NUR 352 EXAM 3 | COMPREHENSIVE NURSING STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
The nurse prepares to conduct a general survey on an adult patient. Which assessment is performed first
while the nurse initiates the nurse-patient relationship?
1. Appearance and behavior
2. Measurement of vital signs
3. Observing specific body systems
4. Conducting a detailed health history - ANS ✔✔Appearance and behavior
The nurse is performing an abdominal assessment on a patient. In what order does the nurse perform
the steps? - ANS ✔✔Inspect
Auscultate
Palpate
Percuss
While auscultating the adult patient's lungs, the nurse hears loud, bubbly sounds during inspiration that
did not disappear after the patient coughed. Which finding should the nurse document from the lung
assessment?
1. Rhonchi
2. Coarse crackles
3. Sibilant wheeze
4. Pleural friction rub - ANS ✔✔Coarse crackles
Which number corresponds to the area of the chest where you would auscultate for the tricuspid valve?
- ANS ✔✔4
The nurse is assessing a patient who returned 1 hour ago from surgery for an abdominal hysterectomy.
Which assessment finding would require immediate follow-up?
1. Auscultation of an apical heart rate of 76
2. Absence of bowel sounds on abdominal assessment
3. Respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min
4. Palpation of dorsalis pedis pulses with strength of +2 - ANS ✔✔3. respiratory rate of 8 breaths per
minute
The nurse is teaching a patient to prevent heart disease. Which information should the nurse include?
(Select all that apply.)
1. Limit intake of cholesterol to less than 400 mg/day.
2. Talk with your health care provider about taking a daily low dose of aspirin.
3. Work with your health care provider to develop a regular exercise program.
4. Limit daily intake of fats to less than 25% to 35% of total calories.
5. Review strategies to encourage the patient to quit smoking. - ANS ✔✔2,3,4,5
cholesterol < 310
The nurse is observing the student nurse perform a respiratory assessment on a patient. Which action by
the student nurse requires the nurse to intervene?
, 1. The student stands at a midline position behind the patient observing for position of the spine and
scapula.
2. The student palpates the thoracic muscles for masses, pulsations, or abnormal movements.
3. The student places the bell of the stethoscope on the anterior chest wall to auscultate breath sounds.
4. The student places the palm of the hand over the intercostal spaces and asks the patient to say
"ninety-nine." - ANS ✔✔3. The student places the bell of the stethoscope on the anterior chest wall to
auscultate breath sounds.
A patient has undergone surgery for a femoral artery bypass. The surgeon's orders include assessment of
dorsalis pedis pulses. The nurse will use which of the following techniques to assess the pulses? (Select
all that apply.)
1. Place the fingers behind and below the medial malleolus.
2. Have the patient slightly flex the knee with the foot resting on the bed.
3. Have the patient relax the foot while lying supine.
4. Palpate the groove lateral to the flexor tendon of the wrist.
5. Palpate along the top of the foot in a line with the groove between extensor tendons of great and first
toes. - ANS ✔✔3. Have the patient relax the foot while lying supine.
5. Palpate along the top of the foot in a line with the groove between extensor tendons of great and first
toes.
Where do you hear the S1 and S2 sounds? - ANS ✔✔S1- high pitched, dull, at apex of heart
S2 - aortic area
Intercostal spaces and their names. - ANS ✔✔Aortic
Pulmonic
Erbs/second Pulmonic area
Tricuspid
Mitral/apex
Rating scale for pulses. - ANS ✔✔0: Absent, not palpable
1: Pulse diminished, barely palpable
2: Expected
3: Full, increased
4: Bounding, aneurysmal
Posterior tibial pulse - ANS ✔✔
Dorsalis pedis pulse - ANS ✔✔
Femoral pulse - ANS ✔✔
Politeal pulse - ANS ✔✔
Crackles - ANS ✔✔Heard in right and left lung bases. Random, sudden inflation of alveoli, disruptive
passage of air through small airways.
