1
NUR101 Health Assessment Final Exam
2026/2027 Actual Exam - Complete Questions
with Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified Graded
A+ Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Health Assessment Foundations (Questions 1-10)
Q1: A nurse is documenting a patient's health assessment. Which of the following statements
represents objective data?
A. "The patient reports feeling dizzy when standing up quickly."
B. "The patient states they have a history of hypertension."
C. "The patient's blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg."
D. "The patient complains of a sharp pain in their chest."
C. "The patient's blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg." [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Objective data are "signs" that the nurse can directly observe, measure, or test during
the assessment. Blood pressure, heart rate, and visible drainage are objective data. Subjective
data are "symptoms" or information that the patient reports, such as pain or dizziness.
Q2: During a health history interview, which question is an example of an open-ended question?
A. "Do you have any allergies?"
B. "Have you been hospitalized before?"
C. "Can you describe the quality of your chest pain?"
D. "Are you experiencing any shortness of breath?"
C. "Can you describe the quality of your chest pain?" [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage the patient to elaborate and provide more detailed
information, typically starting with words like "how," "what," or "tell me about." Yes/no
questions are closed-ended and limit patient responses.
,2
Q3: A nursing student is preparing to auscultate a patient's abdomen. In which order should the
four assessment techniques be performed?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Auscultation, percussion, palpation, inspection
C. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D. Palpation, inspection, auscultation, percussion
C. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct sequence for an abdominal assessment is inspection, auscultation,
percussion, and palpation. Auscultation is performed before palpation or percussion because
touching or percussing the abdomen can alter the frequency and character of bowel sounds.
Q4: The nurse needs to assess a female patient's perianal area. Which patient position is most
appropriate for this examination?
A. Dorsal recumbent
B. Sims' position
C. Lithotomy position
D. Knee-chest position
B. Sims' position [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sims' position (lying on the left side with the right knee flexed) provides excellent
exposure of the perianal area and facilitates visualization of the rectum and sigmoid colon.
Lithotomy is used for pelvic exams, knee-chest for rectal/prostate exams, and dorsal recumbent
for general abdominal exams.
Q5: A nurse is preparing to assist a physician with a pelvic examination. Which position will the
patient be placed in?
A. Prone
B. Lithotomy
,3
C. Trendelenburg
D. High Fowler's
B. Lithotomy [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The lithotomy position involves the patient lying on their back with hips and knees
flexed and thighs apart, typically supported by stirrups. This position provides optimal
visualization of the female genitalia and access to the vaginal canal for a pelvic exam.
Q6: A patient is experiencing difficulty breathing. Which position will best facilitate respiratory
excursion and ease dyspnea?
A. Supine
B. Dorsal recumbent
C. High Fowler's
D. Left lateral
C. High Fowler's [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: High Fowler's position (sitting upright at a 90-degree angle) allows maximum
expansion of the chest cavity, decreases the work of breathing, and facilitates the use of
accessory muscles, making it the ideal position for patients with dyspnea.
Q7: When performing deep palpation of the abdomen, which technique should the nurse use?
A. Pressing deeply with one hand while stabilizing with the other, pushing down slowly
B. Using the fingertips to lightly tickle the abdomen
C. Using the dorsal surface of the hand to assess temperature
D. Tapping the abdomen sharply with the fingertips
A. Pressing deeply with one hand while stabilizing with the other, pushing down slowly
[CORRECT]
Correct Answer: A
, 4
Rationale: Deep palpation is performed by placing one hand on top of the other, pressing slowly
and deeply (1.5 to 2 inches) into the abdominal wall. This technique helps identify organ
enlargement or masses. Light palpation uses the fingertips to assess surface tenderness.
Q8: The nurse is assessing a patient for the presence of fluid in the thoracic cavity. Which
assessment technique is most appropriate?
A. Inspection
B. Light palpation
C. Percussion
D. Deep palpation
C. Percussion [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Percussion involves tapping the body surface to evaluate the underlying tissue. A dull
sound upon percussion of the thorax indicates consolidation or fluid (pleural effusion), whereas
resonance indicates normal aerated lung tissue.
Q9: The nurse is auscultating the patient's heart sounds. To best hear low-pitched sounds, such as
the mitral stenosis murmur, which part of the stethoscope should the nurse use?
A. The diaphragm, pressed firmly against the skin
B. The bell, resting lightly against the skin
C. The diaphragm, resting lightly against the skin
D. The bell, pressed firmly against the skin
B. The bell, resting lightly against the skin [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The bell of the stethoscope picks up low-pitched sounds (like some heart murmurs
and bowel bruits) best when it rests lightly against the skin. The diaphragm is used for high-
pitched sounds (like normal S1 and S2 heart sounds or breath sounds) and should be pressed
firmly against the skin.
