West Coast University NURS 100 Exam 2 Practice
Questions 2026–2027 | Health Assessment, Infection
Control & Nursing Interventions
1. A nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment on a newly
admitted patient. Which action should the nurse take first?
A) Palpate the abdomen deeply
B) Perform hand hygiene and introduce themselves to the patient
C) Auscultate the lungs before inspecting the chest
D) Administer prescribed medications
Answer: B
Rationale: Hand hygiene and introduction establish rapport and reduce
infection transmission. Assessment begins with general inspection and a
systematic approach, not deep palpation.
2. Which sequence is correct for performing a physical assessment of
the abdomen?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Auscultation, percussion, palpation, inspection
C) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D) Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
Answer: C
,Rationale: Auscultation is performed before percussion and palpation of
the abdomen to avoid altering bowel sounds.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient's level of consciousness. Which
finding is documented as "alert and oriented ×3"?
A) The patient is asleep but arouses to voice
B) The patient knows their name, location, and time
C) The patient responds only to painful stimuli
D) The patient is confused and disoriented
Answer: B
Rationale: Orientation ×3 means the patient is oriented to person, place,
and time.
4. During auscultation of the lungs, which finding is abnormal?
A) Vesicular breath sounds over peripheral lung fields
B) Bronchovesicular sounds over the major bronchi
C) Crackles at the lung bases that clear with coughing
D) Wheezing on expiration
Answer: D
Rationale: Wheezing is an abnormal adventitious sound indicating
narrowed airways.
2
,5. A nurse is assessing a patient's pulse. Which pulse should be
palpated first in an adult?
A) Pedal
B) Radial
C) Carotid
D) Apical
Answer: B
Rationale: The radial pulse is typically the initial pulse assessed in a stable
adult, though in emergencies the carotid is used.
6. A nurse is preparing to assess a patient's blood pressure. Which
action is appropriate?
A) Place the cuff over the patient's sleeve
B) Ensure the cuff is the correct size for the patient's arm
C) Have the patient cross their legs during measurement
D) Measure immediately after the patient walks into the room
Answer: B
Rationale: Correct cuff size is essential for accurate blood pressure
measurement; a cuff that is too small or too large yields inaccurate
readings.
3
, 7. A nurse is performing a head-to-toe assessment. Which action is
appropriate when inspecting the skin?
A) Note color, temperature, turgor, and integrity
B) Palpate deeply before inspecting
C) Ignore lesions unless the patient reports pain
D) Assess only exposed areas
Answer: A
Rationale: Skin assessment includes inspection of color, temperature,
moisture, turgor, and integrity, including pressure points.
8. A nurse is teaching a patient about preventing pressure injuries.
Which instruction is most appropriate?
A) Remain in one position for long periods
B) Reposition at least every 2 hours and inspect the skin
C) Avoid all physical activity
D) Keep the skin moist
Answer: B
Rationale: Repositioning at least every 2 hours and skin inspection reduce
pressure and shear, preventing pressure injuries.
9. Which finding is a sign of infection at a surgical incision site?
A) Pink, healing wound edges
4
Questions 2026–2027 | Health Assessment, Infection
Control & Nursing Interventions
1. A nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment on a newly
admitted patient. Which action should the nurse take first?
A) Palpate the abdomen deeply
B) Perform hand hygiene and introduce themselves to the patient
C) Auscultate the lungs before inspecting the chest
D) Administer prescribed medications
Answer: B
Rationale: Hand hygiene and introduction establish rapport and reduce
infection transmission. Assessment begins with general inspection and a
systematic approach, not deep palpation.
2. Which sequence is correct for performing a physical assessment of
the abdomen?
A) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B) Auscultation, percussion, palpation, inspection
C) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D) Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
Answer: C
,Rationale: Auscultation is performed before percussion and palpation of
the abdomen to avoid altering bowel sounds.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient's level of consciousness. Which
finding is documented as "alert and oriented ×3"?
A) The patient is asleep but arouses to voice
B) The patient knows their name, location, and time
C) The patient responds only to painful stimuli
D) The patient is confused and disoriented
Answer: B
Rationale: Orientation ×3 means the patient is oriented to person, place,
and time.
4. During auscultation of the lungs, which finding is abnormal?
A) Vesicular breath sounds over peripheral lung fields
B) Bronchovesicular sounds over the major bronchi
C) Crackles at the lung bases that clear with coughing
D) Wheezing on expiration
Answer: D
Rationale: Wheezing is an abnormal adventitious sound indicating
narrowed airways.
2
,5. A nurse is assessing a patient's pulse. Which pulse should be
palpated first in an adult?
A) Pedal
B) Radial
C) Carotid
D) Apical
Answer: B
Rationale: The radial pulse is typically the initial pulse assessed in a stable
adult, though in emergencies the carotid is used.
6. A nurse is preparing to assess a patient's blood pressure. Which
action is appropriate?
A) Place the cuff over the patient's sleeve
B) Ensure the cuff is the correct size for the patient's arm
C) Have the patient cross their legs during measurement
D) Measure immediately after the patient walks into the room
Answer: B
Rationale: Correct cuff size is essential for accurate blood pressure
measurement; a cuff that is too small or too large yields inaccurate
readings.
3
, 7. A nurse is performing a head-to-toe assessment. Which action is
appropriate when inspecting the skin?
A) Note color, temperature, turgor, and integrity
B) Palpate deeply before inspecting
C) Ignore lesions unless the patient reports pain
D) Assess only exposed areas
Answer: A
Rationale: Skin assessment includes inspection of color, temperature,
moisture, turgor, and integrity, including pressure points.
8. A nurse is teaching a patient about preventing pressure injuries.
Which instruction is most appropriate?
A) Remain in one position for long periods
B) Reposition at least every 2 hours and inspect the skin
C) Avoid all physical activity
D) Keep the skin moist
Answer: B
Rationale: Repositioning at least every 2 hours and skin inspection reduce
pressure and shear, preventing pressure injuries.
9. Which finding is a sign of infection at a surgical incision site?
A) Pink, healing wound edges
4
