Galen College NSG 3160 Exam 4 (pdf) | 2026/2027 | Health Assess
Q&A | Health Assessment
1. The nurse is assessing a patient's abdomen. In which order should the
assessment techniques be performed?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D) Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
Correct Answer: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: The correct order for abdominal assessment is inspection,
auscultation, percussion, and palpation. Auscultation is performed before
palpation and percussion to prevent altering bowel sounds. Palpation and
percussion can stimulate peristalsis, which would alter the findings on
auscultation. This sequence is unique to the abdominal assessment. [2†L38-
L39][6†L6]
2. A patient reports a history of abdominal pain. The nurse should begin the
abdominal assessment with which of the following?
A) Palpation of the painful area
B) Percussion of the painful area
C) Auscultation of the painful area
D) Inspection of the abdomen
Correct Answer: Inspection of the abdomen
Rationale: Inspection is always the first step in a physical assessment. It is a
non-invasive technique that allows the nurse to observe the abdomen for
,size, shape, symmetry, skin color, and any visible lesions or pulsations.
Palpation, percussion, and auscultation should be performed after inspection.
3. The nurse is auscultating a patient's abdomen and hears high-pitched,
rushing, and tinkling sounds. The nurse should document this finding as:
A) Hypoactive bowel sounds
B) Normal bowel sounds
C) Hyperactive bowel sounds
D) Borborygmi
Correct Answer: Hyperactive bowel sounds
Rationale: Hyperactive bowel sounds are high-pitched, rushing, and tinkling
sounds often associated with diarrhea, early bowel obstruction, or
gastroenteritis. Normal bowel sounds are soft, gurgling, and occur every 5-15
seconds. Hypoactive bowel sounds are diminished and may indicate ileus or
peritonitis. Borborygmi is a specific term for loud, prolonged gurgles.
4. A patient has a history of constipation. The nurse auscultates the
abdomen and hears bowel sounds every 45 seconds. The nurse should
document this finding as:
A) Hyperactive bowel sounds
B) Normal bowel sounds
C) Hypoactive bowel sounds
D) Absent bowel sounds
Correct Answer: Hypoactive bowel sounds
Rationale: Normal bowel sounds occur every 5-15 seconds. Hypoactive bowel
sounds are characterized by diminished or infrequent sounds, often occurring
,every 2-3 minutes or longer. This finding can be associated with constipation,
ileus, or peritonitis.
5. The nurse is unable to hear bowel sounds in a patient's abdomen. How
long should the nurse listen before reporting absent bowel sounds?
A) 30 seconds
B) 1 minute
C) 2 minutes
D) 5 minutes
Correct Answer: 5 minutes
Rationale: If bowel sounds are not heard initially, the nurse should listen for
up to 5 minutes in each quadrant before documenting them as absent.
Absent bowel sounds are a significant finding and may indicate a paralytic
ileus or peritonitis. [4†L7]
6. A patient complains of right lower quadrant pain. The nurse performs light
palpation and elicits rebound tenderness. This finding is most consistent
with:
A) Cholecystitis
B) Pancreatitis
C) Appendicitis
D) Gastritis
Correct Answer: Appendicitis
Rationale: Rebound tenderness (pain upon the sudden release of pressure) in
the right lower quadrant is a classic sign of peritoneal irritation, often
associated with appendicitis. Cholecystitis typically presents with right upper
, quadrant pain. Pancreatitis presents with epigastric pain radiating to the
back. Gastritis presents with epigastric pain.
7. The nurse is assessing a patient's abdomen and notes a bulging, pulsating
mass in the periumbilical area. The nurse should:
A) Palpate the mass to determine its size
B) Auscultate the mass for a bruit
C) Not touch the area and notify the HCP immediately
D) Document the finding as a normal pulsation of the aorta
Correct Answer: Not touch the area and notify the HCP immediately
Rationale: A bulging, pulsating mass in the periumbilical area is a sign of an
abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Palpating or percussing the mass could
cause it to rupture, a life-threatening emergency. The nurse should not touch
the area and should notify the healthcare provider immediately.
8. A patient is diagnosed with cirrhosis. The nurse is assessing the abdomen.
Which of the following findings is most consistent with this diagnosis?
