,NSG3160/NSG 3160 Exam 4 | Health
Assessment | Galen College | Q & A |
2026/2027 Edition (PDF)
1. Which of the following is the correct sequence of techniques for an abdominal assessment?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
C) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D) Palpation, percussion, inspection, auscultation
Correct Answer: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: The abdominal assessment sequence is inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation.
This modified order prevents palpation and percussion from altering bowel sounds before auscultation.
Auscultation is performed before palpation to ensure accurate assessment of bowel sounds.
2. A nurse is assessing a patient's abdomen and notes that bowel sounds are high-pitched, gurgling, and
occur approximately 5 to 30 times per minute. This finding is documented as:
A) Hypoactive bowel sounds
B) Normoactive bowel sounds
C) Hyperactive bowel sounds
D) Absent bowel sounds
Correct Answer: Normoactive bowel sounds
Rationale: Normoactive bowel sounds are characterized by high-pitched, gurgling, cascading sounds
occurring 5 to 30 times per minute. Hypoactive sounds are diminished (<5/min), hyperactive sounds are
increased (>30/min), and absent sounds require listening for a full 5 minutes before confirming.
,3. A nurse is unable to hear bowel sounds in a patient's abdomen. Before documenting this finding as
absent bowel sounds, the nurse should listen for at least:
A) 1 minute
B) 2 minutes
C) 3 minutes
D) 5 minutes
Correct Answer: 5 minutes
Rationale: To confirm absent bowel sounds, the nurse must auscultate each quadrant for a full 5
minutes. Listening for a shorter period may result in a false finding, as bowel sounds can be intermittent.
4. A patient presents with a sharp pain along the costovertebral angles. The nurse is aware that this
symptom is most often indicative of:
A) Cholecystitis
B) Kidney inflammation
C) Appendicitis
D) Pancreatitis
Correct Answer: Kidney inflammation
Rationale: Costovertebral angle tenderness (CVAT) is a classic sign of kidney inflammation or infection,
such as pyelonephritis. The pain is elicited by percussion over the costovertebral angle, which overlies
the kidneys.
5. Which of the following percussion findings would the nurse expect to find in a patient with a large
amount of ascites?
A) Tympany across the abdomen
B) Hyperresonance across the abdomen
C) Dullness across the abdomen
D) Resonance across the abdomen
, Correct Answer: Dullness across the abdomen
Rationale: Ascites, the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, produces dullness on percussion
across the abdomen. Tympany is heard over air-filled structures, and hyperresonance is associated with
pneumothorax or COPD.
6. During an abdominal assessment, the nurse elicits tenderness on light palpation in the right lower
quadrant. The nurse interprets that this finding could indicate a disorder of which structure?
A) Gallbladder
B) Appendix
C) Spleen
D) Stomach
Correct Answer: Appendix
Rationale: Tenderness in the right lower quadrant, particularly at McBurney's point, is a classic sign of
appendicitis. The appendix is located in the right lower quadrant.
7. A patient is suspected of having inflammation of the gallbladder, or cholecystitis. The nurse should
conduct which technique to assess for this condition?
A) Test for Murphy's sign
B) Test for McBurney's sign
C) Test for rebound tenderness
D) Test for a fluid wave
Correct Answer: Test for Murphy's sign
Rationale: Murphy's sign is assessed by placing the hand on the right costal margin and asking the
patient to take a deep breath. Pain and inspiratory arrest indicate a positive Murphy's sign, suggesting
cholecystitis.
Assessment | Galen College | Q & A |
2026/2027 Edition (PDF)
1. Which of the following is the correct sequence of techniques for an abdominal assessment?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
C) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D) Palpation, percussion, inspection, auscultation
Correct Answer: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: The abdominal assessment sequence is inspection, auscultation, percussion, and palpation.
This modified order prevents palpation and percussion from altering bowel sounds before auscultation.
Auscultation is performed before palpation to ensure accurate assessment of bowel sounds.
2. A nurse is assessing a patient's abdomen and notes that bowel sounds are high-pitched, gurgling, and
occur approximately 5 to 30 times per minute. This finding is documented as:
A) Hypoactive bowel sounds
B) Normoactive bowel sounds
C) Hyperactive bowel sounds
D) Absent bowel sounds
Correct Answer: Normoactive bowel sounds
Rationale: Normoactive bowel sounds are characterized by high-pitched, gurgling, cascading sounds
occurring 5 to 30 times per minute. Hypoactive sounds are diminished (<5/min), hyperactive sounds are
increased (>30/min), and absent sounds require listening for a full 5 minutes before confirming.
,3. A nurse is unable to hear bowel sounds in a patient's abdomen. Before documenting this finding as
absent bowel sounds, the nurse should listen for at least:
A) 1 minute
B) 2 minutes
C) 3 minutes
D) 5 minutes
Correct Answer: 5 minutes
Rationale: To confirm absent bowel sounds, the nurse must auscultate each quadrant for a full 5
minutes. Listening for a shorter period may result in a false finding, as bowel sounds can be intermittent.
4. A patient presents with a sharp pain along the costovertebral angles. The nurse is aware that this
symptom is most often indicative of:
A) Cholecystitis
B) Kidney inflammation
C) Appendicitis
D) Pancreatitis
Correct Answer: Kidney inflammation
Rationale: Costovertebral angle tenderness (CVAT) is a classic sign of kidney inflammation or infection,
such as pyelonephritis. The pain is elicited by percussion over the costovertebral angle, which overlies
the kidneys.
5. Which of the following percussion findings would the nurse expect to find in a patient with a large
amount of ascites?
A) Tympany across the abdomen
B) Hyperresonance across the abdomen
C) Dullness across the abdomen
D) Resonance across the abdomen
, Correct Answer: Dullness across the abdomen
Rationale: Ascites, the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, produces dullness on percussion
across the abdomen. Tympany is heard over air-filled structures, and hyperresonance is associated with
pneumothorax or COPD.
6. During an abdominal assessment, the nurse elicits tenderness on light palpation in the right lower
quadrant. The nurse interprets that this finding could indicate a disorder of which structure?
A) Gallbladder
B) Appendix
C) Spleen
D) Stomach
Correct Answer: Appendix
Rationale: Tenderness in the right lower quadrant, particularly at McBurney's point, is a classic sign of
appendicitis. The appendix is located in the right lower quadrant.
7. A patient is suspected of having inflammation of the gallbladder, or cholecystitis. The nurse should
conduct which technique to assess for this condition?
A) Test for Murphy's sign
B) Test for McBurney's sign
C) Test for rebound tenderness
D) Test for a fluid wave
Correct Answer: Test for Murphy's sign
Rationale: Murphy's sign is assessed by placing the hand on the right costal margin and asking the
patient to take a deep breath. Pain and inspiratory arrest indicate a positive Murphy's sign, suggesting
cholecystitis.
