NR 509 EXAM PREP LATEST
Advanced Physical
Assessment
ANSWERED
2023/2024
, 1. What are the four main components of a physical assessment? Explain the purpose and
procedure of each component.
- The four main components are inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation. Inspection
involves visually examining the patient's body, posture, movements, skin, hair and nails. Palpation
involves using the hands to feel the patient's skin, organs, pulses and lymph nodes. Percussion
involves tapping the patient's body with the fingers or a small hammer to elicit sounds that
indicate the density and location of underlying structures. Auscultation involves listening to the
patient's heart, lungs, abdomen and blood vessels with a stethoscope.
2. What are some common physical assessment techniques for assessing the respiratory system?
What are some abnormal findings that indicate respiratory problems?
- Some common techniques are inspecting the chest for shape, symmetry, movement and skin
color; palpating the chest for tenderness, masses, crepitus and chest expansion; percussing the
chest for resonance, dullness or hyperresonance; and auscultating the breath sounds for normal
or adventitious sounds such as crackles, wheezes or stridor. Some abnormal findings that indicate
respiratory problems are cyanosis, clubbing, dyspnea, tachypnea, asymmetrical chest expansion,
decreased or absent breath sounds, increased tactile fremitus, egophony or bronchophony.
3. What are some common physical assessment techniques for assessing the cardiovascular
system? What are some abnormal findings that indicate cardiovascular problems?
- Some common techniques are inspecting the neck for jugular venous distension and carotid
pulsations; palpating the carotid pulse for rate, rhythm and amplitude; auscultating the heart
sounds for normal or abnormal sounds such as murmurs, gallops or rubs; inspecting the
extremities for edema, color and temperature; palpating the peripheral pulses for rate, rhythm,
amplitude and symmetry; and measuring the blood pressure and pulse pressure. Some abnormal
findings that indicate cardiovascular problems are elevated jugular venous pressure, weak or
absent carotid or peripheral pulses, irregular or abnormal heart sounds, peripheral edema,
Advanced Physical
Assessment
ANSWERED
2023/2024
, 1. What are the four main components of a physical assessment? Explain the purpose and
procedure of each component.
- The four main components are inspection, palpation, percussion and auscultation. Inspection
involves visually examining the patient's body, posture, movements, skin, hair and nails. Palpation
involves using the hands to feel the patient's skin, organs, pulses and lymph nodes. Percussion
involves tapping the patient's body with the fingers or a small hammer to elicit sounds that
indicate the density and location of underlying structures. Auscultation involves listening to the
patient's heart, lungs, abdomen and blood vessels with a stethoscope.
2. What are some common physical assessment techniques for assessing the respiratory system?
What are some abnormal findings that indicate respiratory problems?
- Some common techniques are inspecting the chest for shape, symmetry, movement and skin
color; palpating the chest for tenderness, masses, crepitus and chest expansion; percussing the
chest for resonance, dullness or hyperresonance; and auscultating the breath sounds for normal
or adventitious sounds such as crackles, wheezes or stridor. Some abnormal findings that indicate
respiratory problems are cyanosis, clubbing, dyspnea, tachypnea, asymmetrical chest expansion,
decreased or absent breath sounds, increased tactile fremitus, egophony or bronchophony.
3. What are some common physical assessment techniques for assessing the cardiovascular
system? What are some abnormal findings that indicate cardiovascular problems?
- Some common techniques are inspecting the neck for jugular venous distension and carotid
pulsations; palpating the carotid pulse for rate, rhythm and amplitude; auscultating the heart
sounds for normal or abnormal sounds such as murmurs, gallops or rubs; inspecting the
extremities for edema, color and temperature; palpating the peripheral pulses for rate, rhythm,
amplitude and symmetry; and measuring the blood pressure and pulse pressure. Some abnormal
findings that indicate cardiovascular problems are elevated jugular venous pressure, weak or
absent carotid or peripheral pulses, irregular or abnormal heart sounds, peripheral edema,
