National University NUR 304 Final Exam (pdf) | 2026/2027 |Advanced
Health Assessment Q&A | Nursing
1. A graduate nursing student is preparing to conduct a comprehensive
health assessment. Which of the following best describes the primary
purpose of this assessment?
A) To establish a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship
B) To collect holistic data to establish a baseline and identify health needs
C) To complete the hospital's admission paperwork efficiently
D) To determine the patient's insurance coverage and financial status
Correct Answer: To collect holistic data to establish a baseline and identify
health needs
Rationale: The comprehensive health assessment is fundamental to
advanced nursing practice. Its primary purpose is to gather subjective and
objective data to establish a baseline and identify actual or potential health
problems. This data guides all subsequent clinical decisions and
differentiates the assessment from administrative or documentation tasks.
2. Which of the following represents the correct sequence of the nursing
process?
A) Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
B) Assessment, Planning, Diagnosis, Implementation, Evaluation
C) Diagnosis, Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
D) Assessment, Diagnosis, Implementation, Planning, Evaluation
Correct Answer: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation,
Evaluation
,Rationale: The nursing process is a systematic, patient-centered framework
consisting of five sequential steps: Assessment (data collection), Diagnosis
(analysis), Planning (goal setting and intervention selection), Implementation
(carrying out the plan), and Evaluation (determining the effectiveness of
interventions).
3. A nursing student is learning the four primary physical assessment
techniques. Which technique involves the systematic use of touch to assess
texture, temperature, moisture, and the presence of masses?
A) Inspection
B) Palpation
C) Percussion
D) Auscultation
Correct Answer: Palpation
Rationale: Palpation uses the hands to apply light or deep touch to assess
various characteristics of the skin and underlying structures, including
texture, temperature, moisture, organ location and size, and the presence of
swelling, masses, or tenderness. It is a systematic technique requiring
practiced skill.
4. A nurse is preparing to perform a physical examination. Which of the
following is the correct order of techniques for the general assessment,
excluding the abdomen?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Inspection, auscultation, palpation, percussion
C) Palpation, inspection, percussion, auscultation
D) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Correct Answer: Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
,Rationale: For most body systems, the correct sequence is inspection first,
followed by palpation, percussion, and then auscultation. This order allows
the examiner to observe without disturbing the area and then systematically
assess deeper structures. The abdominal assessment requires a modified
sequence.
5. A nurse is preparing to assess a patient's abdomen. In which order should
the techniques of inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation be
performed?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C) Palpation, auscultation, inspection, percussion
D) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Correct Answer: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: For abdominal assessment, the correct sequence is inspection
first, followed by auscultation, percussion, and finally palpation. This order is
crucial because palpation and percussion can alter bowel sounds, potentially
leading to inaccurate auscultation findings.
6. A nurse is using the technique of percussion during a physical
examination. What is the primary purpose of this technique?
A) To listen to the sounds of the heart and lungs
B) To visually inspect the patient's body structure
C) To tap the body to produce sounds that indicate the density of underlying
structures
D) To feel for the presence of pulses and skin temperature
, Correct Answer: To tap the body to produce sounds that indicate the density
of underlying structures
Rationale: Percussion involves tapping the body surface with the fingertips to
produce sound waves. The resulting sounds (resonance, hyperresonance,
dullness, or flatness) help the examiner assess the size, location, and density
of underlying organs and detect the presence of air, fluid, or solid masses.
7. When using a stethoscope to listen to body sounds, the nurse is
performing which assessment technique?
A) Inspection
B) Palpation
C) Percussion
D) Auscultation
Correct Answer: Auscultation
Rationale: Auscultation is the technique of listening to sounds produced
within the body using a stethoscope. It is primarily used to assess the heart,
lungs, and abdomen, listening for normal and abnormal sounds such as heart
murmurs, breath sounds, and bowel sounds.
8. A nurse is assessing a patient's skin and notes a lesion that is flat, non-
palpable, and less than 1 cm in diameter. This type of lesion is best
described as a:
A) Papule
B) Macule
C) Nodule
D) Vesicle
Health Assessment Q&A | Nursing
1. A graduate nursing student is preparing to conduct a comprehensive
health assessment. Which of the following best describes the primary
purpose of this assessment?
