BSN3A Nursing Health Assessment Exam
Practice Questions & [Verified Answers], Plus
Explained Rationales|2026 Latest Update|
Instant Download PDF
1. During a health assessment, which action by the nurse best
demonstrates the principle of inspection?
A. Listening to bowel sounds
B. Palpating the abdomen
C. Observing the patient's skin color and symmetry
D. Percussing the chest
Rationale: Inspection involves purposeful visual observation of the
patient's appearance, body structures, movement, and characteristics
such as color and symmetry.
2. Which assessment technique should the nurse perform first when
examining most body systems?
A. Palpation
B. Percussion
C. Auscultation
D. Inspection
Rationale: Inspection generally precedes the other physical
assessment techniques because visual findings can guide subsequent
palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient's pain. Which question is most
appropriate for determining the quality of the pain?
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,A. "When did the pain begin?"
B. "Where does the pain occur?"
C. "How would you describe the pain?"
D. "Does anything make it worse?"
Rationale: Pain quality describes the character of the sensation, such
as sharp, burning, aching, pressure, or throbbing.
4. Which finding is considered a normal adult respiratory rate?
A. 6 breaths/min
B. 10 breaths/min
C. 16 breaths/min
D. 28 breaths/min
Rationale: A normal resting respiratory rate for most adults is
approximately 12–20 breaths per minute.
5. When measuring blood pressure, which action is most important
for obtaining an accurate reading?
A. Positioning the arm above heart level
B. Using a cuff that is too small
C. Measuring immediately after exercise
D. Using an appropriately sized cuff
Rationale: An appropriately sized blood pressure cuff is essential for
accuracy. A cuff that is too small can produce a falsely elevated
reading.
6. Which pulse site is commonly used for assessing the pulse in an
adult during routine vital-sign measurement?
A. Femoral
B. Carotid
2|Page
,C. Radial
D. Popliteal
Rationale: The radial artery at the wrist is readily accessible and is
commonly used for routine assessment of an adult's peripheral pulse.
7. The nurse documents a patient's pulse as 88 beats/min, regular,
and strong. Which component of the pulse assessment describes
"strong"?
A. Rhythm
B. Rate
C. Amplitude
D. Location
Rationale: Pulse amplitude refers to the strength or quality of the
pulse, often described as weak, normal, or bounding.
8. Which finding during a cardiovascular assessment requires further
evaluation?
A. Apical pulse of 76 beats/min
B. Regular heart rhythm
C. Warm extremities
D. Newly identified irregular heart rhythm
Rationale: A newly identified irregular rhythm may indicate an
abnormal cardiac rhythm and should be assessed further and reported
according to clinical circumstances.
9. When assessing the skin, which finding should the nurse recognize
as potentially concerning?
A. Skin that is warm and intact
B. Uniform pigmentation
3|Page
, C. A nonhealing lesion with irregular borders
D. Mild dryness in an older adult
Rationale: A nonhealing lesion with irregular characteristics warrants
further evaluation because it may represent a significant skin
abnormality.
10. Which assessment finding is most consistent with
dehydration?
A. Moist mucous membranes
B. Bounding pulse
C. Dry mucous membranes
D. Increased skin turgor
Rationale: Dry mucous membranes are a common clinical finding
associated with fluid deficit and should be interpreted along with
other assessment findings.
11. Which lymph node characteristic is generally considered
abnormal?
A. Small and soft
B. Mobile
C. Nontender
D. Hard and fixed
Rationale: Hard, fixed, or otherwise unusual lymph nodes require
further evaluation because these characteristics may indicate an
underlying pathological process.
12. When assessing the eyes, which cranial nerve is primarily
responsible for visual acuity?
A. Cranial nerve II
B. Cranial nerve III
4|Page
Practice Questions & [Verified Answers], Plus
Explained Rationales|2026 Latest Update|
Instant Download PDF
1. During a health assessment, which action by the nurse best
demonstrates the principle of inspection?
A. Listening to bowel sounds
B. Palpating the abdomen
C. Observing the patient's skin color and symmetry
D. Percussing the chest
Rationale: Inspection involves purposeful visual observation of the
patient's appearance, body structures, movement, and characteristics
such as color and symmetry.
2. Which assessment technique should the nurse perform first when
examining most body systems?
A. Palpation
B. Percussion
C. Auscultation
D. Inspection
Rationale: Inspection generally precedes the other physical
assessment techniques because visual findings can guide subsequent
palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient's pain. Which question is most
appropriate for determining the quality of the pain?
1|Page
,A. "When did the pain begin?"
B. "Where does the pain occur?"
C. "How would you describe the pain?"
D. "Does anything make it worse?"
Rationale: Pain quality describes the character of the sensation, such
as sharp, burning, aching, pressure, or throbbing.
4. Which finding is considered a normal adult respiratory rate?
A. 6 breaths/min
B. 10 breaths/min
C. 16 breaths/min
D. 28 breaths/min
Rationale: A normal resting respiratory rate for most adults is
approximately 12–20 breaths per minute.
5. When measuring blood pressure, which action is most important
for obtaining an accurate reading?
A. Positioning the arm above heart level
B. Using a cuff that is too small
C. Measuring immediately after exercise
D. Using an appropriately sized cuff
Rationale: An appropriately sized blood pressure cuff is essential for
accuracy. A cuff that is too small can produce a falsely elevated
reading.
6. Which pulse site is commonly used for assessing the pulse in an
adult during routine vital-sign measurement?
A. Femoral
B. Carotid
2|Page
,C. Radial
D. Popliteal
Rationale: The radial artery at the wrist is readily accessible and is
commonly used for routine assessment of an adult's peripheral pulse.
7. The nurse documents a patient's pulse as 88 beats/min, regular,
and strong. Which component of the pulse assessment describes
"strong"?
A. Rhythm
B. Rate
C. Amplitude
D. Location
Rationale: Pulse amplitude refers to the strength or quality of the
pulse, often described as weak, normal, or bounding.
8. Which finding during a cardiovascular assessment requires further
evaluation?
A. Apical pulse of 76 beats/min
B. Regular heart rhythm
C. Warm extremities
D. Newly identified irregular heart rhythm
Rationale: A newly identified irregular rhythm may indicate an
abnormal cardiac rhythm and should be assessed further and reported
according to clinical circumstances.
9. When assessing the skin, which finding should the nurse recognize
as potentially concerning?
A. Skin that is warm and intact
B. Uniform pigmentation
3|Page
, C. A nonhealing lesion with irregular borders
D. Mild dryness in an older adult
Rationale: A nonhealing lesion with irregular characteristics warrants
further evaluation because it may represent a significant skin
abnormality.
10. Which assessment finding is most consistent with
dehydration?
A. Moist mucous membranes
B. Bounding pulse
C. Dry mucous membranes
D. Increased skin turgor
Rationale: Dry mucous membranes are a common clinical finding
associated with fluid deficit and should be interpreted along with
other assessment findings.
11. Which lymph node characteristic is generally considered
abnormal?
A. Small and soft
B. Mobile
C. Nontender
D. Hard and fixed
Rationale: Hard, fixed, or otherwise unusual lymph nodes require
further evaluation because these characteristics may indicate an
underlying pathological process.
12. When assessing the eyes, which cranial nerve is primarily
responsible for visual acuity?
A. Cranial nerve II
B. Cranial nerve III
4|Page
