NUR 2092 HEALTH ASSESSMENT
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
1. When performing an abdominal assessment, in which order should the nurse perform the
examination techniques?
A. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
B. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
C. Auscultation, Inspection, Percussion, Palpation
D. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: For the abdomen, auscultation is performed before percussion
and palpation to prevent the stimulation of bowel sounds, which could lead to a false
assessment.
2. The nurse is assessing a patient’s cranial nerves. Which action by the patient demonstrates
that Cranial Nerve VII (Facial) is intact?
A. Sticking out the tongue
,B. Shrugging the shoulders against resistance
C. Smiling and puffing out the cheeks
D. Identifying a scent with eyes closed
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Cranial Nerve VII, the Facial nerve, controls facial expressions
such as smiling, frowning, and puffing out cheeks.
3. A patient presents with a ‘barrel chest’ appearance. This finding is most commonly
associated with which chronic condition?
A. Congestive heart failure
B. Pulmonary embolism
C. Pneumonia
D. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A barrel chest occurs due to hyperinflation of the lungs, typically
seen in chronic obstructive diseases like emphysema.
4. When auscultating the heart, the S1 sound is loudest at which location?
A. The apex of the heart
B. The base of the heart
, C. The second intercostal space, right sternal border
D. The second intercostal space, left sternal border
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: S1, which represents the closure of the AV valves (mitral and
tricuspid), is heard loudest at the apex of the heart.
5. A nurse is testing a patient’s visual acuity using a Snellen chart. The patient’s vision is
recorded as 20/40. What does this mean?
A. The patient can see at 40 feet what a normal person sees at 20 feet.
B. The patient can see at 20 feet what a normal person sees at 40 feet.
C. The patient has 20% vision in the right eye and 40% in the left.
D. The patient’s vision is twice as good as normal.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The first number is the distance from the chart (20 feet), and the
second number is the distance at which a normal eye could read that line.
6. During a skin assessment, the nurse notices a flat, non-palpable lesion less than 1 cm in
diameter. How should the nurse document this?
A. Papule
B. Pustule
C. Nodule
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
1. When performing an abdominal assessment, in which order should the nurse perform the
examination techniques?
A. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
B. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
C. Auscultation, Inspection, Percussion, Palpation
D. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: For the abdomen, auscultation is performed before percussion
and palpation to prevent the stimulation of bowel sounds, which could lead to a false
assessment.
2. The nurse is assessing a patient’s cranial nerves. Which action by the patient demonstrates
that Cranial Nerve VII (Facial) is intact?
A. Sticking out the tongue
,B. Shrugging the shoulders against resistance
C. Smiling and puffing out the cheeks
D. Identifying a scent with eyes closed
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Cranial Nerve VII, the Facial nerve, controls facial expressions
such as smiling, frowning, and puffing out cheeks.
3. A patient presents with a ‘barrel chest’ appearance. This finding is most commonly
associated with which chronic condition?
A. Congestive heart failure
B. Pulmonary embolism
C. Pneumonia
D. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: A barrel chest occurs due to hyperinflation of the lungs, typically
seen in chronic obstructive diseases like emphysema.
4. When auscultating the heart, the S1 sound is loudest at which location?
A. The apex of the heart
B. The base of the heart
, C. The second intercostal space, right sternal border
D. The second intercostal space, left sternal border
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: S1, which represents the closure of the AV valves (mitral and
tricuspid), is heard loudest at the apex of the heart.
5. A nurse is testing a patient’s visual acuity using a Snellen chart. The patient’s vision is
recorded as 20/40. What does this mean?
A. The patient can see at 40 feet what a normal person sees at 20 feet.
B. The patient can see at 20 feet what a normal person sees at 40 feet.
C. The patient has 20% vision in the right eye and 40% in the left.
D. The patient’s vision is twice as good as normal.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The first number is the distance from the chart (20 feet), and the
second number is the distance at which a normal eye could read that line.
6. During a skin assessment, the nurse notices a flat, non-palpable lesion less than 1 cm in
diameter. How should the nurse document this?
A. Papule
B. Pustule
C. Nodule