Fine crackles - ANS ✔✔High-pitched fine, short, interrupted crackling sounds heard during end of
inspiration; usually not cleared with coughing.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 2026/2027
The nurse prepares to conduct a general survey on an adult patient. Which assessment is performed first
while the nurse initiates the nurse-patient relationship?
1. Appearance and behavior
2. Measurement of vital signs
3. Observing specific body systems
4. Conducting a detailed health history - ANS ✔✔Appearance and behavior
The nurse is performing an abdominal assessment on a patient. In what order does the nurse perform
the steps? - ANS ✔✔Inspect
Auscultate
Palpate
Percuss
While auscultating the adult patient's lungs, the nurse hears loud, bubbly sounds during inspiration that
did not disappear after the patient coughed. Which finding should the nurse document from the lung
assessment?
1. Rhonchi
2. Coarse crackles
3. Sibilant wheeze
4. Pleural friction rub - ANS ✔✔Coarse crackles
Which number corresponds to the area of the chest where you would auscultate for the tricuspid valve?
- ANS ✔✔4
The nurse is assessing a patient who returned 1 hour ago from surgery for an abdominal hysterectomy.
Which assessment finding would require immediate follow-up?
1. Auscultation of an apical heart rate of 76
2. Absence of bowel sounds on abdominal assessment
3. Respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min
4. Palpation of dorsalis pedis pulses with strength of +2 - ANS ✔✔3. respiratory rate of 8 breaths per
minute
The nurse is teaching a patient to prevent heart disease. Which information should the nurse include?
(Select all that apply.)
1. Limit intake of cholesterol to less than 400 mg/day.
2. Talk with your health care provider about taking a daily low dose of aspirin.
3. Work with your health care provider to develop a regular exercise program.
4. Limit daily intake of fats to less than 25% to 35% of total calories.
5. Review strategies to encourage the patient to quit smoking. - ANS ✔✔2,3,4,5
cholesterol < 310
The nurse is observing the student nurse perform a respiratory assessment on a patient. Which action by
the student nurse requires the nurse to intervene?
, 1. The student stands at a midline position behind the patient observing for position of the spine and
scapula.
2. The student palpates the thoracic muscles for masses, pulsations, or abnormal movements.
3. The student places the bell of the stethoscope on the anterior chest wall to auscultate breath sounds.
4. The student places the palm of the hand over the intercostal spaces and asks the patient to say
"ninety-nine." - ANS ✔✔3. The student places the bell of the stethoscope on the anterior chest wall to
auscultate breath sounds.
A patient has undergone surgery for a femoral artery bypass. The surgeon's orders include assessment of
dorsalis pedis pulses. The nurse will use which of the following techniques to assess the pulses? (Select
all that apply.)
1. Place the fingers behind and below the medial malleolus.
2. Have the patient slightly flex the knee with the foot resting on the bed.
3. Have the patient relax the foot while lying supine.
4. Palpate the groove lateral to the flexor tendon of the wrist.
5. Palpate along the top of the foot in a line with the groove between extensor tendons of great and first
toes. - ANS ✔✔3. Have the patient relax the foot while lying supine.
5. Palpate along the top of the foot in a line with the groove between extensor tendons of great and first
toes.
Where do you hear the S1 and S2 sounds? - ANS ✔✔S1- high pitched, dull, at apex of heart
S2 - aortic area
Intercostal spaces and their names. - ANS ✔✔Aortic
Pulmonic
Erbs/second Pulmonic area
Tricuspid
Mitral/apex
Rating scale for pulses. - ANS ✔✔0: Absent, not palpable
1: Pulse diminished, barely palpable
2: Expected
3: Full, increased
4: Bounding, aneurysmal
Posterior tibial pulse - ANS ✔✔
Dorsalis pedis pulse - ANS ✔✔
Femoral pulse - ANS ✔✔
Politeal pulse - ANS ✔✔
Crackles - ANS ✔✔Heard in right and left lung bases. Random, sudden inflation of alveoli, disruptive
passage of air through small airways.
Fine crackles - ANS ✔✔High-pitched fine, short, interrupted crackling sounds heard during end of
inspiration; usually not cleared with coughing.
