1
NSG 3160 EXAM 4 2026/2027 | HEALTH
ASSESSMENT | 40 VERIFIED Q&A | DETAILED
RATIONALES | NGN-ALIGNED | PASS
GUARANTEED – A+ GRADED
SECTION 1: ABDOMINAL ASSESSMENT – Questions 1-15
Q1: Abdominal Assessment Sequence
A nurse is preparing to perform an abdominal assessment. What is the correct sequence of
techniques?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D. Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The abdominal assessment sequence is inspection, auscultation, percussion, and
palpation. This modified order prevents palpation and percussion from altering bowel sounds before
auscultation. Auscultation is performed before palpation and percussion to ensure accurate
assessment of undisturbed bowel sounds .
Q2: Normoactive Bowel Sounds
A nurse is auscultating a patient's abdomen and notes bowel sounds that are high-pitched, gurgling,
and occur approximately 5 to 30 times per minute. How should this finding be documented?
A. Hypoactive bowel sounds
B. Normoactive bowel sounds
C. Hyperactive bowel sounds
D. Absent bowel sounds
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normoactive bowel sounds are characterized by high-pitched, gurgling, cascading sounds
occurring 5 to 30 times per minute. Hypoactive sounds are fewer than 5 per minute, hyperactive
sounds are greater than 30 per minute, and absent bowel sounds require listening for 5 minutes per
quadrant .
Q3: Visible Peristaltic Waves
, 2
During an abdominal inspection, the nurse observes visible, wavelike movements across the
patient's abdomen. This finding is most consistent with which condition?
A. Normal peristalsis
B. Intestinal obstruction
C. Ascites
D. Organomegaly
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Visible peristaltic waves suggest increased peristalsis attempting to overcome a blockage,
which is often seen in intestinal obstruction. These waves are not a normal finding in adults. Ascites
presents with a distended, taut abdomen, and organomegaly would not produce visible peristaltic
waves .
Q4: Absent Bowel Sounds Assessment
When assessing a patient for possible absent bowel sounds, how long should the nurse listen in each
quadrant before documenting absence?
A. 1 minute
B. 2 minutes
C. 3 minutes
D. 5 minutes
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: To confirm absent bowel sounds, the nurse must listen for a full 5 minutes in each
quadrant. Peristalsis is an intermittent function, and briefer listening periods may miss intermittent
sounds and result in an inaccurate assessment of a silent abdomen .
Q5: Tympany on Percussion
The nurse is preparing to percuss the abdomen and hears a loud, drum-like sound over most of the
area. How should the nurse document this finding?
A. Flatness
B. Dullness
C. Resonance
D. Tympany
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Tympany is the predominant sound heard over the abdomen due to the presence of air in
the stomach and intestines. Dullness is heard over solid organs such as the liver, resonance is heard
over normal lung tissue, and flatness is heard over bone or muscle .
Q6: Liver Location
Which organ is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen?
NSG 3160 EXAM 4 2026/2027 | HEALTH
ASSESSMENT | 40 VERIFIED Q&A | DETAILED
RATIONALES | NGN-ALIGNED | PASS
GUARANTEED – A+ GRADED
SECTION 1: ABDOMINAL ASSESSMENT – Questions 1-15
Q1: Abdominal Assessment Sequence
A nurse is preparing to perform an abdominal assessment. What is the correct sequence of
techniques?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
C. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
D. Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The abdominal assessment sequence is inspection, auscultation, percussion, and
palpation. This modified order prevents palpation and percussion from altering bowel sounds before
auscultation. Auscultation is performed before palpation and percussion to ensure accurate
assessment of undisturbed bowel sounds .
Q2: Normoactive Bowel Sounds
A nurse is auscultating a patient's abdomen and notes bowel sounds that are high-pitched, gurgling,
and occur approximately 5 to 30 times per minute. How should this finding be documented?
A. Hypoactive bowel sounds
B. Normoactive bowel sounds
C. Hyperactive bowel sounds
D. Absent bowel sounds
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Normoactive bowel sounds are characterized by high-pitched, gurgling, cascading sounds
occurring 5 to 30 times per minute. Hypoactive sounds are fewer than 5 per minute, hyperactive
sounds are greater than 30 per minute, and absent bowel sounds require listening for 5 minutes per
quadrant .
Q3: Visible Peristaltic Waves
, 2
During an abdominal inspection, the nurse observes visible, wavelike movements across the
patient's abdomen. This finding is most consistent with which condition?
A. Normal peristalsis
B. Intestinal obstruction
C. Ascites
D. Organomegaly
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Visible peristaltic waves suggest increased peristalsis attempting to overcome a blockage,
which is often seen in intestinal obstruction. These waves are not a normal finding in adults. Ascites
presents with a distended, taut abdomen, and organomegaly would not produce visible peristaltic
waves .
Q4: Absent Bowel Sounds Assessment
When assessing a patient for possible absent bowel sounds, how long should the nurse listen in each
quadrant before documenting absence?
A. 1 minute
B. 2 minutes
C. 3 minutes
D. 5 minutes
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: To confirm absent bowel sounds, the nurse must listen for a full 5 minutes in each
quadrant. Peristalsis is an intermittent function, and briefer listening periods may miss intermittent
sounds and result in an inaccurate assessment of a silent abdomen .
Q5: Tympany on Percussion
The nurse is preparing to percuss the abdomen and hears a loud, drum-like sound over most of the
area. How should the nurse document this finding?
A. Flatness
B. Dullness
C. Resonance
D. Tympany
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Tympany is the predominant sound heard over the abdomen due to the presence of air in
the stomach and intestines. Dullness is heard over solid organs such as the liver, resonance is heard
over normal lung tissue, and flatness is heard over bone or muscle .
Q6: Liver Location
Which organ is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen?
