NUR 2092 / NUR2092 Health Assessment | Final Exam Review
2025/2026 – Questions and Verified Answers | Rasmussen College
Practice Questions
Question 1. Which technique should the nurse use first when performing a physical as-
sessment of the abdomen?
A. Palpation
B. Inspection
C. Auscultation
D. Percussion
Answer: B. Inspection
Rationale: Rasmussen College’s health assessment curriculum emphasizes
that inspection is the initial step in abdominal assessment to observe for
visible abnormalities such as distension, scars, or asymmetry. Auscultation
follows to assess bowel sounds before palpation or percussion, which may
alter findings.
Question 2. A patient reports chest pain during a cardiovascular assessment. What is
the nurse’s priority action?
A. Administer pain medication
B. Assess pain characteristics
C. Perform a 12-lead ECG
D. Auscultate heart sounds
Answer: B. Assess pain characteristics
Rationale: Per Rasmussen’s curriculum, assessing pain characteristics (e.g.,
onset, location, intensity) is the priority to determine the cause and urgency
of chest pain. Administering medication requires an order, and ECG or
auscultation are secondary actions.
Question 3. Which cranial nerve is assessed by asking the patient to shrug their shoulders
against resistance?
A. Vagus (X)
B. Accessory (XI)
C. Facial (VII)
D. Trigeminal (V)
Answer: B. Accessory (XI)
Rationale: Rasmussen’s neurological assessment standards specify that the
accessory nerve (XI) is tested by assessing shoulder shrug strength and
trapezius muscle function against resistance.
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, Question 4. Which finding during a respiratory assessment indicates a potential issue?
A. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute
B. Symmetrical chest expansion
C. Retractions during inspiration
D. Clear lung sounds bilaterally
Answer: C. Retractions during inspiration
Rationale: Rasmussen’s curriculum identifies intercostal retractions as a sign
of respiratory distress, indicating increased effort to breathe. Normal res-
piratory rate (12–20), symmetrical expansion, and clear lung sounds are
expected findings.
Question 5. What is the correct sequence for assessing vital signs during a general survey?
A. Blood pressure, pulse, respirations, temperature
B. Temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure
C. Pulse, respirations, temperature, blood pressure
D. Respirations, temperature, blood pressure, pulse
Answer: B. Temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure
Rationale: Rasmussen’s assessment protocol recommends this sequence to
minimize patient activity, which could affect respirations or blood pressure,
ensuring accurate measurements.
Question 6. A Glasgow Coma Scale score of 7 indicates what level of neurological im-
pairment?
A. None
B. Mild
C. Moderate
D. Severe
Answer: D. Severe
Rationale: Rasmussen’s curriculum classifies a Glasgow Coma Scale score
of 3–8 as severe neurological impairment, requiring immediate intervention
and monitoring.
Question 7. Where should the nurse place the stethoscope to auscultate the pulmonic
valve?
A. Second intercostal space, left sternal border
B. Fifth intercostal space, midclavicular line
C. Second intercostal space, right sternal border
D. Fourth intercostal space, left sternal border
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2025/2026 – Questions and Verified Answers | Rasmussen College
Practice Questions
Question 1. Which technique should the nurse use first when performing a physical as-
sessment of the abdomen?
A. Palpation
B. Inspection
C. Auscultation
D. Percussion
Answer: B. Inspection
Rationale: Rasmussen College’s health assessment curriculum emphasizes
that inspection is the initial step in abdominal assessment to observe for
visible abnormalities such as distension, scars, or asymmetry. Auscultation
follows to assess bowel sounds before palpation or percussion, which may
alter findings.
Question 2. A patient reports chest pain during a cardiovascular assessment. What is
the nurse’s priority action?
A. Administer pain medication
B. Assess pain characteristics
C. Perform a 12-lead ECG
D. Auscultate heart sounds
Answer: B. Assess pain characteristics
Rationale: Per Rasmussen’s curriculum, assessing pain characteristics (e.g.,
onset, location, intensity) is the priority to determine the cause and urgency
of chest pain. Administering medication requires an order, and ECG or
auscultation are secondary actions.
Question 3. Which cranial nerve is assessed by asking the patient to shrug their shoulders
against resistance?
A. Vagus (X)
B. Accessory (XI)
C. Facial (VII)
D. Trigeminal (V)
Answer: B. Accessory (XI)
Rationale: Rasmussen’s neurological assessment standards specify that the
accessory nerve (XI) is tested by assessing shoulder shrug strength and
trapezius muscle function against resistance.
1
, Question 4. Which finding during a respiratory assessment indicates a potential issue?
A. Respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute
B. Symmetrical chest expansion
C. Retractions during inspiration
D. Clear lung sounds bilaterally
Answer: C. Retractions during inspiration
Rationale: Rasmussen’s curriculum identifies intercostal retractions as a sign
of respiratory distress, indicating increased effort to breathe. Normal res-
piratory rate (12–20), symmetrical expansion, and clear lung sounds are
expected findings.
Question 5. What is the correct sequence for assessing vital signs during a general survey?
A. Blood pressure, pulse, respirations, temperature
B. Temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure
C. Pulse, respirations, temperature, blood pressure
D. Respirations, temperature, blood pressure, pulse
Answer: B. Temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure
Rationale: Rasmussen’s assessment protocol recommends this sequence to
minimize patient activity, which could affect respirations or blood pressure,
ensuring accurate measurements.
Question 6. A Glasgow Coma Scale score of 7 indicates what level of neurological im-
pairment?
A. None
B. Mild
C. Moderate
D. Severe
Answer: D. Severe
Rationale: Rasmussen’s curriculum classifies a Glasgow Coma Scale score
of 3–8 as severe neurological impairment, requiring immediate intervention
and monitoring.
Question 7. Where should the nurse place the stethoscope to auscultate the pulmonic
valve?
A. Second intercostal space, left sternal border
B. Fifth intercostal space, midclavicular line
C. Second intercostal space, right sternal border
D. Fourth intercostal space, left sternal border
2
