NSG 3160 ADVANCED HEALTH
ASSESSMENT MIDTERM EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AND
EXPLANATIONS
1. During a comprehensive health assessment, a patient reports ‘sharp, stabbing chest pain
that worsens with deep inspiration.’ How should the nurse categorize this information?
A. Objective data
B. Functional data
C. Subjective data
D. Diagnostic data
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Subjective data consists of information provided by the patient,
including their sensations, feelings, and descriptions of symptoms like pain.
2. When performing a physical examination, which technique should the nurse prioritize first
for the assessment of the abdomen?
A. Deep palpation
,B. Inspection
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: For all systems, inspection is the first step. Specifically for the
abdomen, the order is inspection, auscultation, percussion, then palpation to avoid altering
bowel sounds.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient for possible carotid artery stenosis. Which finding would be
most indicative of this condition?
A. A palpable thrill over the carotid bulb
B. A blowing, swishing sound heard with the bell of the stethoscope
C. A bounding pulse rate of 4+
D. Bilateral jugular venous distention
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A bruit is a blowing, swishing sound indicating turbulent blood
flow, which is often found in cases of carotid artery stenosis.
4. During a respiratory assessment, the nurse notes increased tactile fremitus over the right
lower lobe. This finding is most consistent with which condition?
A. Pneumothorax
, B. Pneumonia with consolidation
C. Pleural effusion
D. Emphysema
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Tactile fremitus increases with the consolidation of lung tissue,
as seen in pneumonia, because sound travels better through solid/liquid media than air.
5. The nurse performs the Rinne test and finds that the patient hears the sound longer
through bone conduction than through air conduction (BC > AC). What does this result
indicate?
A. Sensorineural hearing loss
B. Conductive hearing loss
C. Normal hearing function
D. Presbycusis
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: In a normal ear, air conduction is longer than bone conduction
(AC > BC). If BC > AC, it indicates conductive hearing loss.
ASSESSMENT MIDTERM EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AND
EXPLANATIONS
1. During a comprehensive health assessment, a patient reports ‘sharp, stabbing chest pain
that worsens with deep inspiration.’ How should the nurse categorize this information?
A. Objective data
B. Functional data
C. Subjective data
D. Diagnostic data
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Subjective data consists of information provided by the patient,
including their sensations, feelings, and descriptions of symptoms like pain.
2. When performing a physical examination, which technique should the nurse prioritize first
for the assessment of the abdomen?
A. Deep palpation
,B. Inspection
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: For all systems, inspection is the first step. Specifically for the
abdomen, the order is inspection, auscultation, percussion, then palpation to avoid altering
bowel sounds.
3. A nurse is assessing a patient for possible carotid artery stenosis. Which finding would be
most indicative of this condition?
A. A palpable thrill over the carotid bulb
B. A blowing, swishing sound heard with the bell of the stethoscope
C. A bounding pulse rate of 4+
D. Bilateral jugular venous distention
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: A bruit is a blowing, swishing sound indicating turbulent blood
flow, which is often found in cases of carotid artery stenosis.
4. During a respiratory assessment, the nurse notes increased tactile fremitus over the right
lower lobe. This finding is most consistent with which condition?
A. Pneumothorax
, B. Pneumonia with consolidation
C. Pleural effusion
D. Emphysema
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Tactile fremitus increases with the consolidation of lung tissue,
as seen in pneumonia, because sound travels better through solid/liquid media than air.
5. The nurse performs the Rinne test and finds that the patient hears the sound longer
through bone conduction than through air conduction (BC > AC). What does this result
indicate?
A. Sensorineural hearing loss
B. Conductive hearing loss
C. Normal hearing function
D. Presbycusis
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: In a normal ear, air conduction is longer than bone conduction
(AC > BC). If BC > AC, it indicates conductive hearing loss.
