NURS 190 ACTUAL PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ How to do a physical assessment on the abdomen? And why?.
Answer: inspection
auscultation
percussion
palpation
- so that we DO NOT allow for hyperactive bowel sounds before
auscultating
◉ What are the sensitive areas of the hand?. Answer: • The finger
pads are used for discrimination of underlying structures and
functions such as pulses, superficial lymph nodes, or crepitus.
• Vibrations (vibrations) are best perceived by the examiner when
using the base of the fingers (metacarpophalangeal joints).
• The ulnar surface of the hand, including the finger, is most sensitive
to vibrations such as fremitus.
,• The palmar aspect of the fingers is used to determine position,
consistency, texture, size of structures, pain, and tenderness.
• The dorsal surface of the fingers is most sensitive to temperature.
• The dominant hand is always more sensitive than the non-
dominant hand.
◉ What is light palpation used for?. Answer: Light palpation is used
with the pads of the fingers to help assess the skin surface, pulses,
textures, tenderness (1cm)
◉ What is deep palpation?. Answer: Used to palpate abdomen and
internal organs
(2-4cm)
◉ What is contraindicated for deep palpation?. Answer: Dissecting
aneurysms, peritonitis, ectopic pregnancy
◉ What is percussion?. Answer: tapping the person's skin with short,
sharp strokes to assess underlying structures
◉ What is direct percussion?. Answer: Technique of tapping the
body with the fingertips of the dominant hand.
, ◉ What is direct percussion used to assess for?. Answer: Adult
sinuses
◉ What is blunt percussion?. Answer: Non dominant hand is flat and
dominant hand hits over non dominant with a fist
◉ What is blunt percussion used for?. Answer: Assess for pain and
tenderness in gallbladder, liver, and kidneys
◉ What is indirect percussion?. Answer: It's the technique most
commonly used (sounds are clearer & more easily interpreted). A
hammer or tapping finger is used
◉ What is a tympany sound?. Answer: loud, high pitched
◉ Where would you hear a tympanic sound?. Answer: stomach or
intestines
◉ What is a resonance sound?. Answer: loud, low pitched, hollow
◉ Where would you hear a resonance sound?. Answer: lungs
◉ What is a hyperresonance sound?. Answer: loud, low pitched
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◉ How to do a physical assessment on the abdomen? And why?.
Answer: inspection
auscultation
percussion
palpation
- so that we DO NOT allow for hyperactive bowel sounds before
auscultating
◉ What are the sensitive areas of the hand?. Answer: • The finger
pads are used for discrimination of underlying structures and
functions such as pulses, superficial lymph nodes, or crepitus.
• Vibrations (vibrations) are best perceived by the examiner when
using the base of the fingers (metacarpophalangeal joints).
• The ulnar surface of the hand, including the finger, is most sensitive
to vibrations such as fremitus.
,• The palmar aspect of the fingers is used to determine position,
consistency, texture, size of structures, pain, and tenderness.
• The dorsal surface of the fingers is most sensitive to temperature.
• The dominant hand is always more sensitive than the non-
dominant hand.
◉ What is light palpation used for?. Answer: Light palpation is used
with the pads of the fingers to help assess the skin surface, pulses,
textures, tenderness (1cm)
◉ What is deep palpation?. Answer: Used to palpate abdomen and
internal organs
(2-4cm)
◉ What is contraindicated for deep palpation?. Answer: Dissecting
aneurysms, peritonitis, ectopic pregnancy
◉ What is percussion?. Answer: tapping the person's skin with short,
sharp strokes to assess underlying structures
◉ What is direct percussion?. Answer: Technique of tapping the
body with the fingertips of the dominant hand.
, ◉ What is direct percussion used to assess for?. Answer: Adult
sinuses
◉ What is blunt percussion?. Answer: Non dominant hand is flat and
dominant hand hits over non dominant with a fist
◉ What is blunt percussion used for?. Answer: Assess for pain and
tenderness in gallbladder, liver, and kidneys
◉ What is indirect percussion?. Answer: It's the technique most
commonly used (sounds are clearer & more easily interpreted). A
hammer or tapping finger is used
◉ What is a tympany sound?. Answer: loud, high pitched
◉ Where would you hear a tympanic sound?. Answer: stomach or
intestines
◉ What is a resonance sound?. Answer: loud, low pitched, hollow
◉ Where would you hear a resonance sound?. Answer: lungs
◉ What is a hyperresonance sound?. Answer: loud, low pitched
