NSG 3160 HEALTH ASSESSMENT FINAL
EXAM V3 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. When assessing a patient for a suspected carotid bruit, which part of the stethoscope
should the nurse use, and what should the patient be instructed to do?
A. The diaphragm; take a deep breath and hold it
B. The bell; take a deep breath and hold it
C. The bell; exhale and hold the breath
D. The diaphragm; breathe normally
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: A carotid bruit is a low-pitched blowing sound best heard with
the bell. Having the patient exhale and hold their breath prevents tracheal breath sounds
from obscuring the vascular sound.
2. During an abdominal assessment, a nurse notes a positive Blumberg sign. What is the
clinical significance of this finding?
A. It indicates inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis)
B. It identifies an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)
C. It suggests peritoneal irritation or appendicitis
,D. It indicates the presence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Blumberg sign, or rebound tenderness, is a reliable sign of
peritoneal inflammation, often associated with appendicitis.
3. A patient presents with a ‘stiff neck’ and a positive Brudzinski sign. The nurse should
prioritize assessment for which condition?
A. Cervical radiculopathy
B. Meningeal irritation
C. Tension headache
D. Torticollis
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A positive Brudzinski sign (flexion of the hips and knees when
the neck is flexed) is a classic indicator of meningeal irritation, such as meningitis.
4. When performing the Rinne test, a patient reports that they can hear the sound longer by
bone conduction than by air conduction (BC > AC). How should the nurse document this?
A. Normal hearing (positive Rinne)
B. Conductive hearing loss
C. Sensorineural hearing loss
D. Presbycusis
, Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: In conductive hearing loss, bone conduction is heard longer than
or equal to air conduction. In normal hearing, air conduction is twice as long as bone
conduction.
5. In a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the nurse expects to find
which percussion note over the lung fields?
A. Resonance
B. Tympany
C. Dullness
D. Hyperresonance
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Hyperresonance is a lower-pitched, booming sound found when
too much air is present, such as in emphysema or COPD.
6. Which heart sound is considered a ‘ventricular gallop’ and is frequently associated with
heart failure in older adults?
A. S1
B. S3
C. S2
D. S4
EXAM V3 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. When assessing a patient for a suspected carotid bruit, which part of the stethoscope
should the nurse use, and what should the patient be instructed to do?
A. The diaphragm; take a deep breath and hold it
B. The bell; take a deep breath and hold it
C. The bell; exhale and hold the breath
D. The diaphragm; breathe normally
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: A carotid bruit is a low-pitched blowing sound best heard with
the bell. Having the patient exhale and hold their breath prevents tracheal breath sounds
from obscuring the vascular sound.
2. During an abdominal assessment, a nurse notes a positive Blumberg sign. What is the
clinical significance of this finding?
A. It indicates inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis)
B. It identifies an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly)
C. It suggests peritoneal irritation or appendicitis
,D. It indicates the presence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Blumberg sign, or rebound tenderness, is a reliable sign of
peritoneal inflammation, often associated with appendicitis.
3. A patient presents with a ‘stiff neck’ and a positive Brudzinski sign. The nurse should
prioritize assessment for which condition?
A. Cervical radiculopathy
B. Meningeal irritation
C. Tension headache
D. Torticollis
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A positive Brudzinski sign (flexion of the hips and knees when
the neck is flexed) is a classic indicator of meningeal irritation, such as meningitis.
4. When performing the Rinne test, a patient reports that they can hear the sound longer by
bone conduction than by air conduction (BC > AC). How should the nurse document this?
A. Normal hearing (positive Rinne)
B. Conductive hearing loss
C. Sensorineural hearing loss
D. Presbycusis
, Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: In conductive hearing loss, bone conduction is heard longer than
or equal to air conduction. In normal hearing, air conduction is twice as long as bone
conduction.
5. In a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the nurse expects to find
which percussion note over the lung fields?
A. Resonance
B. Tympany
C. Dullness
D. Hyperresonance
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Hyperresonance is a lower-pitched, booming sound found when
too much air is present, such as in emphysema or COPD.
6. Which heart sound is considered a ‘ventricular gallop’ and is frequently associated with
heart failure in older adults?
A. S1
B. S3
C. S2
D. S4
