NSG 3160 Exam 1 Health Assessment 2026|2027
Questions and Answers
General Principles
Q1: What is the first step in a health assessment interview?
A: Establishing rapport
Rationale: Builds trust and ensures accurate patient disclosure.
Q2: Which technique is always performed first in physical assessment?
A: Inspection
Rationale: Provides baseline visual data before palpation, percussion, or auscultation.
Q3: Which type of data is obtained directly from the patient’s statements?
A: Subjective data
Rationale: Patient-reported symptoms and experiences.
Q4: Which type of data is measurable and observable?
A: Objective data
Rationale: Signs detected by examiner (e.g., vital signs, lab results).
Q5: What is the purpose of open-ended questions in assessment?
A: Encourage patient elaboration
Rationale: Allows exploration of patient’s perspective.
Vital Signs & Measurements
Q6: Which vital sign is most sensitive to early blood loss?
A: Heart rate
Rationale: Tachycardia is an early compensatory mechanism.
Q7: Best site for core temperature measurement?
A: Rectal
Rationale: Most accurate reflection of internal body temperature.
Q8: Normal adult respiratory rate?
A: 12–20 breaths/min
Rationale: Standard range for healthy adults.
Q9: Which blood pressure reading indicates stage 1 hypertension?
A: 130–139 systolic or 80–89 diastolic
Rationale: According to current guidelines.
Q10: Pulse oximetry measures?
A: Arterial oxygen saturation (SpO₂)
Rationale: Non-invasive estimate of oxygenation.
,Cardiovascular Assessment
Q11: Which heart sound is associated with stiff ventricles?
A: S4
Rationale: Occurs with hypertension or left ventricular hypertrophy.
Q12: Best position to hear mitral valve sounds?
A: Left lateral decubitus
Rationale: Brings apex closer to chest wall.
Q13: Where is the apical impulse normally located?
A: 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line
Rationale: Normal PMI location.
Q14: Which finding suggests heart failure?
A: Jugular venous distension
Rationale: Indicates increased right atrial pressure.
Q15: Which pulse is palpated for assessing perfusion to the brain?
A: Carotid pulse
Rationale: Reflects central circulation.
Respiratory Assessment
Q16: Normal breath sound over trachea?
A: Bronchial
Rationale: Loud, high-pitched sounds centrally.
Q17: Increased tactile fremitus suggests?
A: Consolidation (pneumonia)
Rationale: Vibrations transmit better through solid tissue.
Q18: Which sound indicates pleural friction rub?
A: Grating, low-pitched sound
Rationale: Caused by inflamed pleural surfaces rubbing together.
Q19: Which finding suggests emphysema?
A: Hyperresonance on percussion
Rationale: Excess air in lungs increases resonance.
Q20: Best position for assessing posterior lung fields?
A: Sitting upright
Rationale: Allows full expansion and access to posterior chest.
Neurological Assessment
Q21: Which cranial nerve controls lateral eye movement?
A: CN VI (Abducens)
Rationale: Innervates lateral rectus muscle.
, Q22: Positive Romberg test indicates dysfunction in?
A: Proprioception
Rationale: Loss of position sense causes imbalance with eyes closed.
Q23: Which reflex is tested by striking the patellar tendon?
A: Knee jerk (L2–L4)
Rationale: Assesses spinal cord integrity at lumbar level.
Q24: Glasgow Coma Scale assesses?
A: Eye, verbal, motor responses
Rationale: Standard tool for consciousness level.
Q25: Which cranial nerve is tested by asking patient to smile?
A: CN VII (Facial)
Rationale: Controls facial muscles of expression.
Gastrointestinal Assessment
Q26: Pain in right lower quadrant suggests?
A: Appendicitis
Rationale: Classic location of appendix inflammation.
Q27: Normal bowel sounds are described as?
A: High-pitched, gurgling, irregular
Rationale: Reflect peristaltic activity.
Q28: Which finding suggests ascites?
A: Shifting dullness
Rationale: Fluid shifts with position changes.
Q29: Murphy’s sign indicates?
A: Cholecystitis
Rationale: Pain with palpation under right costal margin during inspiration.
Q30: Which quadrant contains the spleen?
