is blunt percussion used for? - ANS ✔✔Assess for pain and tenderness in gallbladder, liver,
and kidneys
What is indirect percussion? - ANS ✔✔It's the technique most commonly used (sounds are
clearer & more easily interpreted). A hammer or tapping finger is used
