NUR 2092 HEALTH ASSESSMENT – ACADEMIC
YEAR 2026/2027 – EXAMINATION 2
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION | VERIFIED
QUESTIONS
DOMAIN 1: PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES AND NORMAL
FINDINGS
Question 1. When performing percussion over normal lung tissue, which note is
expected?
A. Dullness
B. Resonance
C. Flatness
D. Tympany
Rationale: Air-filled lung tissue produces a resonant percussion note. Dullness
suggests consolidation or fluid, flatness indicates dense tissue such as muscle or
bone, and tympany is heard over air-filled abdominal organs.
Question 2. Where is the point of maximal impulse normally located in a healthy
adult?
A. Second intercostal space, right sternal border
B. Third intercostal space, left sternal border
C. Sixth intercostal space, anterior axillary line
D. Fifth intercostal space, midclavicular line
Rationale: In most adults the apical impulse is palpable at the fifth intercostal
space in the midclavicular line, corresponding to the location of the left ventricular
apex.
Question 3. Which sequence of abdominal examination techniques is
recommended to avoid altering bowel sounds?
,A. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
B. Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
C. Percussion, palpation, inspection, auscultation
D. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Rationale: Inspection is followed by auscultation before any percussion or
palpation so that the frequency and character of bowel sounds are not artificially
changed by mechanical stimulation.
Question 4. A capillary refill time of less than 2 seconds in an adult is interpreted
as:
A. Delayed peripheral perfusion
B. Evidence of arterial occlusion
C. Normal peripheral perfusion
D. Indication for immediate arterial blood-gas analysis
Rationale: Capillary refill of 2 seconds or less is the expected finding and reflects
adequate peripheral arterial perfusion under ordinary conditions.
Question 5. Which technique uses the dorsal surface of the hand to assess
temperature?
A. Inspection
B. Palpation
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Rationale: The dorsal surface of the hand is most sensitive to temperature and is
used during palpation to assess skin temperature.
Question 6. Which sound is heard over the stomach during percussion?
A. Resonance
B. Tympany
C. Dullness
D. Flatness
,Rationale: Tympany is a drum-like sound heard over air-filled structures such as
the stomach.
Question 7. What is the normal adult resting heart rate?
A. 40–60 bpm
B. 60–100 bpm
C. 100–120 bpm
D. 120–140 bpm
Rationale: The normal resting adult heart rate is 60–100 beats per minute.
Question 8. What is the normal adult respiratory rate?
A. 8–14 breaths/min
B. 12–20 breaths/min
C. 20–28 breaths/min
D. 28–36 breaths/min
Rationale: Normal adult respiratory rate is 12–20 breaths per minute.
Question 9. What is the normal adult oral temperature range?
A. 96.0°F–98.0°F
B. 96.8°F–100.4°F
C. 98.6°F–102.2°F
D. 95.0°F–99.0°F
Rationale: Normal oral temperature is approximately 96.8°F to 100.4°F.
Question 10. Which pulse site is most commonly used for routine vital signs?
A. Carotid
B. Brachial
C. Radial
D. Dorsalis pedis
, Rationale: The radial pulse is easily accessible and commonly used for routine
assessment.
Question 11. Which finding is abnormal during a skin assessment?
A. Warm, dry skin
B. Jaundice
C. Pink mucous membranes
D. Elastic skin turgor
Rationale: Jaundice (yellowing) indicates liver dysfunction or hemolysis and is an
abnormal finding.
Question 12. What does PERRLA stand for?
A. Pupils Equal, Reactive, Regular, Light and Accommodation
B. Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation
C. Pupils Enlarged, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation
D. Pupils Equal, Round, Regular, Light and Accommodation
Rationale: PERRLA assesses pupil equality, shape (round), reactivity to light, and
accommodation.
Question 13. Which heart sound is heard at the beginning of systole?
A. S2
B. S1
C. S3
D. S4
Rationale: S1 is the first heart sound, caused by closure of the mitral and tricuspid
valves at the onset of systole.
Question 14. Which heart sound is heard at the beginning of diastole?
