NURS 190 EXAM / ACTUAL NURS 190 PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT (PA)
MIDTERM EXAM 2026/2027 COMPLETE 100 APPROVED QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
1. A nurse begins a comprehensive physical assessment on an adult client who
is alert, oriented, and able to communicate clearly. Before beginning the
examination, which action is most appropriate to establish an accurate
baseline and promote client participation?
A. Begin palpation immediately because it produces objective findings
B. Explain the assessment, verify the client's identity, provide privacy, and
obtain appropriate consent
C. Ask the client to remove all clothing before explaining the examination
D. Perform the most painful portion first so the remainder will be easier
Answer: B
2. During a physical assessment, a nurse is preparing to inspect a client's
abdomen. Which sequence correctly identifies the usual techniques used
for abdominal assessment?
A. Palpation, percussion, inspection, auscultation
B. Percussion, auscultation, palpation, inspection
C. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Answer: C
3. A client reports that a headache began suddenly while exercising and
describes it as the most severe headache ever experienced. Which nursing
action is most appropriate?
A. Document the symptom as a routine tension headache
B. Encourage the client to rest and reassess the headache tomorrow
C. Ask the client to increase oral fluids and continue the examination
D. Recognize the sudden severe onset as a potentially serious finding
requiring prompt evaluation
Answer: D
pg. 1
, 4. When assessing pain, the nurse wants information that will help
characterize the client's symptom comprehensively. Which question best
assesses the quality of the pain?
A. "Can you describe what the pain feels like?"
B. "When did the pain begin?"
C. "Where do you feel the pain?"
D. "What makes the pain better?"
Answer: A
5. A nurse is assessing an adult client's respiratory system and observes that
the client's breathing is regular at 16 breaths/minute without visible
distress. Which documentation is most appropriate?
A. Respirations abnormal at 16/min
B. Respirations regular and unlabored at 16/min
C. Respirations labored despite normal rate
D. Respirations shallow and irregular at 16/min
Answer: B
6. During a health history, a client says, "I have been feeling tired lately."
Which response by the nurse is most appropriate for obtaining additional
subjective information?
A. "Your fatigue is probably caused by inadequate sleep."
B. "You should begin exercising more often."
C. "Tell me more about what you mean by feeling tired."
D. "Fatigue is common, so it is usually not concerning."
Answer: C
7. A nurse is assessing skin color in a client with darkly pigmented skin. Which
areas may provide useful information when evaluating for pallor or
cyanosis?
A. Palms, conjunctivae, oral mucosa, and nail beds
B. Hair shafts and elbows only
pg. 2
, C. Forehead and knees only
D. Posterior shoulders and upper back only
Answer: A
8. A nurse observes a client's posture while the client walks into the
examination room. Which component of the assessment is the nurse
primarily performing?
A. Palpation
B. Auscultation
C. Percussion
D. Inspection
Answer: D
9. A client reports chest discomfort. Which assessment question most directly
evaluates whether the pain is associated with exertion?
A. "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
B. "Does the pain occur when you walk or climb stairs?"
C. "Does the pain radiate to your back?"
D. "How long have you had this discomfort?"
Answer: B
10. During an assessment, the nurse notices that the client's speech is slurred
and that the client has new unilateral facial weakness. Which action should
the nurse take?
A. Complete the remaining assessment before reporting the findings
B. Ask the client to sleep and reassess later
C. Recognize the findings as potentially indicating an acute neurologic
emergency and obtain immediate assistance
D. Document the findings as expected age-related changes
Answer: C
11. A nurse is preparing to measure blood pressure in an adult client. Which
technique provides the most accurate reading?
pg. 3
, A. Place the cuff over the client's clothing and keep the arm dependent
B. Use a cuff that is appropriately sized and position the client's arm
supported at heart level
C. Ask the client to talk continuously during measurement
D. Position the cuff loosely around the forearm
Answer: B
12. A blood pressure cuff that is too small for the client's arm is used during
assessment. How can this error affect the measurement?
A. It may produce a falsely elevated blood pressure
B. It may produce a falsely decreased blood pressure
C. It has no effect on the measurement
D. It causes only the diastolic pressure to disappear
Answer: A
13. A nurse obtains an unexpectedly elevated blood pressure during a routine
assessment. Which action is most appropriate before concluding that the
client has persistent hypertension?
A. Immediately diagnose chronic hypertension
B. Repeat the measurement using correct technique after allowing the
client to rest
C. Discontinue all future blood pressure measurements
D. Ask the client to exercise before repeating the measurement
Answer: B
14. A nurse assesses an adult client's pulse and notes a rate of 112
beats/minute. Which term best describes this finding?
