NUR 265 HEALTH ASSESSMENT FINAL EXAM – Actual QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS ON PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT, VITAL SIGNS, AND CLINICAL
SKILLS (2026/2027 EDITION)
what is subjective data? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 data the patient tells
you about themselves
what is objective data? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 data you obtain
through physical examination
what is a primary source? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 directly from the
patient in regards to their health history
what is a secondary source? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 comes from
family member or other source about the patient's health history
What does a general assessment look at? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀
looks at the patient's behavior, appearance, mobility, and body
structure.
when is a general assessment started? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 when
pt first walks in the door
what is a complete assessment? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 a complete
health history with a full physical examination
what is a focused assessment? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 assessment on
one problem or body system
what is a follow up assessment? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 used to
evaluate previously addressed problems at reasonable intervals for
progression or improvements.
,what is an emergency assessment? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 urgent,
rapid data collection used with life saving measures during critical
situations
what is inspection? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 concentrated watching to
gather data
when does inspection occur in the order of assessment pieces? -
SELECTED ANSWER 👀 ALWAYS first
what are 3 components needed to complete a successful inspection
component of an assessment? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 1) good
lighting
2) adequate exposure
3) equipment
what is palpation? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 sense of touch
when does palpation occur in the order of assessment components? -
SELECTED ANSWER 👀 follows inspection
what does palpation assess for?(7) - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 1)
temperature
2) edema
3) texture
4) moisture
5) organ location
6) lumps/massess
7) tenderness/pain
, when should you use the fingertips during palpation? - SELECTED
ANSWER 👀 when needing to complete fine tactile discrimination
when should yours the grasping mechanism of the fingers and thumbs
during palpation? (3) - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 when assessing the
position, size, or shape of an organ or mass
when do you use the back (dorsal) side of the hands to palpate? -
SELECTED ANSWER 👀 temperature
what do you use the base of the finger or ulnar surface of the hand
during palpation? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 vibration
what are 3 comfort things to remember when palpating a patient? -
SELECTED ANSWER 👀 1) tender areas last
2) light to deep
3) warm hands
what organs do you use bimanual palpation? (2) - SELECTED ANSWER
👀 kidneys and uterus
what is percussion? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 short, sharp tapping on
the skin to assess underlying structures
what is produced during percussion? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 audible
notes
what do the sounds produced during percussion tell you? (3) -
SELECTED ANSWER 👀 location, size, density
ANSWERS ON PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT, VITAL SIGNS, AND CLINICAL
SKILLS (2026/2027 EDITION)
what is subjective data? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 data the patient tells
you about themselves
what is objective data? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 data you obtain
through physical examination
what is a primary source? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 directly from the
patient in regards to their health history
what is a secondary source? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 comes from
family member or other source about the patient's health history
What does a general assessment look at? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀
looks at the patient's behavior, appearance, mobility, and body
structure.
when is a general assessment started? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 when
pt first walks in the door
what is a complete assessment? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 a complete
health history with a full physical examination
what is a focused assessment? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 assessment on
one problem or body system
what is a follow up assessment? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 used to
evaluate previously addressed problems at reasonable intervals for
progression or improvements.
,what is an emergency assessment? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 urgent,
rapid data collection used with life saving measures during critical
situations
what is inspection? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 concentrated watching to
gather data
when does inspection occur in the order of assessment pieces? -
SELECTED ANSWER 👀 ALWAYS first
what are 3 components needed to complete a successful inspection
component of an assessment? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 1) good
lighting
2) adequate exposure
3) equipment
what is palpation? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 sense of touch
when does palpation occur in the order of assessment components? -
SELECTED ANSWER 👀 follows inspection
what does palpation assess for?(7) - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 1)
temperature
2) edema
3) texture
4) moisture
5) organ location
6) lumps/massess
7) tenderness/pain
, when should you use the fingertips during palpation? - SELECTED
ANSWER 👀 when needing to complete fine tactile discrimination
when should yours the grasping mechanism of the fingers and thumbs
during palpation? (3) - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 when assessing the
position, size, or shape of an organ or mass
when do you use the back (dorsal) side of the hands to palpate? -
SELECTED ANSWER 👀 temperature
what do you use the base of the finger or ulnar surface of the hand
during palpation? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 vibration
what are 3 comfort things to remember when palpating a patient? -
SELECTED ANSWER 👀 1) tender areas last
2) light to deep
3) warm hands
what organs do you use bimanual palpation? (2) - SELECTED ANSWER
👀 kidneys and uterus
what is percussion? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 short, sharp tapping on
the skin to assess underlying structures
what is produced during percussion? - SELECTED ANSWER 👀 audible
notes
what do the sounds produced during percussion tell you? (3) -
SELECTED ANSWER 👀 location, size, density