A. S1
B. S2
YEAR 2026/2027 – EXAMINATION 2
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION | VERIFIED
QUESTIONS
DOMAIN 1: PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES AND NORMAL
FINDINGS
Question 1. When performing percussion over normal lung tissue, which note is
expected?
A. Dullness
B. Resonance
C. Flatness
D. Tympany
Rationale: Air-filled lung tissue produces a resonant percussion note. Dullness
suggests consolidation or fluid, flatness indicates dense tissue such as muscle or
bone, and tympany is heard over air-filled abdominal organs.
Question 2. Where is the point of maximal impulse normally located in a healthy
adult?
A. Second intercostal space, right sternal border
B. Third intercostal space, left sternal border
C. Sixth intercostal space, anterior axillary line
D. Fifth intercostal space, midclavicular line
Rationale: In most adults the apical impulse is palpable at the fifth intercostal
space in the midclavicular line, corresponding to the location of the left ventricular
apex.
Question 3. Which sequence of abdominal examination techniques is
recommended to avoid altering bowel sounds?
,A. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
B. Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
C. Percussion, palpation, inspection, auscultation
D. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Rationale: Inspection is followed by auscultation before any percussion or
palpation so that the frequency and character of bowel sounds are not artificially
changed by mechanical stimulation.
Question 4. A capillary refill time of less than 2 seconds in an adult is interpreted
as:
A. Delayed peripheral perfusion
B. Evidence of arterial occlusion
C. Normal peripheral perfusion
D. Indication for immediate arterial blood-gas analysis
Rationale: Capillary refill of 2 seconds or less is the expected finding and reflects
adequate peripheral arterial perfusion under ordinary conditions.
Question 5. Which technique uses the dorsal surface of the hand to assess
temperature?
A. Inspection
B. Palpation
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Rationale: The dorsal surface of the hand is most sensitive to temperature and is
used during palpation to assess skin temperature.
Question 6. Which sound is heard over the stomach during percussion?
A. Resonance
B. Tympany
C. Dullness
D. Flatness
,Rationale: Tympany is a drum-like sound heard over air-filled structures such as
the stomach.
Question 7. What is the normal adult resting heart rate?
A. 40–60 bpm
B. 60–100 bpm
C. 100–120 bpm
D. 120–140 bpm
Rationale: The normal resting adult heart rate is 60–100 beats per minute.
Question 8. What is the normal adult respiratory rate?
A. 8–14 breaths/min
B. 12–20 breaths/min
C. 20–28 breaths/min
D. 28–36 breaths/min
Rationale: Normal adult respiratory rate is 12–20 breaths per minute.
Question 9. What is the normal adult oral temperature range?
A. 96.0°F–98.0°F
B. 96.8°F–100.4°F
C. 98.6°F–102.2°F
D. 95.0°F–99.0°F
Rationale: Normal oral temperature is approximately 96.8°F to 100.4°F.
Question 10. Which pulse site is most commonly used for routine vital signs?
A. Carotid
B. Brachial
C. Radial
D. Dorsalis pedis
, Rationale: The radial pulse is easily accessible and commonly used for routine
assessment.
Question 11. Which finding is abnormal during a skin assessment?
A. Warm, dry skin
B. Jaundice
C. Pink mucous membranes
D. Elastic skin turgor
Rationale: Jaundice (yellowing) indicates liver dysfunction or hemolysis and is an
abnormal finding.
Question 12. What does PERRLA stand for?
A. Pupils Equal, Reactive, Regular, Light and Accommodation
B. Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation
C. Pupils Enlarged, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation
D. Pupils Equal, Round, Regular, Light and Accommodation
Rationale: PERRLA assesses pupil equality, shape (round), reactivity to light, and
accommodation.
Question 13. Which heart sound is heard at the beginning of systole?
A. S2
B. S1
C. S3
D. S4
Rationale: S1 is the first heart sound, caused by closure of the mitral and tricuspid
valves at the onset of systole.
Question 14. Which heart sound is heard at the beginning of diastole?
A. S1
B. S2