A) To establish a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship
B) To collect holistic data to establish a baseline and identify health needs
C) To complete the hospital's admission paperwork efficiently
D) To determine the patient's insurance coverage and financial status
Correct Answer: To collect holistic data to establish a baseline and identify
health needs
Rationale: The comprehensive health assessment is fundamental to
advanced nursing practice. Its primary purpose is to gather subjective and
objective data to establish a baseline and identify actual or potential health
problems. This data guides all subsequent clinical decisions and
differentiates the assessment from administrative or documentation tasks.
2. Which of the following represents the correct sequence of the nursing
process?
A) Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
B) Assessment, Planning, Diagnosis, Implementation, Evaluation
C) Diagnosis, Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation
D) Assessment, Diagnosis, Implementation, Planning, Evaluation
Correct Answer: Assessment, Diagnosis, Planning, Implementation,
Evaluation
,Rationale: The nursing process is a systematic, patient-centered framework
consisting of five sequential steps: Assessment (data collection), Diagnosis
(analysis), Planning (goal setting and intervention selection), Implementation
(carrying out the plan), and Evaluation (determining the effectiveness of
interventions).
3. A nursing student is learning the four primary physical assessment
techniques. Which technique involves the systematic use of touch to assess
texture, temperature, moisture, and the presence of masses?
A) Inspection
B) Palpation
C) Percussion
D) Auscultation
Correct Answer: Palpation
Rationale: Palpation uses the hands to apply light or deep touch to assess
various characteristics of the skin and underlying structures, including
texture, temperature, moisture, organ location and size, and the presence of
swelling, masses, or tenderness. It is a systematic technique requiring
practiced skill.
4. A nurse is preparing to perform a physical examination. Which of the
following is the correct order of techniques for the general assessment,
excluding the abdomen?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Inspection, auscultation, palpation, percussion
C) Palpation, inspection, percussion, auscultation
D) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Correct Answer: Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
,Rationale: For most body systems, the correct sequence is inspection first,
followed by palpation, percussion, and then auscultation. This order allows
the examiner to observe without disturbing the area and then systematically
assess deeper structures. The abdominal assessment requires a modified
sequence.
5. A nurse is preparing to assess a patient's abdomen. In which order should
the techniques of inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation be
performed?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C) Palpation, auscultation, inspection, percussion
D) Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Correct Answer: Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: For abdominal assessment, the correct sequence is inspection
first, followed by auscultation, percussion, and finally palpation. This order is
crucial because palpation and percussion can alter bowel sounds, potentially
leading to inaccurate auscultation findings.
6. A nurse is using the technique of percussion during a physical
examination. What is the primary purpose of this technique?
A) To listen to the sounds of the heart and lungs
B) To visually inspect the patient's body structure
C) To tap the body to produce sounds that indicate the density of underlying
structures
D) To feel for the presence of pulses and skin temperature
, Correct Answer: To tap the body to produce sounds that indicate the density
of underlying structures
Rationale: Percussion involves tapping the body surface with the fingertips to
produce sound waves. The resulting sounds (resonance, hyperresonance,
dullness, or flatness) help the examiner assess the size, location, and density
of underlying organs and detect the presence of air, fluid, or solid masses.
7. When using a stethoscope to listen to body sounds, the nurse is
performing which assessment technique?
A) Inspection
B) Palpation
C) Percussion
D) Auscultation
Correct Answer: Auscultation
Rationale: Auscultation is the technique of listening to sounds produced
within the body using a stethoscope. It is primarily used to assess the heart,
lungs, and abdomen, listening for normal and abnormal sounds such as heart
murmurs, breath sounds, and bowel sounds.
8. A nurse is assessing a patient's skin and notes a lesion that is flat, non-
palpable, and less than 1 cm in diameter. This type of lesion is best
described as a:
A) Papule
B) Macule
C) Nodule
D) Vesicle
