NUR 2092 NURSING HEALTH
ASSESSMENT COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
100% VERIFIED BY EXPERTS. 2026/2027
1. A nurse is performing a physical assessment on a client with a history of heart failure.
Which finding during auscultation of the lungs most likely indicates pulmonary edema?
A. Low-pitched, snoring sounds primarily during expiration.
B. Fine to coarse crackles heard at the lung bases.
C. High-pitched, musical whistling sounds on inspiration.
D. Grating, scratching sound heard throughout the respiratory cycle.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Crackles (rales) are caused by fluid in the small airways,
common in pulmonary edema associated with heart failure. Rhonchi (A) suggest mucus,
wheezes (C) suggest narrowing, and a friction rub (D) suggests pleurisy.
2. When assessing the abdomen, in what order should the nurse perform the physical
examination techniques?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
,C. Inspection, Percussion, Palpation, Auscultation
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The correct sequence for abdominal assessment is Inspection,
Auscultation, Percussion, and then Palpation. Auscultation is performed second to prevent
bowel sounds from being altered by percussion or palpation.
3. A nurse is assessing a client’s peripheral pulses and notes that the pulse is ‘full and
bounding.’ How should this be documented on a 0 to 4+ scale?
A. 1+
B. 2+
C. 3+
D. 4+
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: On a standard 0 to 4+ scale: 0 is absent, 1+ is weak/thready, 2+
is normal, 3+ is full/increased, and 4+ is bounding. (Note: some scales use 0-3+, but in a 0-
4+ system, bounding is usually 3 or 4; 3+ is the standard ‘full’ descriptor).
4. The nurse is assessing a patient using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The patient opens
eyes to speech, uses inappropriate words, and withdraws from pain. What is the total score?
A. 10
, B. 9
C. 11
D. 12
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: GCS: Eyes opening to speech = 3; Verbal response
(inappropriate words) = 3; Motor response (withdraws from pain) = 4. Total = 10.
5. Which cranial nerve is the nurse assessing when asking the client to shrug their shoulders
against resistance?
A. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
B. CN X (Vagus)
C. CN XI (Spinal Accessory)
D. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory) innervates the trapezius and
sternocleidomastoid muscles; shrugging tests this nerve.
6. A nurse notes a ‘swishing’ sound while auscultating the carotid artery of an older adult.
This finding is known as a:
A. Thrill
B. Bruit
ASSESSMENT COMPREHENSIVE EXAM
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
100% VERIFIED BY EXPERTS. 2026/2027
1. A nurse is performing a physical assessment on a client with a history of heart failure.
Which finding during auscultation of the lungs most likely indicates pulmonary edema?
A. Low-pitched, snoring sounds primarily during expiration.
B. Fine to coarse crackles heard at the lung bases.
C. High-pitched, musical whistling sounds on inspiration.
D. Grating, scratching sound heard throughout the respiratory cycle.
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Crackles (rales) are caused by fluid in the small airways,
common in pulmonary edema associated with heart failure. Rhonchi (A) suggest mucus,
wheezes (C) suggest narrowing, and a friction rub (D) suggests pleurisy.
2. When assessing the abdomen, in what order should the nurse perform the physical
examination techniques?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
,C. Inspection, Percussion, Palpation, Auscultation
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The correct sequence for abdominal assessment is Inspection,
Auscultation, Percussion, and then Palpation. Auscultation is performed second to prevent
bowel sounds from being altered by percussion or palpation.
3. A nurse is assessing a client’s peripheral pulses and notes that the pulse is ‘full and
bounding.’ How should this be documented on a 0 to 4+ scale?
A. 1+
B. 2+
C. 3+
D. 4+
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: On a standard 0 to 4+ scale: 0 is absent, 1+ is weak/thready, 2+
is normal, 3+ is full/increased, and 4+ is bounding. (Note: some scales use 0-3+, but in a 0-
4+ system, bounding is usually 3 or 4; 3+ is the standard ‘full’ descriptor).
4. The nurse is assessing a patient using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The patient opens
eyes to speech, uses inappropriate words, and withdraws from pain. What is the total score?
A. 10
, B. 9
C. 11
D. 12
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: GCS: Eyes opening to speech = 3; Verbal response
(inappropriate words) = 3; Motor response (withdraws from pain) = 4. Total = 10.
5. Which cranial nerve is the nurse assessing when asking the client to shrug their shoulders
against resistance?
A. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
B. CN X (Vagus)
C. CN XI (Spinal Accessory)
D. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory) innervates the trapezius and
sternocleidomastoid muscles; shrugging tests this nerve.
6. A nurse notes a ‘swishing’ sound while auscultating the carotid artery of an older adult.
This finding is known as a:
A. Thrill
B. Bruit