A. Bradycardia
B. Dysrhythmia
C. Tachycardia
D. Hypotension
Answer: C
pg. 4
MIDTERM EXAM 2026/2027 COMPLETE 100 APPROVED QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
1. A nurse begins a comprehensive physical assessment on an adult client who
is alert, oriented, and able to communicate clearly. Before beginning the
examination, which action is most appropriate to establish an accurate
baseline and promote client participation?
A. Begin palpation immediately because it produces objective findings
B. Explain the assessment, verify the client's identity, provide privacy, and
obtain appropriate consent
C. Ask the client to remove all clothing before explaining the examination
D. Perform the most painful portion first so the remainder will be easier
Answer: B
2. During a physical assessment, a nurse is preparing to inspect a client's
abdomen. Which sequence correctly identifies the usual techniques used
for abdominal assessment?
A. Palpation, percussion, inspection, auscultation
B. Percussion, auscultation, palpation, inspection
C. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Answer: C
3. A client reports that a headache began suddenly while exercising and
describes it as the most severe headache ever experienced. Which nursing
action is most appropriate?
A. Document the symptom as a routine tension headache
B. Encourage the client to rest and reassess the headache tomorrow
C. Ask the client to increase oral fluids and continue the examination
D. Recognize the sudden severe onset as a potentially serious finding
requiring prompt evaluation
Answer: D
pg. 1
, 4. When assessing pain, the nurse wants information that will help
characterize the client's symptom comprehensively. Which question best
assesses the quality of the pain?
A. "Can you describe what the pain feels like?"
B. "When did the pain begin?"
C. "Where do you feel the pain?"
D. "What makes the pain better?"
Answer: A
5. A nurse is assessing an adult client's respiratory system and observes that
the client's breathing is regular at 16 breaths/minute without visible
distress. Which documentation is most appropriate?
A. Respirations abnormal at 16/min
B. Respirations regular and unlabored at 16/min
C. Respirations labored despite normal rate
D. Respirations shallow and irregular at 16/min
Answer: B
6. During a health history, a client says, "I have been feeling tired lately."
Which response by the nurse is most appropriate for obtaining additional
subjective information?
A. "Your fatigue is probably caused by inadequate sleep."
B. "You should begin exercising more often."
C. "Tell me more about what you mean by feeling tired."
D. "Fatigue is common, so it is usually not concerning."
Answer: C
7. A nurse is assessing skin color in a client with darkly pigmented skin. Which
areas may provide useful information when evaluating for pallor or
cyanosis?
A. Palms, conjunctivae, oral mucosa, and nail beds
B. Hair shafts and elbows only
pg. 2
, C. Forehead and knees only
D. Posterior shoulders and upper back only
Answer: A
8. A nurse observes a client's posture while the client walks into the
examination room. Which component of the assessment is the nurse
primarily performing?
A. Palpation
B. Auscultation
C. Percussion
D. Inspection
Answer: D
9. A client reports chest discomfort. Which assessment question most directly
evaluates whether the pain is associated with exertion?
A. "Is the pain sharp or dull?"
B. "Does the pain occur when you walk or climb stairs?"
C. "Does the pain radiate to your back?"
D. "How long have you had this discomfort?"
Answer: B
10. During an assessment, the nurse notices that the client's speech is slurred
and that the client has new unilateral facial weakness. Which action should
the nurse take?
A. Complete the remaining assessment before reporting the findings
B. Ask the client to sleep and reassess later
C. Recognize the findings as potentially indicating an acute neurologic
emergency and obtain immediate assistance
D. Document the findings as expected age-related changes
Answer: C
11. A nurse is preparing to measure blood pressure in an adult client. Which
technique provides the most accurate reading?
pg. 3
, A. Place the cuff over the client's clothing and keep the arm dependent
B. Use a cuff that is appropriately sized and position the client's arm
supported at heart level
C. Ask the client to talk continuously during measurement
D. Position the cuff loosely around the forearm
Answer: B
12. A blood pressure cuff that is too small for the client's arm is used during
assessment. How can this error affect the measurement?
A. It may produce a falsely elevated blood pressure
B. It may produce a falsely decreased blood pressure
C. It has no effect on the measurement
D. It causes only the diastolic pressure to disappear
Answer: A
13. A nurse obtains an unexpectedly elevated blood pressure during a routine
assessment. Which action is most appropriate before concluding that the
client has persistent hypertension?
A. Immediately diagnose chronic hypertension
B. Repeat the measurement using correct technique after allowing the
client to rest
C. Discontinue all future blood pressure measurements
D. Ask the client to exercise before repeating the measurement
Answer: B
14. A nurse assesses an adult client's pulse and notes a rate of 112
beats/minute. Which term best describes this finding?
A. Bradycardia
B. Dysrhythmia
C. Tachycardia
D. Hypotension
Answer: C
pg. 4