NUR101 Health Assessment Final Exam
2026/2027 Actual Exam - Complete Questions
with Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified Graded
A+ Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Health Assessment Foundations (Questions 1-10)
Q1: A nurse is documenting a patient's health assessment. Which of the following statements
represents objective data?
A. "The patient reports feeling dizzy when standing up quickly."
B. "The patient states they have a history of hypertension."
C. "The patient's blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg."
D. "The patient complains of a sharp pain in their chest."
C. "The patient's blood pressure is 140/90 mmHg." [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Objective data are "signs" that the nurse can directly observe, measure, or test during
the assessment. Blood pressure, heart rate, and visible drainage are objective data. Subjective
data are "symptoms" or information that the patient reports, such as pain or dizziness.
Q2: During a health history interview, which question is an example of an open-ended question?
A. "Do you have any allergies?"
B. "Have you been hospitalized before?"
C. "Can you describe the quality of your chest pain?"
D. "Are you experiencing any shortness of breath?"
C. "Can you describe the quality of your chest pain?" [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage the patient to elaborate and provide more detailed
information, typically starting with words like "how," "what," or "tell me about." Yes/no
questions are closed-ended and limit patient responses.
,2
Q3: A nursing student is preparing to auscultate a patient's abdomen. In which order should the
four assessment techniques be performed?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Auscultation, percussion, palpation, inspection
C. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D. Palpation, inspection, auscultation, percussion
C. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct sequence for an abdominal assessment is inspection, auscultation,
percussion, and palpation. Auscultation is performed before palpation or percussion because
touching or percussing the abdomen can alter the frequency and character of bowel sounds.
Q4: The nurse needs to assess a female patient's perianal area. Which patient position is most
appropriate for this examination?
A. Dorsal recumbent
B. Sims' position
C. Lithotomy position
D. Knee-chest position
B. Sims' position [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sims' position (lying on the left side with the right knee flexed) provides excellent
exposure of the perianal area and facilitates visualization of the rectum and sigmoid colon.
Lithotomy is used for pelvic exams, knee-chest for rectal/prostate exams, and dorsal recumbent
for general abdominal exams.
Q5: A nurse is preparing to assist a physician with a pelvic examination. Which position will the
patient be placed in?
A. Prone
B. Lithotomy
,3
C. Trendelenburg
D. High Fowler's
B. Lithotomy [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The lithotomy position involves the patient lying on their back with hips and knees
flexed and thighs apart, typically supported by stirrups. This position provides optimal
visualization of the female genitalia and access to the vaginal canal for a pelvic exam.
Q6: A patient is experiencing difficulty breathing. Which position will best facilitate respiratory
excursion and ease dyspnea?
A. Supine
B. Dorsal recumbent
C. High Fowler's
D. Left lateral
C. High Fowler's [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: High Fowler's position (sitting upright at a 90-degree angle) allows maximum
expansion of the chest cavity, decreases the work of breathing, and facilitates the use of
accessory muscles, making it the ideal position for patients with dyspnea.
Q7: When performing deep palpation of the abdomen, which technique should the nurse use?
A. Pressing deeply with one hand while stabilizing with the other, pushing down slowly
B. Using the fingertips to lightly tickle the abdomen
C. Using the dorsal surface of the hand to assess temperature
D. Tapping the abdomen sharply with the fingertips
A. Pressing deeply with one hand while stabilizing with the other, pushing down slowly
[CORRECT]
Correct Answer: A
, 4
Rationale: Deep palpation is performed by placing one hand on top of the other, pressing slowly
and deeply (1.5 to 2 inches) into the abdominal wall. This technique helps identify organ
enlargement or masses. Light palpation uses the fingertips to assess surface tenderness.
Q8: The nurse is assessing a patient for the presence of fluid in the thoracic cavity. Which
assessment technique is most appropriate?
A. Inspection
B. Light palpation
C. Percussion
D. Deep palpation
C. Percussion [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Percussion involves tapping the body surface to evaluate the underlying tissue. A dull
sound upon percussion of the thorax indicates consolidation or fluid (pleural effusion), whereas
resonance indicates normal aerated lung tissue.
Q9: The nurse is auscultating the patient's heart sounds. To best hear low-pitched sounds, such as
the mitral stenosis murmur, which part of the stethoscope should the nurse use?
A. The diaphragm, pressed firmly against the skin
B. The bell, resting lightly against the skin
C. The diaphragm, resting lightly against the skin
D. The bell, pressed firmly against the skin
B. The bell, resting lightly against the skin [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The bell of the stethoscope picks up low-pitched sounds (like some heart murmurs
and bowel bruits) best when it rests lightly against the skin. The diaphragm is used for high-
pitched sounds (like normal S1 and S2 heart sounds or breath sounds) and should be pressed
firmly against the skin.
