NSG 500 ADVANCED HEALTH
ASSESSMENT - EXAM 1 PREP
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. During an abdominal assessment, in which order should the nurse practitioner perform the
physical examination techniques?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
C. Inspection, Percussion, Auscultation, Palpation
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: For the abdomen, auscultation is performed before percussion
and palpation to avoid stimulating bowel sounds or altering the patient’s natural findings.
2. When assessing a patient’s lungs, the practitioner hears high-pitched, short, popping
sounds during inspiration that do not clear with coughing. These are documented as:
A. Coarse crackles
B. Fine crackles
,C. Wheezes
D. Rhonchi
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Fine crackles are high-pitched, short, popping sounds heard
during inspiration; coarse crackles are lower-pitched and bubbling.
3. Which cranial nerve is being tested when the practitioner asks the patient to clench their
teeth and palpates the temporal and masseter muscles?
A. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
B. CN VII (Facial)
C. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
D. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
D. CN V (Trigeminal)
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The motor component of the Trigeminal nerve (CN V) is tested
by assessing the muscles of mastication.
4. A 65-year-old patient presents with a ‘diamond-shaped’ space between the nail beds when
the dorsal surfaces of the terminal phalanges are pressed together. This indicates:
A. Early clubbing
B. Normal findings
, C. Koilonychia
D. Paronychia
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The presence of the Schamroth window (diamond space) is a
normal finding. The loss of this space indicates clubbing.
5. During the cardiac exam, the practitioner identifies a murmur that is moderately loud but
does not have a palpable thrill. How should this be graded?
A. Grade III/VI
B. Grade II/VI
C. Grade I/VI
D. Grade IV/VI
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Grade III murmurs are moderately loud but are not associated
with a thrill (which begins at Grade IV).
6. A patient complains of a ‘tearing’ pain in the upper back that radiates to the chest. The
practitioner should prioritize ruling out:
A. Myocardial infarction
B. Aortic dissection
C. Pneumothorax
ASSESSMENT - EXAM 1 PREP
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. During an abdominal assessment, in which order should the nurse practitioner perform the
physical examination techniques?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
C. Inspection, Percussion, Auscultation, Palpation
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: For the abdomen, auscultation is performed before percussion
and palpation to avoid stimulating bowel sounds or altering the patient’s natural findings.
2. When assessing a patient’s lungs, the practitioner hears high-pitched, short, popping
sounds during inspiration that do not clear with coughing. These are documented as:
A. Coarse crackles
B. Fine crackles
,C. Wheezes
D. Rhonchi
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Fine crackles are high-pitched, short, popping sounds heard
during inspiration; coarse crackles are lower-pitched and bubbling.
3. Which cranial nerve is being tested when the practitioner asks the patient to clench their
teeth and palpates the temporal and masseter muscles?
A. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
B. CN VII (Facial)
C. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
D. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
D. CN V (Trigeminal)
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: The motor component of the Trigeminal nerve (CN V) is tested
by assessing the muscles of mastication.
4. A 65-year-old patient presents with a ‘diamond-shaped’ space between the nail beds when
the dorsal surfaces of the terminal phalanges are pressed together. This indicates:
A. Early clubbing
B. Normal findings
, C. Koilonychia
D. Paronychia
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: The presence of the Schamroth window (diamond space) is a
normal finding. The loss of this space indicates clubbing.
5. During the cardiac exam, the practitioner identifies a murmur that is moderately loud but
does not have a palpable thrill. How should this be graded?
A. Grade III/VI
B. Grade II/VI
C. Grade I/VI
D. Grade IV/VI
Answer: A
Conceptual Explanation: Grade III murmurs are moderately loud but are not associated
with a thrill (which begins at Grade IV).
6. A patient complains of a ‘tearing’ pain in the upper back that radiates to the chest. The
practitioner should prioritize ruling out:
A. Myocardial infarction
B. Aortic dissection
C. Pneumothorax
