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NSG 3160 Health Assessment Exam 3 GI GU
Musculoskeletal Galen College Actual Exam
2026/2027 with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam-Style Questions | Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
A nurse is assessing the oral cavity of an adult patient. Which finding is
considered a normal age-related change?
A. Smooth, glossy dorsal surface of the tongue
B. Presence of leukoplakia on the lateral borders
C. Decreased salivary gland production leading to dryness [CORRECT]
D. Fissuring and deep grooves on the ventral surface
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because decreased salivary gland production is a
normal age-related change in the oral cavity. This matches expected
geriatric findings and is not pathological.
During abdominal auscultation, a nurse hears high-pitched, tinkling
bowel sounds every 2 to 3 seconds in all four quadrants. What does this
finding indicate?
A. Normal bowel function
B. Hyperactive bowel sounds consistent with early intestinal obstruction
[CORRECT]
C. Hypoactive bowel sounds indicating paralytic ileus
D. Absent bowel sounds requiring surgical intervention
,2
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because hyperactive, high-pitched, tinkling bowel
sounds are a classic sign of early intestinal obstruction as the intestine
attempts to propel contents past the blockage.
A nurse is performing abdominal palpation and identifies a rounded,
smooth, firm mass in the right upper quadrant that descends on
inspiration. This finding is most consistent with:
A. An enlarged spleen
B. An enlarged liver [CORRECT]
C. A distended gallbladder
D. A renal mass
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the liver descends approximately 1 to 2 cm
on inspiration due to diaphragmatic movement, and a smooth, firm,
rounded mass in the RUQ is characteristic of hepatomegaly.
Which statement by a patient during a GI history requires immediate
follow-up by the nurse?
A. "I have been having heartburn after eating spicy foods."
B. "My stools have been harder than usual for the past week."
C. "I vomited what looked like coffee grounds this morning."
[CORRECT]
D. "I feel bloated after I eat a large meal."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because coffee-ground emesis indicates upper GI
bleeding that has been partially digested by gastric acid, which is a red
flag requiring immediate clinical action.
,3
A nurse is assessing rebound tenderness in a patient with abdominal
pain. Which technique is correct?
A. Pressing deeply into the abdomen and releasing quickly
B. Pressing slowly into the abdomen at a 90-degree angle, then
withdrawing the hand quickly [CORRECT]
C. Tapping the abdomen lightly with the fingertips
D. Compressing the abdomen bilaterally with both hands
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because rebound tenderness is elicited by pressing
deeply into the abdomen and then quickly releasing pressure; pain upon
release indicates peritoneal irritation.
When assessing a patient with suspected cholecystitis, which maneuver
would the nurse perform?
A. McMurray test
B. Murphy sign [CORRECT]
C. Rovsing sign
D. McBurney point palpation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because Murphy sign is assessed by having the
patient take a deep breath while the examiner palpates the RUQ; abrupt
cessation of inspiration due to pain suggests cholecystitis.
A nurse is evaluating stool characteristics. Stool that is black, tarry, and
foul-smelling is described as:
A. Hematochezia
B. Melena [CORRECT]
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C. Steatorrhea
D. Acholic stool
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because melena describes black, tarry, foul-smelling
stool resulting from the digestion of blood in the upper gastrointestinal
tract.
The nurse is assessing the spleen of a patient. Which finding would be
considered abnormal?
A. Not palpable in the left upper quadrant
B. Palpable 2 cm below the left costal margin on deep inspiration
[CORRECT]
C. Dullness to percussion at the 8th to 11th intercostal space midaxillary
line
D. Slight movement with respiratory effort
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because a normal spleen is not palpable; if it can be
felt below the left costal margin, splenomegaly is present and warrants
further investigation.
