PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND HEALTH
ASSESSMENT 8TH EDITION BY JARVIS 2026
EXAM SCRIPT COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE WITH
DETAILED ELABORATIONS
The skills requisite for the physical examination are inspection,
palpation, percussion, and auscultation. The skills are performed one at a
time and in this order (with the exception of the abdominal assessment,
during which auscultation takes place before palpation and percussion).
The assessment of each body system begins with inspection. A focused
inspection takes time and yields a surprising amount of information.
⩥The nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment. Which
statement is true about the physical assessment? The inspection phase:
a. Usually yields little information.
b. Takes time and reveals a surprising amount of information.
c. May be somewhat uncomfortable for the expert practitioner.
d. Requires a quick glance at the patients body systems before
proceeding with palpation. Answer: b. Takes time and reveals a
surprising amount of information.
A focused inspection takes time and yields a surprising amount of
information. Initially, the examiner may feel uncomfortable, staring at
,the person without also doing something. A focused assessment is
significantly more than a quick glance.
⩥The nurse is assessing a patients skin during an office visit. What part
of the hand and technique should be used to best assess the patients skin
temperature?
a. Fingertips; they are more sensitive to small changes in temperature.
b. Dorsal surface of the hand; the skin is thinner on this surface than on
the palms.
c. Ulnar portion of the hand; increased blood supply in this area
enhances temperature sensitivity.
d. Palmar surface of the hand; this surface is the most sensitive to
temperature variations because of its increased nerve supply in this area.
Answer: b. Dorsal surface of the hand; the skin is thinner on this surface
than on the palms.
The dorsa (backs) of the hands and fingers are best for determining
temperature because the skin is thinner on the dorsal surfaces than on the
palms. Fingertips are best for fine, tactile discrimination. The other
responses are not useful for palpation.
⩥Which of these techniques uses the sense of touch to assess texture,
temperature, moisture, and swelling when the nurse is assessing a
patient?
, a. Palpation
b. Inspection
c. Percussion
d. Auscultation Answer: a. Palpation
Palpation uses the sense of touch to assess the patient for these factors.
Inspection involves vision; percussion assesses through the use of
palpable vibrations and audible sounds; and auscultation uses the sense
of hearing.
⩥The nurse is preparing to assess a patients abdomen by palpation. How
should the nurse proceed?
a. Palpation of reportedly tender areas are avoided because palpation in
these areas may cause pain.
b. Palpating a tender area is quickly performed to avoid any discomfort
that the patient may experience.
c. The assessment begins with deep palpation, while encouraging the
patient to relax and to take deep breaths.
d. The assessment begins with light palpation to detect surface
characteristics and to accustom the patient to being touched. Answer: d.
The assessment begins with light palpation to detect surface
characteristics and to accustom the patient to being touched.
ASSESSMENT 8TH EDITION BY JARVIS 2026
EXAM SCRIPT COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE WITH
DETAILED ELABORATIONS
The skills requisite for the physical examination are inspection,
palpation, percussion, and auscultation. The skills are performed one at a
time and in this order (with the exception of the abdominal assessment,
during which auscultation takes place before palpation and percussion).
The assessment of each body system begins with inspection. A focused
inspection takes time and yields a surprising amount of information.
⩥The nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment. Which
statement is true about the physical assessment? The inspection phase:
a. Usually yields little information.
b. Takes time and reveals a surprising amount of information.
c. May be somewhat uncomfortable for the expert practitioner.
d. Requires a quick glance at the patients body systems before
proceeding with palpation. Answer: b. Takes time and reveals a
surprising amount of information.
A focused inspection takes time and yields a surprising amount of
information. Initially, the examiner may feel uncomfortable, staring at
,the person without also doing something. A focused assessment is
significantly more than a quick glance.
⩥The nurse is assessing a patients skin during an office visit. What part
of the hand and technique should be used to best assess the patients skin
temperature?
a. Fingertips; they are more sensitive to small changes in temperature.
b. Dorsal surface of the hand; the skin is thinner on this surface than on
the palms.
c. Ulnar portion of the hand; increased blood supply in this area
enhances temperature sensitivity.
d. Palmar surface of the hand; this surface is the most sensitive to
temperature variations because of its increased nerve supply in this area.
Answer: b. Dorsal surface of the hand; the skin is thinner on this surface
than on the palms.
The dorsa (backs) of the hands and fingers are best for determining
temperature because the skin is thinner on the dorsal surfaces than on the
palms. Fingertips are best for fine, tactile discrimination. The other
responses are not useful for palpation.
⩥Which of these techniques uses the sense of touch to assess texture,
temperature, moisture, and swelling when the nurse is assessing a
patient?
, a. Palpation
b. Inspection
c. Percussion
d. Auscultation Answer: a. Palpation
Palpation uses the sense of touch to assess the patient for these factors.
Inspection involves vision; percussion assesses through the use of
palpable vibrations and audible sounds; and auscultation uses the sense
of hearing.
⩥The nurse is preparing to assess a patients abdomen by palpation. How
should the nurse proceed?
a. Palpation of reportedly tender areas are avoided because palpation in
these areas may cause pain.
b. Palpating a tender area is quickly performed to avoid any discomfort
that the patient may experience.
c. The assessment begins with deep palpation, while encouraging the
patient to relax and to take deep breaths.
d. The assessment begins with light palpation to detect surface
characteristics and to accustom the patient to being touched. Answer: d.
The assessment begins with light palpation to detect surface
characteristics and to accustom the patient to being touched.
