Physical Examination
and Health Assessment
2025 Qualified
Questions and Answers
General Survey, Techniques & Vital Signs
1. The nurse is preparing to assess a client's abdomen. Which sequence is
correct?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D. Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
Answer: B
Rationale: Palpation and percussion can alter bowel sound frequency, so
auscultation is performed before them in the abdomen. For all other body
systems, the order is inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation.
2. Which technique uses the fingertips to detect texture, temperature, and
moisture?
A. Light palpation
B. Deep palpation
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Answer: A
Rationale: Light palpation uses the fingertips to assess surface characteristics such
as texture, temperature, moisture, and tenderness.
3. Which percussion sound is heard over normal lung tissue?
A. Tympany
B. Dullness
C. Resonance
,D. Flatness
Answer: C
Rationale: Resonance is the low-pitched, clear, hollow sound heard over normal
lung tissue. Tympany is heard over the stomach, dullness over the liver, and
flatness over muscle or bone.
4. A client's oral temperature is 38.2°C (100.8°F). The nurse documents this as:
A. Normal
B. Hypothermia
C. Low-grade fever
D. Hyperpyrexia
Answer: C
Rationale: Oral temperature above 37.5°C (99.5°F) is considered fever. 38.2°C is a
low-grade fever. Hyperpyrexia is generally above 41°C (105.8°F).
5. Which pulse site is most commonly used for assessing circulation in an
unconscious adult?
A. Radial
B. Carotid
C. Brachial
D. Popliteal
Answer: B
Rationale: The carotid pulse is central, strong, and easily accessible in an
unconscious client. The radial pulse is used in conscious adults.
6. The nurse assesses a blood pressure of 148/94 mm Hg. This is classified as:
A. Normal
B. Elevated
C. Stage 1 hypertension
D. Stage 2 hypertension
Answer: C
Rationale: According to ACC/AHA guidelines, systolic 130–139 or diastolic 80–89 is
Stage 1 hypertension. The diastolic of 94 places this in Stage 1.
7. Which finding indicates orthostatic hypotension?
A. BP rises when standing
B. BP drops ≥20 mm Hg systolic or ≥10 mm Hg diastolic on standing
, C. Pulse decreases on standing
D. BP unchanged with position change
Answer: B
Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension is a drop of at least 20 mm Hg systolic or 10
mm Hg diastolic within 3 minutes of standing.
8. The nurse is assessing pain using the PQRST mnemonic. The "Q" stands for:
A. Quality
B. Quantity
C. Quest
D. Quiet
Answer: A
Rationale: PQRST = Provocation, Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, Timing. The
"Q" refers to the quality of the pain (e.g., burning, stabbing).
9. Which is the most reliable indicator that a client is in pain?
A. Elevated heart rate
B. Grimacing
C. The client's self-report
D. Elevated blood pressure
Answer: C
Rationale: Pain is subjective; the client's self-report is the most reliable indicator.
10. A 6-month-old infant's normal respiratory rate is approximately:
A. 12–20 breaths/min
B. 20–30 breaths/min
C. 30–60 breaths/min
D. 60–80 breaths/min
Answer: C
Rationale: Infants normally breathe 30–60 times per minute; this decreases with
age.
11. Which assessment finding is a normal age-related change in the older adult?
A. Increased subcutaneous fat
B. Decreased skin turgor
C. Increased sweat gland activity
D. Increased body hair
and Health Assessment
2025 Qualified
Questions and Answers
General Survey, Techniques & Vital Signs
1. The nurse is preparing to assess a client's abdomen. Which sequence is
correct?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D. Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
Answer: B
Rationale: Palpation and percussion can alter bowel sound frequency, so
auscultation is performed before them in the abdomen. For all other body
systems, the order is inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation.
2. Which technique uses the fingertips to detect texture, temperature, and
moisture?
A. Light palpation
B. Deep palpation
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Answer: A
Rationale: Light palpation uses the fingertips to assess surface characteristics such
as texture, temperature, moisture, and tenderness.
3. Which percussion sound is heard over normal lung tissue?
A. Tympany
B. Dullness
C. Resonance
,D. Flatness
Answer: C
Rationale: Resonance is the low-pitched, clear, hollow sound heard over normal
lung tissue. Tympany is heard over the stomach, dullness over the liver, and
flatness over muscle or bone.
4. A client's oral temperature is 38.2°C (100.8°F). The nurse documents this as:
A. Normal
B. Hypothermia
C. Low-grade fever
D. Hyperpyrexia
Answer: C
Rationale: Oral temperature above 37.5°C (99.5°F) is considered fever. 38.2°C is a
low-grade fever. Hyperpyrexia is generally above 41°C (105.8°F).
5. Which pulse site is most commonly used for assessing circulation in an
unconscious adult?
A. Radial
B. Carotid
C. Brachial
D. Popliteal
Answer: B
Rationale: The carotid pulse is central, strong, and easily accessible in an
unconscious client. The radial pulse is used in conscious adults.
6. The nurse assesses a blood pressure of 148/94 mm Hg. This is classified as:
A. Normal
B. Elevated
C. Stage 1 hypertension
D. Stage 2 hypertension
Answer: C
Rationale: According to ACC/AHA guidelines, systolic 130–139 or diastolic 80–89 is
Stage 1 hypertension. The diastolic of 94 places this in Stage 1.
7. Which finding indicates orthostatic hypotension?
A. BP rises when standing
B. BP drops ≥20 mm Hg systolic or ≥10 mm Hg diastolic on standing
, C. Pulse decreases on standing
D. BP unchanged with position change
Answer: B
Rationale: Orthostatic hypotension is a drop of at least 20 mm Hg systolic or 10
mm Hg diastolic within 3 minutes of standing.
8. The nurse is assessing pain using the PQRST mnemonic. The "Q" stands for:
A. Quality
B. Quantity
C. Quest
D. Quiet
Answer: A
Rationale: PQRST = Provocation, Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, Timing. The
"Q" refers to the quality of the pain (e.g., burning, stabbing).
9. Which is the most reliable indicator that a client is in pain?
A. Elevated heart rate
B. Grimacing
C. The client's self-report
D. Elevated blood pressure
Answer: C
Rationale: Pain is subjective; the client's self-report is the most reliable indicator.
10. A 6-month-old infant's normal respiratory rate is approximately:
A. 12–20 breaths/min
B. 20–30 breaths/min
C. 30–60 breaths/min
D. 60–80 breaths/min
Answer: C
Rationale: Infants normally breathe 30–60 times per minute; this decreases with
age.
11. Which assessment finding is a normal age-related change in the older adult?
A. Increased subcutaneous fat
B. Decreased skin turgor
C. Increased sweat gland activity
D. Increased body hair
