NSG 3160 Exam 4 (GALEN) -
Health Assessment QUESTIONS
Newest 2026 Actual Exam Test Bank
150+WITH Total Questions
1. A nurse is preparing to perform an abdominal assessment on a patient. In
which order should the nurse perform the four assessment techniques?
a) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
b) Auscultation, inspection, percussion, palpation
c) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
d) Percussion, inspection, auscultation, palpation
Correct Answer: c) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: The order of abdominal assessment differs from other systems. Because
palpation and percussion can stimulate bowel sounds and alter the findings,
auscultation should occur after inspection but before percussion and palpation. The
correct order is Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation (IAPP) .
2. The nurse is attempting to auscultate bowel sounds in a patient. To
correctly assess this, the nurse should use the of the
stethoscope and listen for at least minutes before
determining the absence of sounds.
,a) Diaphragm; 1 to 2 minutes
b) Bell; 5 minutes
c) Diaphragm; 5 minutes
d) Bell; 1 to 2 minutes
Correct Answer: c) Diaphragm; 5 minutes
Rationale: Bowel sounds are high-pitched sounds best heard with the diaphragm of
the stethoscope. To confirm the absence of bowel sounds (a silent abdomen), the
nurse must listen for a full 5 minutes in each quadrant.
3. When percussing the abdomen, a nurse notes a loud, drum-like sound over
most of the area. How should the nurse document this finding?
a) Flatness
b) Dullness
c) Resonance
d) Tympany
Correct Answer: d) Tympany
Rationale: Tympany is the predominant sound heard over the abdomen due to the
presence of air in the stomach and intestines. Dullness is typically heard over solid
organs like the liver or a distended bladder, while resonance is a longer, lower,
hollow sound heard over normal lung tissue.
,4. The nurse is preparing to percuss the liver. Which sound should the nurse
expect to hear over this solid organ?
a) Tympany
b) Resonance
c) Hyperresonance
d) Dullness
Correct Answer: d) Dullness
Rationale: Dullness is a soft, high-pitched, thud-like sound produced by
percussing over dense, solid organs such as the liver, spleen, or a full bladder.
5. A patient presents with a distended abdomen. The nurse tests for a fluid
wave. A positive fluid wave test is indicative of:
a) Bowel obstruction
b) Ascites
c) Hepatomegaly
d) Gastric air
Correct Answer: b) Ascites
Rationale: A fluid wave test is a special assessment technique used to detect the
presence of a large amount of fluid (ascites) in the peritoneal cavity. The nurse taps
one side of the abdomen while feeling for a transmitted wave of fluid on the
opposite side.
, 6. The nurse is assessing a patient's abdomen for rebound tenderness. To
perform this assessment, the nurse should:
a) Deeply palpate the abdomen and quickly release the hand
b) Lightly palpate all four quadrants in a circular motion
c) Percuss the abdomen from the umbilicus outward
d) Auscultate for bruits over the aortic and renal arteries
Correct Answer: a) Deeply palpate the abdomen and quickly release the hand
Rationale: Rebound tenderness is tested by applying slow, deep pressure to the
abdomen and then quickly withdrawing the hand. Pain upon release indicates
peritoneal irritation, a sign associated with conditions like appendicitis (Blumberg's
sign).
7. A patient reports sharp, severe pain in the right lower quadrant. The
nurse assesses for the iliopsoas muscle test. A positive test is noted when
the patient:
a) Reports pain when flexing the right hip against resistance
b) Reports pain when extending the right hip while lying on the left side
c) Reports deep pain when the nurse's hand is quickly released from the RLQ
d) Reports pain in the RLQ when the left lower quadrant is palpated
Correct Answer: a) Reports pain when flexing the right hip against resistance
Rationale: The iliopsoas muscle test checks for irritation of the psoas muscle,
which is often caused by an inflamed appendix. The patient lies supine and lifts
the right leg, flexing at the hip while the nurse applies resistance. Pain indicates a
Health Assessment QUESTIONS
Newest 2026 Actual Exam Test Bank
150+WITH Total Questions
1. A nurse is preparing to perform an abdominal assessment on a patient. In
which order should the nurse perform the four assessment techniques?
a) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
b) Auscultation, inspection, percussion, palpation
c) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
d) Percussion, inspection, auscultation, palpation
Correct Answer: c) Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: The order of abdominal assessment differs from other systems. Because
palpation and percussion can stimulate bowel sounds and alter the findings,
auscultation should occur after inspection but before percussion and palpation. The
correct order is Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation (IAPP) .
2. The nurse is attempting to auscultate bowel sounds in a patient. To
correctly assess this, the nurse should use the of the
stethoscope and listen for at least minutes before
determining the absence of sounds.
,a) Diaphragm; 1 to 2 minutes
b) Bell; 5 minutes
c) Diaphragm; 5 minutes
d) Bell; 1 to 2 minutes
Correct Answer: c) Diaphragm; 5 minutes
Rationale: Bowel sounds are high-pitched sounds best heard with the diaphragm of
the stethoscope. To confirm the absence of bowel sounds (a silent abdomen), the
nurse must listen for a full 5 minutes in each quadrant.
3. When percussing the abdomen, a nurse notes a loud, drum-like sound over
most of the area. How should the nurse document this finding?
a) Flatness
b) Dullness
c) Resonance
d) Tympany
Correct Answer: d) Tympany
Rationale: Tympany is the predominant sound heard over the abdomen due to the
presence of air in the stomach and intestines. Dullness is typically heard over solid
organs like the liver or a distended bladder, while resonance is a longer, lower,
hollow sound heard over normal lung tissue.
,4. The nurse is preparing to percuss the liver. Which sound should the nurse
expect to hear over this solid organ?
a) Tympany
b) Resonance
c) Hyperresonance
d) Dullness
Correct Answer: d) Dullness
Rationale: Dullness is a soft, high-pitched, thud-like sound produced by
percussing over dense, solid organs such as the liver, spleen, or a full bladder.
5. A patient presents with a distended abdomen. The nurse tests for a fluid
wave. A positive fluid wave test is indicative of:
a) Bowel obstruction
b) Ascites
c) Hepatomegaly
d) Gastric air
Correct Answer: b) Ascites
Rationale: A fluid wave test is a special assessment technique used to detect the
presence of a large amount of fluid (ascites) in the peritoneal cavity. The nurse taps
one side of the abdomen while feeling for a transmitted wave of fluid on the
opposite side.
, 6. The nurse is assessing a patient's abdomen for rebound tenderness. To
perform this assessment, the nurse should:
a) Deeply palpate the abdomen and quickly release the hand
b) Lightly palpate all four quadrants in a circular motion
c) Percuss the abdomen from the umbilicus outward
d) Auscultate for bruits over the aortic and renal arteries
Correct Answer: a) Deeply palpate the abdomen and quickly release the hand
Rationale: Rebound tenderness is tested by applying slow, deep pressure to the
abdomen and then quickly withdrawing the hand. Pain upon release indicates
peritoneal irritation, a sign associated with conditions like appendicitis (Blumberg's
sign).
7. A patient reports sharp, severe pain in the right lower quadrant. The
nurse assesses for the iliopsoas muscle test. A positive test is noted when
the patient:
a) Reports pain when flexing the right hip against resistance
b) Reports pain when extending the right hip while lying on the left side
c) Reports deep pain when the nurse's hand is quickly released from the RLQ
d) Reports pain in the RLQ when the left lower quadrant is palpated
Correct Answer: a) Reports pain when flexing the right hip against resistance
Rationale: The iliopsoas muscle test checks for irritation of the psoas muscle,
which is often caused by an inflamed appendix. The patient lies supine and lifts
the right leg, flexing at the hip while the nurse applies resistance. Pain indicates a
