NURS 612 EXAM 3 AHA (MVU) |2025-2026 LATEST UPDATED| REAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 100% RATED CORRECT | 100% VERFIED |
ALREADY GRADED A+
1. What are examples of appropriate history of present illness (HPI) questions you may ask a patient with a
chief complaint of an abdominal issue?: · Onset and duration: when it began; sudden or gradual; persistent, recurrent,
intermittent · Character: dull, sharp, burning, gnawing, stabbing, cramping, aching, colicky · Location: of onset, change in
location over time, radiating to another area, superficial or deep
· Associated symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, passage of flatus, belching, jaundice, change in abdominal girth,
weight loss or weight gain
· Relationship to: menstrual cycle, abnormal menses, intercourse, urination, defecation, inspiration, change in body
position, food or alcohol intake, stress, time of day, trauma
· Recent stool characteristics: color, consistency, odor, frequency
· Urinary characteristics: frequency, color, volume congruent with fluid intake, force of stream, ease of starting stream,
ability to empty bladder
· Medications: high doses of aspirin, steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
2. Describe how you would inspect the abdomen.: Proper steps to examine abdomen: inspection, auscultation
percussion, and palpation
Using tangential lighting, inspect the abdomen for 4 surface characteristics
1. Observe the skin color. It may vary greatly but should have no jaundice, cyanosis, redness, bruises, or discoloration
2. Check for nodules and other lesions, which should not be present
3. Note any scars and draw their location, configuration, and relative size on an illustration of the abdomen
,4. Assess the venous return. Above the umbilicus, venous return should be toward the head. Below the umbilicus, it should
be toward the feet
Inspect the abdominal contour and symmetry
· The contour is the abdominal profile from the rib margin to the pubis. It normally may be flat, rounded, or scaphoid.
The umbilicus should be centrally located and may be inverted or may protrude slightly.
· Contralateral areas of the abdomen should be symmetrical in appearance and contour and should have no distention of
bulges
· To elicit hidden masses or bulges, have the patient take a deep breath and hold it. The abdomen should remain smooth
and symmetrical. Next, have the supine patient raise their head from the table as you inspect the abdomen. Note any masses,
hernia, or muscle separation.
With the patient's head at rest, observe for 3 types of abdominal movement
1. Inspect for smooth, even movement with respiration
2. Assess for surface motion from peristalsis. In a thin patient, it normally may be visible. Otherwise, it may signal an
intestinal obstruction
3. Note any aortic pulsation in the upper midline. Although pulsation may be visible in a thin patient, marked pulsation
suggest a disorder.
3. Abnromal findings on abdominal assessment:: · Jaundice or cyanosis
· Ascites: a glistening, taut appearance
· Redness may indicate inflammation
· Cullen sign: bluish periumbilical discoloration that may indicate intraabdominal bleeding
· Striae: result of weight gain or pregnancy
· GI diseases often produce skin changes: inspect for lesions or nodules
· Sister Mary Josephs' nodule: a pearl-like, enlarged and sometimes painful umbilicus nodule can indicate abdominal
malignancy
,· Distension from umbilicus to pubic area may indicate ovarian tumor, pregnancy, uterine fibroids, or distended bladder
· Distension of upper half above umbilicus may indicate tumor pancreatic cyst, or gastric dilation
· Asymmetric distension or protrusion may indicate hernia, tumor, cysts
· Incisional hernia: caused by defect in abdomen musculature that develops after surgical incision
· Umbilical hernia: protrusion of naval
· Rippling movement across abdomen may indicate intestinal obstruction
Abdomen aortic pulsation may indicate aneurysm
4. Why do you auscultate the abdomen before you percuss or palpate?: Auscultate before you percuss or palpate
because these techniques can alter bowel sounds. Listen for bowel sounds and note their frequency and character.
5. Describe how and where you auscultate the abdomen.: Using the diaphragm of a warmed stethoscope, listen for
bowel sounds and note their frequency and character.
Note unexpected findings, such as increased or decreased bowel sounds or high-pitched tinkling sounds.
6. What are the three additional sounds you assess when you auscultate the abdomen?: Auscultate for three
additional sounds (friction rubs, bruits, and venous hum)
1. Use the stethoscope diaphragm to detect high-pitched friction rubs over the liver and spleen
2. Use the stethoscope bell to check for bruits over the aortic, renal, iliac, and femoral arteries. Bruits are harsh or
musical intermittent auscultatory sound, which may reflect blood flow turbulence and indicate vascular disease.
