NR302 Exam 1: Health Assessment Questions and Answers and
Explanations | Latest - Chamberlain
1. Which phase of the nursing process involves the systematic collection of
data?
A. Diagnosis
B. Planning
C. Assessment
D. Implementation
Answer: C
Explanation: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process, involving the collection of
subjective and objective data.
2. Which of the following is considered objective data?
A. Patient’s report of a headache
B. Patient’s rating of pain as 5/10
C. The nurse’s observation of a skin rash
D. The patient stating they feel anxious
Answer: C
Explanation: Objective data is what the health professional observes through inspection,
palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
,3. A nurse is interviewing a patient. Which question is an example of an open-
ended question?
A. Can you describe the pain you are feeling?
B. Have you ever had surgery before?
C. Are you feeling better today?
D. Do you have any allergies?
Answer: A
Explanation: Open-ended questions allow for narrative responses and encourage the
patient to express themselves freely.
4. During an assessment, the nurse uses the dorsum (back) of the hand to check
for:
A. Vibration
B. Temperature
C. Moisture
D. Organ position
Answer: B
Explanation: The dorsum of the hand is thinner than the palms and is more sensitive to
temperature variations.
,5. What is the standard order for physical examination for most body systems?
A. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
B. Auscultation, Palpation, Percussion, Inspection
C. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
D. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
Answer: C
Explanation: The standard sequence is IPPA: Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, and then
Auscultation.
6. When assessing the abdomen, the sequence of physical examination changes
to:
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Palpation, Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion
C. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: C
Explanation: In abdominal assessment, auscultation follows inspection to prevent bowel
sounds from being altered by palpation or percussion.
7. Which part of the stethoscope is best for hearing low-pitched heart sounds?
A. The diaphragm
B. The tubing
, C. The earpieces
D. The bell
Answer: D
Explanation: The bell is used for low-pitched sounds such as murmurs and extra heart
sounds; the diaphragm is for high-pitched sounds.
8. An adult patient’s pulse is 110 beats per minute. This is documented as:
A. Bradycardia
B. Tachycardia
C. Normal sinus rhythm
D. Pulse deficit
Answer: B
Explanation: Tachycardia is defined as a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute in
an adult.
9. When assessing blood pressure, the nurse knows that using a cuff that is too
narrow will result in:
A. An accurate reading
B. A falsely low reading
C. A falsely high reading
D. Inability to hear Korotkoff sounds
Answer: C
Explanations | Latest - Chamberlain
1. Which phase of the nursing process involves the systematic collection of
data?
A. Diagnosis
B. Planning
C. Assessment
D. Implementation
Answer: C
Explanation: Assessment is the first step of the nursing process, involving the collection of
subjective and objective data.
2. Which of the following is considered objective data?
A. Patient’s report of a headache
B. Patient’s rating of pain as 5/10
C. The nurse’s observation of a skin rash
D. The patient stating they feel anxious
Answer: C
Explanation: Objective data is what the health professional observes through inspection,
palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
,3. A nurse is interviewing a patient. Which question is an example of an open-
ended question?
A. Can you describe the pain you are feeling?
B. Have you ever had surgery before?
C. Are you feeling better today?
D. Do you have any allergies?
Answer: A
Explanation: Open-ended questions allow for narrative responses and encourage the
patient to express themselves freely.
4. During an assessment, the nurse uses the dorsum (back) of the hand to check
for:
A. Vibration
B. Temperature
C. Moisture
D. Organ position
Answer: B
Explanation: The dorsum of the hand is thinner than the palms and is more sensitive to
temperature variations.
,5. What is the standard order for physical examination for most body systems?
A. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
B. Auscultation, Palpation, Percussion, Inspection
C. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
D. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
Answer: C
Explanation: The standard sequence is IPPA: Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, and then
Auscultation.
6. When assessing the abdomen, the sequence of physical examination changes
to:
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Palpation, Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion
C. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: C
Explanation: In abdominal assessment, auscultation follows inspection to prevent bowel
sounds from being altered by palpation or percussion.
7. Which part of the stethoscope is best for hearing low-pitched heart sounds?
A. The diaphragm
B. The tubing
, C. The earpieces
D. The bell
Answer: D
Explanation: The bell is used for low-pitched sounds such as murmurs and extra heart
sounds; the diaphragm is for high-pitched sounds.
8. An adult patient’s pulse is 110 beats per minute. This is documented as:
A. Bradycardia
B. Tachycardia
C. Normal sinus rhythm
D. Pulse deficit
Answer: B
Explanation: Tachycardia is defined as a heart rate greater than 100 beats per minute in
an adult.
9. When assessing blood pressure, the nurse knows that using a cuff that is too
narrow will result in:
A. An accurate reading
B. A falsely low reading
C. A falsely high reading
D. Inability to hear Korotkoff sounds
Answer: C