NR 509 WEEK 2 QUIZLET CURRENTLY TESTING
WITH DETAILED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+| CHAMBERLAIN
UNIVERSITY
1. When initiating a physical examination on an adult patient,
which assessment technique must the nurse perform first
before any physical contact occurs?
A. Palpation
B. Inspection
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Answer: B
Rationale: Inspection is always the first technique performed in a
physical assessment. It begins the moment the examiner meets
the patient and yields a substantial amount of clinical data before
palpation, percussion, or auscultation occurs.
, 2. A nurse is preparing to evaluate a patient's skin temperature
during an office visit. Which part of the hand and technique
should be used to best detect subtle thermal changes?
A. Fingertips, due to high nerve density
B. Palmar surface of the hand, due to increased vascularity
C. Dorsal surface of the hand, because the skin is thinner than on
the palms
D. Ulnar surface of the hand, because increased blood supply
enhances sensitivity
Answer: C
Rationale: The dorsal surface (back) of the hand is best for
evaluating temperature because the skin is thinner there than on
the palmar surface, making it more sensitive to subtle thermal
variations.
3. The nurse is conducting an abdominal assessment on a
patient who reports mild right lower quadrant tenderness.
How should the nurse structure the abdominal palpation?
A. Avoid palpating the right lower quadrant entirely to prevent pain
B. Begin with deep palpation to assess underlying structural
organs
,C. Quickly perform deep palpation on the tender area to minimize
discomfort duration
D. Begin with light palpation across non-tender areas to assess
surface characteristics and build patient trust
Answer: D
Rationale: Abdominal palpation should always start with light
palpation to detect surface characteristics, muscular resistance,
and accustom the patient to touch. Tender areas are always
assessed last.
4. During a physical examination, the nurse utilizes bimanual
palpation. In which clinical scenario is this specific technique
indicated?
A. Measuring radial pulse volume
B. Assessing skin turgor over the clavicle
C. Enveloping or capturing organs such as the kidneys or uterus
D. Detecting low-frequency vibrations or thrills across the
precordium
Answer: C
, Rationale: Bimanual palpation requires the use of both hands to
capture or envelop certain body structures or deep organs, such
as the kidneys, uterus, or adnexa, for precise size and location
evaluation.
5. A nurse is performing percussion over the right upper
quadrant of a patient's abdomen directly over the liver.
Which sound should the nurse expect to elicit?
A. Tympany
B. Resonant
C. Flatness
D. Dullness
Answer: D
Rationale: Percussion over dense organs such as the liver or
spleen produces a dull sound. Dullness reflects high-density
tissue under the percussed surface.
6. The nurse is percussing the abdomen of an obese patient
and cannot discern a clear change in percussion tones
between quadrants. What technical adjustment should the
nurse make?
WITH DETAILED QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+| CHAMBERLAIN
UNIVERSITY
1. When initiating a physical examination on an adult patient,
which assessment technique must the nurse perform first
before any physical contact occurs?
A. Palpation
B. Inspection
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Answer: B
Rationale: Inspection is always the first technique performed in a
physical assessment. It begins the moment the examiner meets
the patient and yields a substantial amount of clinical data before
palpation, percussion, or auscultation occurs.
, 2. A nurse is preparing to evaluate a patient's skin temperature
during an office visit. Which part of the hand and technique
should be used to best detect subtle thermal changes?
A. Fingertips, due to high nerve density
B. Palmar surface of the hand, due to increased vascularity
C. Dorsal surface of the hand, because the skin is thinner than on
the palms
D. Ulnar surface of the hand, because increased blood supply
enhances sensitivity
Answer: C
Rationale: The dorsal surface (back) of the hand is best for
evaluating temperature because the skin is thinner there than on
the palmar surface, making it more sensitive to subtle thermal
variations.
3. The nurse is conducting an abdominal assessment on a
patient who reports mild right lower quadrant tenderness.
How should the nurse structure the abdominal palpation?
A. Avoid palpating the right lower quadrant entirely to prevent pain
B. Begin with deep palpation to assess underlying structural
organs
,C. Quickly perform deep palpation on the tender area to minimize
discomfort duration
D. Begin with light palpation across non-tender areas to assess
surface characteristics and build patient trust
Answer: D
Rationale: Abdominal palpation should always start with light
palpation to detect surface characteristics, muscular resistance,
and accustom the patient to touch. Tender areas are always
assessed last.
4. During a physical examination, the nurse utilizes bimanual
palpation. In which clinical scenario is this specific technique
indicated?
A. Measuring radial pulse volume
B. Assessing skin turgor over the clavicle
C. Enveloping or capturing organs such as the kidneys or uterus
D. Detecting low-frequency vibrations or thrills across the
precordium
Answer: C
, Rationale: Bimanual palpation requires the use of both hands to
capture or envelop certain body structures or deep organs, such
as the kidneys, uterus, or adnexa, for precise size and location
evaluation.
5. A nurse is performing percussion over the right upper
quadrant of a patient's abdomen directly over the liver.
Which sound should the nurse expect to elicit?
A. Tympany
B. Resonant
C. Flatness
D. Dullness
Answer: D
Rationale: Percussion over dense organs such as the liver or
spleen produces a dull sound. Dullness reflects high-density
tissue under the percussed surface.
6. The nurse is percussing the abdomen of an obese patient
and cannot discern a clear change in percussion tones
between quadrants. What technical adjustment should the
nurse make?