3. Use the stethoscope bell to assess for a soft, continuous, low-pitched venous hum in the epigastric area and around
the umbilicus
7. What is normal when you auscultate the abdomen?: Expect to hear clicks and gurgles at a rate of 5 - 35 per
minute.
8. What is abnormal when you auscultate the abdomen?: Borborygmic: loud prolonged gurgles
Increased bowel sounds: gastroenteritis, early obstruction, hunger
High-pitched tinkling: intestinal fluid and air under pressure, early obstruction
, Decreased bowel sounds: peritonitis, paralytic ileus Absent bowel sounds for 5
minutes indicates abdominal pain and rigidity and is a surgical emergency
9. Describe how you palpate the abdomen:: Start with light palpation and then progressive to deeper palpation:
10. Light palpation of abdomen: Using light palpation, systematically assess all quadrants. But first, try to relax the
abdominal muscles. For example, place a small pillow under the patient's head and slightly flexed knees, warm your hands,
take a slow and gentle approach, and save any tender areas for last.
Press in no more than 1 cm with the palmar surface of your fingers
· Expect the abdomen to feel smooth and soft
· Note any resistance or tenderness. And watch for guarding, which should alert you to proceed with caution
11. Moderate palpation of abdomen: Using moderate palpation, systematically assess all quadrants in two ways.
1. Palpate with the palmar surface of your fingers. This may elicit tenderness that was not produced by light palpation
2. Palpate with the side of your hand throughout the respiratory cycle. As the patient inhales, you may feel the liver
and spleen bump gently against your hand.
12. Deep palpation of abdomen: Using deep palpation, systematically assess all quadrants with the palmar surface of
your fingers. If a patient's obesity or muscular resistance make deep palpation difficult, try bimanual palpation with
one hand on top of the other. With either technique, feel for the rectus abdominis muscles, aorta, and portions of the
colon. Note any tenderness.
13. What are you assessing when you perform light, moderate and deep palpation?:
14. What are the normal and abnormal findings?: Palpate the umbilical ring and periumbilical area. The umbilical
ring should feel round and regular. The area should have no bulges, nodules, or granulation. · Expect the abdomen to
feel smooth and soft.
15. What do the abnormal findings indicate as possible differential diagnoses?:
16. Colon Cancer Risk Factors: Age > 50 years old
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 100% RATED CORRECT | 100% VERFIED |
ALREADY GRADED A+
1. What are examples of appropriate history of present illness (HPI) questions you may ask a patient with a
chief complaint of an abdominal issue?: · Onset and duration: when it began; sudden or gradual; persistent, recurrent,
intermittent · Character: dull, sharp, burning, gnawing, stabbing, cramping, aching, colicky · Location: of onset, change in
location over time, radiating to another area, superficial or deep
· Associated symptoms: vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, passage of flatus, belching, jaundice, change in abdominal girth,
weight loss or weight gain
· Relationship to: menstrual cycle, abnormal menses, intercourse, urination, defecation, inspiration, change in body
position, food or alcohol intake, stress, time of day, trauma
· Recent stool characteristics: color, consistency, odor, frequency
· Urinary characteristics: frequency, color, volume congruent with fluid intake, force of stream, ease of starting stream,
ability to empty bladder
· Medications: high doses of aspirin, steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
2. Describe how you would inspect the abdomen.: Proper steps to examine abdomen: inspection, auscultation
percussion, and palpation
Using tangential lighting, inspect the abdomen for 4 surface characteristics
1. Observe the skin color. It may vary greatly but should have no jaundice, cyanosis, redness, bruises, or discoloration
2. Check for nodules and other lesions, which should not be present
3. Note any scars and draw their location, configuration, and relative size on an illustration of the abdomen
,4. Assess the venous return. Above the umbilicus, venous return should be toward the head. Below the umbilicus, it should
be toward the feet
Inspect the abdominal contour and symmetry
· The contour is the abdominal profile from the rib margin to the pubis. It normally may be flat, rounded, or scaphoid.
The umbilicus should be centrally located and may be inverted or may protrude slightly.
· Contralateral areas of the abdomen should be symmetrical in appearance and contour and should have no distention of
bulges
· To elicit hidden masses or bulges, have the patient take a deep breath and hold it. The abdomen should remain smooth
and symmetrical. Next, have the supine patient raise their head from the table as you inspect the abdomen. Note any masses,
hernia, or muscle separation.
