NR-302 Health Assessment Final Exam 3
Questions and Answers with Rationales
2025 Chamberlain University
1. Which technique is best for assessing tactile fremitus?
A. Percussion
B. Inspection
C. Palpation
D. Auscultation
Rationale: Tactile fremitus is assessed using the palms or ulnar edge of the hand
to palpate vibrations when the patient speaks. This assesses lung density.
2. When percussing over the lungs, what sound should you normally hear?
A. Dullness
B. Flatness
C. Resonance
D. Tympany
Rationale: Resonance is the expected sound over normal lung tissue, indicating
air-filled, healthy lung fields.
,3. The nurse notices clubbing of the fingernails. What is the most likely
underlying condition?
A. Dehydration
B. Chronic hypoxia
C. Iron-deficiency anemia
D. Liver disease
Rationale: Clubbing indicates long-term oxygen deprivation, often due to COPD,
cystic fibrosis, or congenital heart disease.
4. Which statement made by a patient during a health history is considered
subjective data?
A. "I have had a persistent cough for three weeks."
B. Temperature is 101.3°F
C. Skin appears pale
D. Lung sounds are diminished in the bases
Rationale: Subjective data is what the patient states (symptoms), while objective
data is what the nurse observes (signs).
5. Which part of the stethoscope is best for listening to high-pitched lung
sounds?
A. Bell
B. Diaphragm
, C. Tunable side
D. Flat edge
Rationale: The diaphragm is used for high-pitched sounds such as breath, bowel,
and normal heart sounds.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient with emphysema. Which finding is most likely?
A. Dull lung sounds
B. Hyperresonance on percussion
C. Increased fremitus
D. Bronchial breath sounds in peripheral lung fields
Rationale: Hyperresonance is heard in overinflated lungs, such as in emphysema,
due to trapped air.
7. Which assessment technique should be performed last when examining the
abdomen?
A. Inspection
B. Auscultation
C. Percussion
D. Palpation
Rationale: Palpation can stimulate bowel sounds, so it is done last to avoid
interfering with auscultation results.
Questions and Answers with Rationales
2025 Chamberlain University
1. Which technique is best for assessing tactile fremitus?
A. Percussion
B. Inspection
C. Palpation
D. Auscultation
Rationale: Tactile fremitus is assessed using the palms or ulnar edge of the hand
to palpate vibrations when the patient speaks. This assesses lung density.
2. When percussing over the lungs, what sound should you normally hear?
A. Dullness
B. Flatness
C. Resonance
D. Tympany
Rationale: Resonance is the expected sound over normal lung tissue, indicating
air-filled, healthy lung fields.
,3. The nurse notices clubbing of the fingernails. What is the most likely
underlying condition?
A. Dehydration
B. Chronic hypoxia
C. Iron-deficiency anemia
D. Liver disease
Rationale: Clubbing indicates long-term oxygen deprivation, often due to COPD,
cystic fibrosis, or congenital heart disease.
4. Which statement made by a patient during a health history is considered
subjective data?
A. "I have had a persistent cough for three weeks."
B. Temperature is 101.3°F
C. Skin appears pale
D. Lung sounds are diminished in the bases
Rationale: Subjective data is what the patient states (symptoms), while objective
data is what the nurse observes (signs).
5. Which part of the stethoscope is best for listening to high-pitched lung
sounds?
A. Bell
B. Diaphragm
, C. Tunable side
D. Flat edge
Rationale: The diaphragm is used for high-pitched sounds such as breath, bowel,
and normal heart sounds.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient with emphysema. Which finding is most likely?
A. Dull lung sounds
B. Hyperresonance on percussion
C. Increased fremitus
D. Bronchial breath sounds in peripheral lung fields
Rationale: Hyperresonance is heard in overinflated lungs, such as in emphysema,
due to trapped air.
7. Which assessment technique should be performed last when examining the
abdomen?
A. Inspection
B. Auscultation
C. Percussion
D. Palpation
Rationale: Palpation can stimulate bowel sounds, so it is done last to avoid
interfering with auscultation results.