A) A soft, non-tender abdomen
B) Ascites and a firm, nodular liver
C) Hyperactive bowel sounds
D) A palpable, pulsating mass
Correct Answer: Ascites and a firm, nodular liver
Rationale: Cirrhosis is characterized by chronic liver damage leading to
fibrosis and scarring. This can result in ascites (fluid accumulation in the
peritoneal cavity) and a firm, nodular liver on palpation. A soft, non-tender
Q&A | Health Assessment
1. The nurse is assessing a patient's abdomen. In which order should the
assessment techniques be performed?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D) Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
Correct Answer: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: The correct order for abdominal assessment is inspection,
auscultation, percussion, and palpation. Auscultation is performed before
palpation and percussion to prevent altering bowel sounds. Palpation and
percussion can stimulate peristalsis, which would alter the findings on
auscultation. This sequence is unique to the abdominal assessment. [2†L38-
L39][6†L6]
2. A patient reports a history of abdominal pain. The nurse should begin the
abdominal assessment with which of the following?
A) Palpation of the painful area
B) Percussion of the painful area
C) Auscultation of the painful area
D) Inspection of the abdomen
Correct Answer: Inspection of the abdomen
Rationale: Inspection is always the first step in a physical assessment. It is a
non-invasive technique that allows the nurse to observe the abdomen for
,size, shape, symmetry, skin color, and any visible lesions or pulsations.
Palpation, percussion, and auscultation should be performed after inspection.
3. The nurse is auscultating a patient's abdomen and hears high-pitched,
rushing, and tinkling sounds. The nurse should document this finding as:
A) Hypoactive bowel sounds
B) Normal bowel sounds
C) Hyperactive bowel sounds
D) Borborygmi
Correct Answer: Hyperactive bowel sounds
Rationale: Hyperactive bowel sounds are high-pitched, rushing, and tinkling
sounds often associated with diarrhea, early bowel obstruction, or
gastroenteritis. Normal bowel sounds are soft, gurgling, and occur every 5-15
seconds. Hypoactive bowel sounds are diminished and may indicate ileus or
peritonitis. Borborygmi is a specific term for loud, prolonged gurgles.
4. A patient has a history of constipation. The nurse auscultates the
abdomen and hears bowel sounds every 45 seconds. The nurse should
document this finding as:
A) Hyperactive bowel sounds
B) Normal bowel sounds
C) Hypoactive bowel sounds
D) Absent bowel sounds
Correct Answer: Hypoactive bowel sounds
Rationale: Normal bowel sounds occur every 5-15 seconds. Hypoactive bowel
sounds are characterized by diminished or infrequent sounds, often occurring
,every 2-3 minutes or longer. This finding can be associated with constipation,
ileus, or peritonitis.
5. The nurse is unable to hear bowel sounds in a patient's abdomen. How
long should the nurse listen before reporting absent bowel sounds?
A) 30 seconds
B) 1 minute
C) 2 minutes
D) 5 minutes
Correct Answer: 5 minutes
Rationale: If bowel sounds are not heard initially, the nurse should listen for
up to 5 minutes in each quadrant before documenting them as absent.
Absent bowel sounds are a significant finding and may indicate a paralytic
ileus or peritonitis. [4†L7]
6. A patient complains of right lower quadrant pain. The nurse performs light
palpation and elicits rebound tenderness. This finding is most consistent
with:
A) Cholecystitis
B) Pancreatitis
C) Appendicitis
D) Gastritis
Correct Answer: Appendicitis
Rationale: Rebound tenderness (pain upon the sudden release of pressure) in
the right lower quadrant is a classic sign of peritoneal irritation, often
associated with appendicitis. Cholecystitis typically presents with right upper
, quadrant pain. Pancreatitis presents with epigastric pain radiating to the
back. Gastritis presents with epigastric pain.
7. The nurse is assessing a patient's abdomen and notes a bulging, pulsating
mass in the periumbilical area. The nurse should:
A) Palpate the mass to determine its size
B) Auscultate the mass for a bruit
C) Not touch the area and notify the HCP immediately
D) Document the finding as a normal pulsation of the aorta
Correct Answer: Not touch the area and notify the HCP immediately
Rationale: A bulging, pulsating mass in the periumbilical area is a sign of an
abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Palpating or percussing the mass could
cause it to rupture, a life-threatening emergency. The nurse should not touch
the area and should notify the healthcare provider immediately.
8. A patient is diagnosed with cirrhosis. The nurse is assessing the abdomen.
Which of the following findings is most consistent with this diagnosis?
A) A soft, non-tender abdomen
B) Ascites and a firm, nodular liver
C) Hyperactive bowel sounds
D) A palpable, pulsating mass
Correct Answer: Ascites and a firm, nodular liver
Rationale: Cirrhosis is characterized by chronic liver damage leading to
fibrosis and scarring. This can result in ascites (fluid accumulation in the
peritoneal cavity) and a firm, nodular liver on palpation. A soft, non-tender
