Advanced Health Assessment Practice Exam 2026 | 120
Comprehensive Practice Questions with Verified
Answers & Detailed Rationales
1. During a comprehensive health assessment, the nurse practitioner notes jugular venous
distention (JVD) while the patient is sitting at a 45-degree angle. This finding most likely
indicates: A. Dehydration
B. Right-sided heart failure
C. Chronic anemia
D. Hyperthyroidism
2. Which assessment finding is most consistent with bacterial pneumonia? A.
Hyperresonance on percussion B. Bronchial breath sounds over the affected lobe C.
Absent tactile fremitus D. Bilateral wheezing only
3. A patient reports crushing substernal chest pain radiating to the left arm accompanied
by diaphoresis. What is the priority action? A. Schedule an outpatient stress test B.
Recommend antacids C. Activate emergency cardiac evaluation D. Advise rest at home
4. Which cranial nerve is primarily responsible for shoulder shrug against resistance? A. CN
VII B. CN X C. CN XI D. CN XII
,5. A positive Murphy’s sign suggests: A. Acute appendicitis B. Cholecystitis C. Pancreatitis
D. Diverticulitis
6. Which pulse characteristic is most commonly associated with aortic regurgitation? A.
Weak, thready pulse B. Bounding pulse C. Pulsus paradoxus D. Alternating pulse
7. A patient with diabetes has decreased sensation on monofilament testing. This finding
indicates: A. Peripheral neuropathy B. Stroke C. Deep vein thrombosis D. Peripheral edema
8. Which thyroid examination finding requires the most immediate follow-up? A.
Nonpalpable thyroid B. Soft symmetric enlargement C. Hard fixed nodule D. Thyroid
moving with swallowing
9. The Glasgow Coma Scale assesses: A. Memory only B. Cognitive ability only C. Level of
consciousness D. Cranial nerve function
,10. Which assessment finding is most consistent with left-sided heart failure? A. Ascites B.
Peripheral edema only C. Bibasilar crackles D. Hepatomegaly
11. The examiner hears an S3 heart sound in a 72-year-old patient. This finding most likely
suggests: A. Normal aging B. Left ventricular failure C. Mitral valve prolapse D. Pulmonary
hypertension
12. Which percussion note is expected over emphysematous lungs? A. Flat B. Dull C.
Hyperresonant D. Tympanic
13. A patient with meningitis may exhibit: A. Murphy’s sign B. Kernig’s sign C. Babinski reflex
D. Homan’s sign
14. Which structure is examined using the Snellen chart? A. Peripheral vision B. Color
vision C. Visual acuity D. Depth perception
, 15. Which assessment finding is most suggestive of hyperthyroidism? A. Bradycardia B.
Weight gain C. Tachycardia D. Cold intolerance
16. Clubbing of the fingers is commonly associated with: A. Chronic hypoxia B. Iron
deficiency anemia C. Osteoarthritis D. Hypothyroidism
17. Which abdominal assessment sequence is correct? A. Palpation, percussion,
auscultation, inspection B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation C. Percussion,
palpation, inspection, auscultation D. Auscultation, inspection, percussion, palpation
18. Which finding suggests peripheral arterial disease? A. Warm extremities B. Bounding
pedal pulses C. Diminished pulses with shiny skin D. Bilateral edema
19. A positive Phalen test supports the diagnosis of: A. Rheumatoid arthritis B. Carpal
tunnel syndrome C. Gout D. Rotator cuff injury
20. Which cranial nerve controls tongue movement? A. CN IX B. CN X C. CN XI D. CN XII
Comprehensive Practice Questions with Verified
Answers & Detailed Rationales
1. During a comprehensive health assessment, the nurse practitioner notes jugular venous
distention (JVD) while the patient is sitting at a 45-degree angle. This finding most likely
indicates: A. Dehydration
B. Right-sided heart failure
C. Chronic anemia
D. Hyperthyroidism
2. Which assessment finding is most consistent with bacterial pneumonia? A.
Hyperresonance on percussion B. Bronchial breath sounds over the affected lobe C.
Absent tactile fremitus D. Bilateral wheezing only
3. A patient reports crushing substernal chest pain radiating to the left arm accompanied
by diaphoresis. What is the priority action? A. Schedule an outpatient stress test B.
Recommend antacids C. Activate emergency cardiac evaluation D. Advise rest at home
4. Which cranial nerve is primarily responsible for shoulder shrug against resistance? A. CN
VII B. CN X C. CN XI D. CN XII
,5. A positive Murphy’s sign suggests: A. Acute appendicitis B. Cholecystitis C. Pancreatitis
D. Diverticulitis
6. Which pulse characteristic is most commonly associated with aortic regurgitation? A.
Weak, thready pulse B. Bounding pulse C. Pulsus paradoxus D. Alternating pulse
7. A patient with diabetes has decreased sensation on monofilament testing. This finding
indicates: A. Peripheral neuropathy B. Stroke C. Deep vein thrombosis D. Peripheral edema
8. Which thyroid examination finding requires the most immediate follow-up? A.
Nonpalpable thyroid B. Soft symmetric enlargement C. Hard fixed nodule D. Thyroid
moving with swallowing
9. The Glasgow Coma Scale assesses: A. Memory only B. Cognitive ability only C. Level of
consciousness D. Cranial nerve function
,10. Which assessment finding is most consistent with left-sided heart failure? A. Ascites B.
Peripheral edema only C. Bibasilar crackles D. Hepatomegaly
11. The examiner hears an S3 heart sound in a 72-year-old patient. This finding most likely
suggests: A. Normal aging B. Left ventricular failure C. Mitral valve prolapse D. Pulmonary
hypertension
12. Which percussion note is expected over emphysematous lungs? A. Flat B. Dull C.
Hyperresonant D. Tympanic
13. A patient with meningitis may exhibit: A. Murphy’s sign B. Kernig’s sign C. Babinski reflex
D. Homan’s sign
14. Which structure is examined using the Snellen chart? A. Peripheral vision B. Color
vision C. Visual acuity D. Depth perception
, 15. Which assessment finding is most suggestive of hyperthyroidism? A. Bradycardia B.
Weight gain C. Tachycardia D. Cold intolerance
16. Clubbing of the fingers is commonly associated with: A. Chronic hypoxia B. Iron
deficiency anemia C. Osteoarthritis D. Hypothyroidism
17. Which abdominal assessment sequence is correct? A. Palpation, percussion,
auscultation, inspection B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation C. Percussion,
palpation, inspection, auscultation D. Auscultation, inspection, percussion, palpation
18. Which finding suggests peripheral arterial disease? A. Warm extremities B. Bounding
pedal pulses C. Diminished pulses with shiny skin D. Bilateral edema
19. A positive Phalen test supports the diagnosis of: A. Rheumatoid arthritis B. Carpal
tunnel syndrome C. Gout D. Rotator cuff injury
20. Which cranial nerve controls tongue movement? A. CN IX B. CN X C. CN XI D. CN XII
