Chamberlain University NR304 Exam 1 | 2026/2027 | Health
Assessment II Q&A | Nursing
1. A nurse is assessing a client's peripheral vascular system. Which of the
following is the correct order of techniques for this assessment?
A) Palpation, Inspection, Auscultation
B) Inspection, Palpation, Auscultation
C) Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation
D) Inspection, Auscultation, Palpation
Correct Answer: Inspection, Palpation, Auscultation
Rationale: The correct sequence for assessing the peripheral vascular system
is inspection, palpation, and auscultation. Inspection allows the nurse to
observe for color, hair distribution, and skin changes. Palpation assesses
pulses, temperature, and capillary refill. Auscultation is used to listen for
bruits over major arteries.
2. A nurse is assessing a client's lower extremities and notes unilateral
swelling, pain, warmth, and redness. The nurse should suspect which of the
following conditions?
A) Arterial insufficiency
B) Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
C) Lymphedema
D) Cellulitis
Correct Answer: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Rationale: The classic signs of a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) include
unilateral swelling, pain, warmth, and redness in the affected leg. Arterial
,insufficiency typically presents with cool, pale extremities, and lymphedema
is usually bilateral and non-pitting.
3. A nurse is performing a Modified Allen Test on a client. This test is used to
evaluate the patency of which arteries?
A) Radial and ulnar arteries
B) Brachial and radial arteries
C) Femoral and popliteal arteries
D) Dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial arteries
Correct Answer: Radial and ulnar arteries
Rationale: The Modified Allen Test assesses the patency of the radial and
ulnar arteries to determine if there is adequate collateral circulation to the
hand. This test is commonly performed before arterial blood gas sampling or
radial artery cannulation.
4. A client with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) asks the nurse why they
experience pain in their legs at rest. What is the best response by the nurse?
A) "Your muscles do not get enough arterial blood when you exercise."
B) "Disease in the arteries causes decreased arterial blood flow to the nerves
in your legs."
C) "An increase in retrograde venous blood flow in the legs puts pressure on
the arteries."
D) "The cause is a vasospasm of small cutaneous arteries in the feet."
Correct Answer: "Disease in the arteries causes decreased arterial blood flow
to the nerves in your legs."
,Rationale: Rest pain in PAD is caused by decreased arterial blood flow to the
nerves in the legs due to atherosclerotic disease. This pain is often severe,
occurs at night, and is relieved by dependency of the limb.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who reports sudden left leg pain with pallor,
paresthesia, and loss of peripheral pulses. The nurse should first:
A) Start anticoagulant therapy with IV heparin.
B) Elevate the leg to promote venous return.
C) Notify the client's healthcare provider.
D) Complete a focused neurovascular assessment.
Correct Answer: Complete a focused neurovascular assessment.
Rationale: The symptoms described are classic signs of acute arterial
ischemia, often caused by an embolus. The nurse should first complete a
focused neurovascular assessment to confirm the findings and assess for the
"six P's" (pain, pallor, paralysis, pulselessness, paresthesia, poikilothermia).
After assessment, the healthcare provider should be notified.
6. A nurse is assessing the peripheral pulses of an older adult client. Which of
the following findings is considered a normal age-related change?
A) Bounding pulses in the lower extremities
B) Diminished or absent dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses
C) Increased elasticity of arterial walls
D) Increased hair growth on the lower legs
Correct Answer: Diminished or absent dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial
pulses
, Rationale: In older adults, the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses may
become more difficult to find due to decreased peripheral perfusion. Other
normal age-related changes include thin, shiny skin, thick-ridged nails, and
loss of hair on the legs.
7. A nurse is assessing a client's abdomen. Which of the following is the
correct order of assessment techniques?
A) Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B) Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
C) Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
D) Palpation, Auscultation, Inspection, Percussion
Correct Answer: Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
Rationale: For the abdomen, the correct sequence is inspection, auscultation,
percussion, and palpation. Palpation and percussion can stimulate peristalsis
and alter bowel sounds, so auscultation is performed before them to ensure
accurate assessment.
8. A nurse is auscultating a client's abdomen and notes a bruit over the
abdominal aorta. This finding is most consistent with which of the following?
A) Normal bowel sounds
B) Hyperactive bowel sounds
C) An abdominal aortic aneurysm
D) Paralytic ileus
Correct Answer: An abdominal aortic aneurysm
Rationale: A bruit over the abdominal aorta is an abnormal finding and may
indicate turbulent blood flow, which can be associated with an abdominal
Assessment II Q&A | Nursing
1. A nurse is assessing a client's peripheral vascular system. Which of the
following is the correct order of techniques for this assessment?
