NUR 643E FINAL PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉What abdominal arteries do you want to listen to? What are you
listening for? Answer: First listen to the epigastric region
Aorta, renal artery, iliac artery, femoral artery
Listening for bruits
◉A new mother comes to you complaining that her infant has been
projectile vomiting after every feeding. You inspect the abdomen and
see visible peristaltic waves. What is this? Answer: Pyloric stenosis
◉What is ascites? What causes it? Answer: abnormal fluid
Cancer, Liver Disease, Kidney Failure, Infections
◉What part of the stethoscope do you want to use to listen to the
abdomen? Answer: Diaphragm
,◉What do bowel sounds sound like? How often? Answer: Irregular
gurgles and clicks
5-25 per minute
◉What is borborygmi? Answer: A rumbling or gurgling noise made
by the movement of fluid and gas in the intestines
"stomach growling"
◉Where should you listen for friction rubs? Answer: Over the liver
and spleen
◉How does hypokalemia lead to abdominal distention? Answer:
Hypokalemia can lead to gastric dismotility and ileus
◉What are spider angiomas? Answer: Telangiectasis (swollen blood
vessels) found slightly beneath the skin surface, often containing a
central red spot and reddish extensions which radiate outwards like
a spider's web
◉You are admitting a patient in the ER. She complains of "horrible"
abdominal pain. You perform an abdominal exam - the patient is
cringing, abdomen rigid, and you do not hear any bowel sounds.
,What do you do next? Answer: Send to surgery, this acute abdomen
is an emergency
◉Purple and pink striae on the abdomen may indicate what
syndrome? Answer: Cushings
◉"Absent bowel sounds" is after how many minutes? Answer: 5
minutes
◉Your 35 y/o male patient with hypertension refractory to
medications. You are performing an abdominal exam and notice a
"whoosing" sound over the renal arteries. What is high on your
differential? Answer: Renal artery stenosis
◉What is an epigastric venous hum? Answer: Soft, low pitched
continuous sound that occurs with increased collateral circulation
between portal and systemic venous systems
◉With what part of the stethoscope do you use to listen for bruits?
Answer: Bell
◉What is a friction rub? Answer: High-pitched, scratching, grating
sound heard with the diaphragm of the stethoscope
, Listen over the liver and spleen
◉What does an abdominal friction rub indicate? Answer:
Inflammation of the peritoneal surface of the organ from a tumor,
abscess, or infarct
◉Why do you percuss the abdomen? Answer: Helps you assess the
amount and distribution of gas in the abdomen, possible masses,
and size of liver and spleen
◉How do you percuss the abdomen? What is normal? Answer:
Percuss all four quadrants
Tympany predominates stomach and intestines (air filled)
Dullness over liver and spleen (solid organs)
Too much tympany (hyperresonance) = gas, fluid
Too much dull = distended bladder, mass, ascites
◉How do you percuss liver span? Answer: - Right midclavicular line
- Below umbilicus, percuss upward (tympany to dullness)
AND ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉What abdominal arteries do you want to listen to? What are you
listening for? Answer: First listen to the epigastric region
Aorta, renal artery, iliac artery, femoral artery
Listening for bruits
◉A new mother comes to you complaining that her infant has been
projectile vomiting after every feeding. You inspect the abdomen and
see visible peristaltic waves. What is this? Answer: Pyloric stenosis
◉What is ascites? What causes it? Answer: abnormal fluid
Cancer, Liver Disease, Kidney Failure, Infections
◉What part of the stethoscope do you want to use to listen to the
abdomen? Answer: Diaphragm
,◉What do bowel sounds sound like? How often? Answer: Irregular
gurgles and clicks
5-25 per minute
◉What is borborygmi? Answer: A rumbling or gurgling noise made
by the movement of fluid and gas in the intestines
"stomach growling"
◉Where should you listen for friction rubs? Answer: Over the liver
and spleen
◉How does hypokalemia lead to abdominal distention? Answer:
Hypokalemia can lead to gastric dismotility and ileus
◉What are spider angiomas? Answer: Telangiectasis (swollen blood
vessels) found slightly beneath the skin surface, often containing a
central red spot and reddish extensions which radiate outwards like
a spider's web
◉You are admitting a patient in the ER. She complains of "horrible"
abdominal pain. You perform an abdominal exam - the patient is
cringing, abdomen rigid, and you do not hear any bowel sounds.
,What do you do next? Answer: Send to surgery, this acute abdomen
is an emergency
◉Purple and pink striae on the abdomen may indicate what
syndrome? Answer: Cushings
◉"Absent bowel sounds" is after how many minutes? Answer: 5
minutes
◉Your 35 y/o male patient with hypertension refractory to
medications. You are performing an abdominal exam and notice a
"whoosing" sound over the renal arteries. What is high on your
differential? Answer: Renal artery stenosis
◉What is an epigastric venous hum? Answer: Soft, low pitched
continuous sound that occurs with increased collateral circulation
between portal and systemic venous systems
◉With what part of the stethoscope do you use to listen for bruits?
Answer: Bell
◉What is a friction rub? Answer: High-pitched, scratching, grating
sound heard with the diaphragm of the stethoscope
, Listen over the liver and spleen
◉What does an abdominal friction rub indicate? Answer:
Inflammation of the peritoneal surface of the organ from a tumor,
abscess, or infarct
◉Why do you percuss the abdomen? Answer: Helps you assess the
amount and distribution of gas in the abdomen, possible masses,
and size of liver and spleen
◉How do you percuss the abdomen? What is normal? Answer:
Percuss all four quadrants
Tympany predominates stomach and intestines (air filled)
Dullness over liver and spleen (solid organs)
Too much tympany (hyperresonance) = gas, fluid
Too much dull = distended bladder, mass, ascites
◉How do you percuss liver span? Answer: - Right midclavicular line
- Below umbilicus, percuss upward (tympany to dullness)
