NR 304 Final Exam Chamberlain Health Assessment II 2026/2027 |
Chamberlain University NR304 Health Assessment II Final Exam Study
Guide, Exam Prep, Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales, Physical
Assessment, Health History, Neurological Assessment, Cardiovascular
Assessment, Respiratory Assessment, Abdominal Assessment,
Musculoskeletal Assessment, Skin Assessment, Male & Female Genitourinary
Assessment
Question 1: A nurse is assessing a patient with a history of heart failure. Which
finding would best indicate left-sided heart failure?
A. Jugular venous distension
B. Bilateral basal crackles
C. Peripheral edema
D. Hepatomegaly
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Bilateral basal crackles
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion, leading to
crackles at the lung bases due to fluid accumulation in the alveoli. Jugular venous
distension, peripheral edema, and hepatomegaly are signs of right-sided heart
failure.
Question 2: During auscultation of the heart, the nurse hears a high-pitched
holosystolic murmur at the apex that radiates to the axilla. This finding is most
consistent with:
A. Aortic stenosis
B. Mitral regurgitation
C. Tricuspid stenosis
D. Pulmonary stenosis
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Mitral regurgitation
Rationale: Mitral regurgitation produces a holosystolic murmur heard best at the
apex and radiating to the axilla. Aortic stenosis produces a crescendo-
decrescendo systolic murmur radiating to the carotids.
Question 3: A nurse is assessing the jugular venous pressure (JVP) of a patient.
The nurse should measure the JVP with the patient in which position?
,A. Supine with the head elevated 30-45 degrees
B. Prone
C. Standing upright
D. Left lateral recumbent
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Supine with the head elevated 30-45 degrees
Rationale: JVP is best assessed with the patient supine and the head of the bed
elevated 30-45 degrees, allowing visualization of the internal jugular vein
pulsations.
Question 4: A patient presents with a blood pressure of 188/110 mmHg. The
nurse understands that this classification corresponds to:
A. Normal blood pressure
B. Elevated blood pressure
C. Stage 1 hypertension
D. Hypertensive crisis
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Hypertensive crisis
Rationale: A blood pressure of 188/110 mmHg exceeds 180/120 mmHg, which
defines hypertensive crisis and requires immediate medical attention.
Question 5: Which heart sound is best heard with the bell of the stethoscope at
the left lower sternal border?
A. S1
B. S2
C. S3
D. S4
CORRECT ANSWER: C. S3
Rationale: S3 is a low-pitched sound best heard with the bell at the apex or left
lower sternal border. It is associated with ventricular filling and can indicate heart
failure.
Question 6: A nurse is performing a cardiovascular assessment and notes a
bounding pulse. Which condition is most associated with a bounding pulse?
,A. Hypovolemia
B. Aortic stenosis
C. Hyperthyroidism
D. Peripheral artery disease
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Hyperthyroidism
Rationale: Hyperthyroidism increases cardiac output, resulting in a bounding,
forceful pulse. Hypovolemia and aortic stenosis typically produce weak pulses.
Question 7: The nurse is assessing for peripheral arterial disease. Which finding
is most characteristic of arterial insufficiency?
A. Dependent rubor
B. Pitting edema
C. Warm extremities
D. Shiny, hairless skin
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Shiny, hairless skin
Rationale: Arterial insufficiency leads to decreased perfusion, causing shiny,
hairless, and cool skin. Dependent rubor is also seen but occurs when the leg is
dependent; pitting edema and warm extremities are venous signs.
Question 8: A patient reports calf pain that occurs with walking and resolves
with rest. The nurse recognizes this as:
A. Claudication
B. Radiculopathy
C. Venous ulcer
D. Lymphedema
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Claudication
Rationale: Intermittent claudication is muscle pain caused by inadequate arterial
blood flow during exercise that resolves with rest, characteristic of peripheral
arterial disease.
Question 9: During a cardiovascular assessment, the nurse palpates a thrill. This
finding indicates:
, A. A normal pulse
B. A palpable murmur
C. Venous insufficiency
D. An enlarged liver
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A palpable murmur
Rationale: A thrill is a palpable vibration caused by turbulent blood flow, often
associated with a loud murmur.
Question 10: The nurse is assessing capillary refill time. A normal finding should
be:
A. Less than 1 second
B. Less than 3 seconds
C. 4-5 seconds
D. Greater than 5 seconds
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Less than 3 seconds
Rationale: Normal capillary refill is less than 3 seconds. Prolonged refill suggests
poor peripheral perfusion.
Question 11: A nurse is assessing a patient with suspected deep vein thrombosis
(DVT). Which finding is most concerning?
A. Bilateral ankle edema
B. Unilateral calf swelling and warmth
C. Diminished pedal pulses
D. Cool, pale extremities
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Unilateral calf swelling and warmth
Rationale: DVT typically presents with unilateral leg swelling, warmth, erythema,
and tenderness. Bilateral edema is more consistent with heart failure or venous
insufficiency.
Question 12: Which artery is the most common site for measuring the pulse
during a cardiovascular assessment?