With the patient's head at rest, observe for 3 types of abdominal movement
1. Inspect for smooth, even movement with respiration
2. Assess for surface motion from peristalsis. In a thin patient, it normally may be visible. Otherwise, it may signal an
intestinal obstruction
3. Note any aortic pulsation in the upper midline. Although pulsation may be visible in a thin patient, marked pulsation
suggest a disorder.
3. Abnromal findings on abdominal assessment:: · Jaundice or cyanosis
· Ascites: a glistening, taut appearance
· Redness may indicate inflammation
· Cullen sign: bluish periumbilical discoloration that may indicate intraabdominal bleeding
· Striae: result of weight gain or pregnancy
· GI diseases often produce skin changes: inspect for lesions or nodules
· Sister Mary Josephs' nodule: a pearl-like, enlarged and sometimes painful umbilicus nodule can indicate abdominal
malignancy
,· Distension from umbilicus to pubic area may indicate ovarian tumor, pregnancy, uterine fibroids, or distended bladder
· Distension of upper half above umbilicus may indicate tumor pancreatic cyst, or gastric dilation
· Asymmetric distension or protrusion may indicate hernia, tumor, cysts
· Incisional hernia: caused by defect in abdomen musculature that develops after surgical incision
· Umbilical hernia: protrusion of naval
· Rippling movement across abdomen may indicate intestinal obstruction
Abdomen aortic pulsation may indicate aneurysm
4. Why do you auscultate the abdomen before you percuss or palpate?: Auscultate before you percuss or palpate
because these techniques can alter bowel sounds. Listen for bowel sounds and note their frequency and character.
5. Describe how and where you auscultate the abdomen.: Using the diaphragm of a warmed stethoscope, listen for
bowel sounds and note their frequency and character.
Note unexpected findings, such as increased or decreased bowel sounds or high-pitched tinkling sounds.
6. What are the three additional sounds you assess when you auscultate the abdomen?: Auscultate for three
additional sounds (friction rubs, bruits, and venous hum)
1. Use the stethoscope diaphragm to detect high-pitched friction rubs over the liver and spleen
2. Use the stethoscope bell to check for bruits over the aortic, renal, iliac, and femoral arteries. Bruits are harsh or
musical intermittent auscultatory sound, which may reflect blood flow turbulence and indicate vascular disease.
3. Use the stethoscope bell to assess for a soft, continuous, low-pitched venous hum in the epigastric area and around
the umbilicus
7. What is normal when you auscultate the abdomen?: Expect to hear clicks and gurgles at a rate of 5 - 35 per
minute.
8. What is abnormal when you auscultate the abdomen?: Borborygmic: loud prolonged gurgles
Increased bowel sounds: gastroenteritis, early obstruction, hunger
High-pitched tinkling: intestinal fluid and air under pressure, early obstruction
, Decreased bowel sounds: peritonitis, paralytic ileus Absent bowel sounds for 5
minutes indicates abdominal pain and rigidity and is a surgical emergency
9. Describe how you palpate the abdomen:: Start with light palpation and then progressive to deeper palpation:
10. Light palpation of abdomen: Using light palpation, systematically assess all quadrants. But first, try to relax the
abdominal muscles. For example, place a small pillow under the patient's head and slightly flexed knees, warm your hands,
take a slow and gentle approach, and save any tender areas for last.
Press in no more than 1 cm with the palmar surface of your fingers
· Expect the abdomen to feel smooth and soft
· Note any resistance or tenderness. And watch for guarding, which should alert you to proceed with caution
11. Moderate palpation of abdomen: Using moderate palpation, systematically assess all quadrants in two ways.
1. Palpate with the palmar surface of your fingers. This may elicit tenderness that was not produced by light palpation
2. Palpate with the side of your hand throughout the respiratory cycle. As the patient inhales, you may feel the liver
and spleen bump gently against your hand.
12. Deep palpation of abdomen: Using deep palpation, systematically assess all quadrants with the palmar surface of
your fingers. If a patient's obesity or muscular resistance make deep palpation difficult, try bimanual palpation with
one hand on top of the other. With either technique, feel for the rectus abdominis muscles, aorta, and portions of the
colon. Note any tenderness.
13. What are you assessing when you perform light, moderate and deep palpation?:
14. What are the normal and abnormal findings?: Palpate the umbilical ring and periumbilical area. The umbilical
ring should feel round and regular. The area should have no bulges, nodules, or granulation. · Expect the abdomen to
feel smooth and soft.
15. What do the abnormal findings indicate as possible differential diagnoses?:
16. Colon Cancer Risk Factors: Age > 50 years old