A patient reports passing bright red blood per rectum. The nurse
documents this as:
A. Melena
B. Occult blood
C. Hematochezia [CORRECT]
D. Hematemesis
Correct Answer: C
NSG 3160 Health Assessment Exam 3 GI GU
Musculoskeletal Galen College Actual Exam
2026/2027 with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam-Style Questions | Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
A nurse is assessing the oral cavity of an adult patient. Which finding is
considered a normal age-related change?
A. Smooth, glossy dorsal surface of the tongue
B. Presence of leukoplakia on the lateral borders
C. Decreased salivary gland production leading to dryness [CORRECT]
D. Fissuring and deep grooves on the ventral surface
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because decreased salivary gland production is a
normal age-related change in the oral cavity. This matches expected
geriatric findings and is not pathological.
During abdominal auscultation, a nurse hears high-pitched, tinkling
bowel sounds every 2 to 3 seconds in all four quadrants. What does this
finding indicate?
A. Normal bowel function
B. Hyperactive bowel sounds consistent with early intestinal obstruction
[CORRECT]
C. Hypoactive bowel sounds indicating paralytic ileus
D. Absent bowel sounds requiring surgical intervention
,2
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because hyperactive, high-pitched, tinkling bowel
sounds are a classic sign of early intestinal obstruction as the intestine
attempts to propel contents past the blockage.
A nurse is performing abdominal palpation and identifies a rounded,
smooth, firm mass in the right upper quadrant that descends on
inspiration. This finding is most consistent with:
A. An enlarged spleen
B. An enlarged liver [CORRECT]
C. A distended gallbladder
D. A renal mass
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because the liver descends approximately 1 to 2 cm
on inspiration due to diaphragmatic movement, and a smooth, firm,
rounded mass in the RUQ is characteristic of hepatomegaly.
Which statement by a patient during a GI history requires immediate
follow-up by the nurse?
A. "I have been having heartburn after eating spicy foods."
B. "My stools have been harder than usual for the past week."
C. "I vomited what looked like coffee grounds this morning."
[CORRECT]
D. "I feel bloated after I eat a large meal."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Correct because coffee-ground emesis indicates upper GI
bleeding that has been partially digested by gastric acid, which is a red
flag requiring immediate clinical action.
,3
A nurse is assessing rebound tenderness in a patient with abdominal
pain. Which technique is correct?
A. Pressing deeply into the abdomen and releasing quickly
B. Pressing slowly into the abdomen at a 90-degree angle, then
withdrawing the hand quickly [CORRECT]
C. Tapping the abdomen lightly with the fingertips
D. Compressing the abdomen bilaterally with both hands
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because rebound tenderness is elicited by pressing
deeply into the abdomen and then quickly releasing pressure; pain upon
release indicates peritoneal irritation.
When assessing a patient with suspected cholecystitis, which maneuver
would the nurse perform?
A. McMurray test
B. Murphy sign [CORRECT]
C. Rovsing sign
D. McBurney point palpation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because Murphy sign is assessed by having the
patient take a deep breath while the examiner palpates the RUQ; abrupt
cessation of inspiration due to pain suggests cholecystitis.
A nurse is evaluating stool characteristics. Stool that is black, tarry, and
foul-smelling is described as:
A. Hematochezia
B. Melena [CORRECT]
, 4
C. Steatorrhea
D. Acholic stool
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because melena describes black, tarry, foul-smelling
stool resulting from the digestion of blood in the upper gastrointestinal
tract.
The nurse is assessing the spleen of a patient. Which finding would be
considered abnormal?
A. Not palpable in the left upper quadrant
B. Palpable 2 cm below the left costal margin on deep inspiration
[CORRECT]
C. Dullness to percussion at the 8th to 11th intercostal space midaxillary
line
D. Slight movement with respiratory effort
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Correct because a normal spleen is not palpable; if it can be
felt below the left costal margin, splenomegaly is present and warrants
further investigation.
A patient reports passing bright red blood per rectum. The nurse
documents this as:
A. Melena
B. Occult blood
C. Hematochezia [CORRECT]
D. Hematemesis
Correct Answer: C