A. Temporal artery
B. Radial artery
Chamberlain University NR304 Health Assessment II Final Exam Study
Guide, Exam Prep, Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales, Physical
Assessment, Health History, Neurological Assessment, Cardiovascular
Assessment, Respiratory Assessment, Abdominal Assessment,
Musculoskeletal Assessment, Skin Assessment, Male & Female Genitourinary
Assessment
Question 1: A nurse is assessing a patient with a history of heart failure. Which
finding would best indicate left-sided heart failure?
A. Jugular venous distension
B. Bilateral basal crackles
C. Peripheral edema
D. Hepatomegaly
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Bilateral basal crackles
Rationale: Left-sided heart failure causes pulmonary congestion, leading to
crackles at the lung bases due to fluid accumulation in the alveoli. Jugular venous
distension, peripheral edema, and hepatomegaly are signs of right-sided heart
failure.
Question 2: During auscultation of the heart, the nurse hears a high-pitched
holosystolic murmur at the apex that radiates to the axilla. This finding is most
consistent with:
A. Aortic stenosis
B. Mitral regurgitation
C. Tricuspid stenosis
D. Pulmonary stenosis
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Mitral regurgitation
Rationale: Mitral regurgitation produces a holosystolic murmur heard best at the
apex and radiating to the axilla. Aortic stenosis produces a crescendo-
decrescendo systolic murmur radiating to the carotids.
Question 3: A nurse is assessing the jugular venous pressure (JVP) of a patient.
The nurse should measure the JVP with the patient in which position?
,A. Supine with the head elevated 30-45 degrees
B. Prone
C. Standing upright
D. Left lateral recumbent
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Supine with the head elevated 30-45 degrees
Rationale: JVP is best assessed with the patient supine and the head of the bed
elevated 30-45 degrees, allowing visualization of the internal jugular vein
pulsations.
Question 4: A patient presents with a blood pressure of 188/110 mmHg. The
nurse understands that this classification corresponds to:
A. Normal blood pressure
B. Elevated blood pressure
C. Stage 1 hypertension
D. Hypertensive crisis
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Hypertensive crisis
Rationale: A blood pressure of 188/110 mmHg exceeds 180/120 mmHg, which
defines hypertensive crisis and requires immediate medical attention.
Question 5: Which heart sound is best heard with the bell of the stethoscope at
the left lower sternal border?
A. S1
B. S2
C. S3
D. S4
CORRECT ANSWER: C. S3
Rationale: S3 is a low-pitched sound best heard with the bell at the apex or left
lower sternal border. It is associated with ventricular filling and can indicate heart
failure.
Question 6: A nurse is performing a cardiovascular assessment and notes a
bounding pulse. Which condition is most associated with a bounding pulse?
,A. Hypovolemia
B. Aortic stenosis
C. Hyperthyroidism
D. Peripheral artery disease
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Hyperthyroidism
Rationale: Hyperthyroidism increases cardiac output, resulting in a bounding,
forceful pulse. Hypovolemia and aortic stenosis typically produce weak pulses.
Question 7: The nurse is assessing for peripheral arterial disease. Which finding
is most characteristic of arterial insufficiency?
A. Dependent rubor
B. Pitting edema
C. Warm extremities
D. Shiny, hairless skin
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Shiny, hairless skin
Rationale: Arterial insufficiency leads to decreased perfusion, causing shiny,
hairless, and cool skin. Dependent rubor is also seen but occurs when the leg is
dependent; pitting edema and warm extremities are venous signs.
Question 8: A patient reports calf pain that occurs with walking and resolves
with rest. The nurse recognizes this as:
A. Claudication
B. Radiculopathy
C. Venous ulcer
D. Lymphedema
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Claudication
Rationale: Intermittent claudication is muscle pain caused by inadequate arterial
blood flow during exercise that resolves with rest, characteristic of peripheral
arterial disease.
Question 9: During a cardiovascular assessment, the nurse palpates a thrill. This
finding indicates:
, A. A normal pulse
B. A palpable murmur
C. Venous insufficiency
D. An enlarged liver
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A palpable murmur
Rationale: A thrill is a palpable vibration caused by turbulent blood flow, often
associated with a loud murmur.
Question 10: The nurse is assessing capillary refill time. A normal finding should
be:
A. Less than 1 second
B. Less than 3 seconds
C. 4-5 seconds
D. Greater than 5 seconds
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Less than 3 seconds
Rationale: Normal capillary refill is less than 3 seconds. Prolonged refill suggests
poor peripheral perfusion.
Question 11: A nurse is assessing a patient with suspected deep vein thrombosis
(DVT). Which finding is most concerning?
A. Bilateral ankle edema
B. Unilateral calf swelling and warmth
C. Diminished pedal pulses
D. Cool, pale extremities
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Unilateral calf swelling and warmth
Rationale: DVT typically presents with unilateral leg swelling, warmth, erythema,
and tenderness. Bilateral edema is more consistent with heart failure or venous
insufficiency.
Question 12: Which artery is the most common site for measuring the pulse
during a cardiovascular assessment?
A. Temporal artery
B. Radial artery