A) Palpation, Inspection, Auscultation
B) Inspection, Palpation, Auscultation
C) Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation
D) Inspection, Auscultation, Palpation
Correct Answer: Inspection, Palpation, Auscultation
Rationale: The correct sequence for assessing the peripheral vascular system
is inspection, palpation, and auscultation. Inspection allows the nurse to
observe for color, hair distribution, and skin changes. Palpation assesses
pulses, temperature, and capillary refill. Auscultation is used to listen for
bruits over major arteries.
2. A nurse is assessing a client's lower extremities and notes unilateral
swelling, pain, warmth, and redness. The nurse should suspect which of the
following conditions?
A) Arterial insufficiency
B) Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
C) Lymphedema
D) Cellulitis
Correct Answer: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Rationale: The classic signs of a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) include
unilateral swelling, pain, warmth, and redness in the affected leg. Arterial
,insufficiency typically presents with cool, pale extremities, and lymphedema
is usually bilateral and non-pitting.
3. A nurse is performing a Modified Allen Test on a client. This test is used to
evaluate the patency of which arteries?
A) Radial and ulnar arteries
B) Brachial and radial arteries
C) Femoral and popliteal arteries
D) Dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial arteries
Correct Answer: Radial and ulnar arteries
Rationale: The Modified Allen Test assesses the patency of the radial and
ulnar arteries to determine if there is adequate collateral circulation to the
hand. This test is commonly performed before arterial blood gas sampling or
radial artery cannulation.
4. A client with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) asks the nurse why they
experience pain in their legs at rest. What is the best response by the nurse?
A) "Your muscles do not get enough arterial blood when you exercise."
B) "Disease in the arteries causes decreased arterial blood flow to the nerves
in your legs."
C) "An increase in retrograde venous blood flow in the legs puts pressure on
the arteries."
D) "The cause is a vasospasm of small cutaneous arteries in the feet."
Correct Answer: "Disease in the arteries causes decreased arterial blood flow
to the nerves in your legs."
,Rationale: Rest pain in PAD is caused by decreased arterial blood flow to the
nerves in the legs due to atherosclerotic disease. This pain is often severe,
occurs at night, and is relieved by dependency of the limb.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who reports sudden left leg pain with pallor,
paresthesia, and loss of peripheral pulses. The nurse should first:
A) Start anticoagulant therapy with IV heparin.
B) Elevate the leg to promote venous return.
C) Notify the client's healthcare provider.
D) Complete a focused neurovascular assessment.
Correct Answer: Complete a focused neurovascular assessment.
Rationale: The symptoms described are classic signs of acute arterial
ischemia, often caused by an embolus. The nurse should first complete a
focused neurovascular assessment to confirm the findings and assess for the
"six P's" (pain, pallor, paralysis, pulselessness, paresthesia, poikilothermia).
After assessment, the healthcare provider should be notified.
6. A nurse is assessing the peripheral pulses of an older adult client. Which of
the following findings is considered a normal age-related change?
A) Bounding pulses in the lower extremities
B) Diminished or absent dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses
C) Increased elasticity of arterial walls
D) Increased hair growth on the lower legs
Correct Answer: Diminished or absent dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial
pulses
, Rationale: In older adults, the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses may
become more difficult to find due to decreased peripheral perfusion. Other
normal age-related changes include thin, shiny skin, thick-ridged nails, and
loss of hair on the legs.
7. A nurse is assessing a client's abdomen. Which of the following is the
correct order of assessment techniques?
A) Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B) Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
C) Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
D) Palpation, Auscultation, Inspection, Percussion
Correct Answer: Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
Rationale: For the abdomen, the correct sequence is inspection, auscultation,
percussion, and palpation. Palpation and percussion can stimulate peristalsis
and alter bowel sounds, so auscultation is performed before them to ensure
accurate assessment.
8. A nurse is auscultating a client's abdomen and notes a bruit over the
abdominal aorta. This finding is most consistent with which of the following?
A) Normal bowel sounds
B) Hyperactive bowel sounds
C) An abdominal aortic aneurysm
D) Paralytic ileus
Correct Answer: An abdominal aortic aneurysm
Rationale: A bruit over the abdominal aorta is an abnormal finding and may
indicate turbulent blood flow, which can be associated with an abdominal