A: Left upper quadrant
Rationale: Anatomical location of spleen.
Q31: Which heart sound is normal in children and young adults?
A: S3
Rationale: Physiologic S3 reflects rapid ventricular filling.
Q32: A bruit over the carotid artery suggests?
A: Turbulent blood flow due to stenosis
Rationale: Indicates narrowing or obstruction.
Questions and Answers
General Principles
Q1: What is the first step in a health assessment interview?
A: Establishing rapport
Rationale: Builds trust and ensures accurate patient disclosure.
Q2: Which technique is always performed first in physical assessment?
A: Inspection
Rationale: Provides baseline visual data before palpation, percussion, or auscultation.
Q3: Which type of data is obtained directly from the patient’s statements?
A: Subjective data
Rationale: Patient-reported symptoms and experiences.
Q4: Which type of data is measurable and observable?
A: Objective data
Rationale: Signs detected by examiner (e.g., vital signs, lab results).
Q5: What is the purpose of open-ended questions in assessment?
A: Encourage patient elaboration
Rationale: Allows exploration of patient’s perspective.
Vital Signs & Measurements
Q6: Which vital sign is most sensitive to early blood loss?
A: Heart rate
Rationale: Tachycardia is an early compensatory mechanism.
Q7: Best site for core temperature measurement?
A: Rectal
Rationale: Most accurate reflection of internal body temperature.
Q8: Normal adult respiratory rate?
A: 12–20 breaths/min
Rationale: Standard range for healthy adults.
Q9: Which blood pressure reading indicates stage 1 hypertension?
A: 130–139 systolic or 80–89 diastolic
Rationale: According to current guidelines.
Q10: Pulse oximetry measures?
A: Arterial oxygen saturation (SpO₂)
Rationale: Non-invasive estimate of oxygenation.
,Cardiovascular Assessment
Q11: Which heart sound is associated with stiff ventricles?
A: S4
Rationale: Occurs with hypertension or left ventricular hypertrophy.
Q12: Best position to hear mitral valve sounds?
A: Left lateral decubitus
Rationale: Brings apex closer to chest wall.
Q13: Where is the apical impulse normally located?
A: 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line
Rationale: Normal PMI location.
Q14: Which finding suggests heart failure?
A: Jugular venous distension
Rationale: Indicates increased right atrial pressure.
Q15: Which pulse is palpated for assessing perfusion to the brain?
A: Carotid pulse
Rationale: Reflects central circulation.
Respiratory Assessment
Q16: Normal breath sound over trachea?
A: Bronchial
Rationale: Loud, high-pitched sounds centrally.
Q17: Increased tactile fremitus suggests?
A: Consolidation (pneumonia)
Rationale: Vibrations transmit better through solid tissue.
Q18: Which sound indicates pleural friction rub?
A: Grating, low-pitched sound
Rationale: Caused by inflamed pleural surfaces rubbing together.
Q19: Which finding suggests emphysema?
A: Hyperresonance on percussion
Rationale: Excess air in lungs increases resonance.
Q20: Best position for assessing posterior lung fields?
A: Sitting upright
Rationale: Allows full expansion and access to posterior chest.
Neurological Assessment
Q21: Which cranial nerve controls lateral eye movement?
A: CN VI (Abducens)
Rationale: Innervates lateral rectus muscle.
, Q22: Positive Romberg test indicates dysfunction in?
A: Proprioception
Rationale: Loss of position sense causes imbalance with eyes closed.
Q23: Which reflex is tested by striking the patellar tendon?
A: Knee jerk (L2–L4)
Rationale: Assesses spinal cord integrity at lumbar level.
Q24: Glasgow Coma Scale assesses?
A: Eye, verbal, motor responses
Rationale: Standard tool for consciousness level.
Q25: Which cranial nerve is tested by asking patient to smile?
A: CN VII (Facial)
Rationale: Controls facial muscles of expression.
Gastrointestinal Assessment
Q26: Pain in right lower quadrant suggests?
A: Appendicitis
Rationale: Classic location of appendix inflammation.
Q27: Normal bowel sounds are described as?
A: High-pitched, gurgling, irregular
Rationale: Reflect peristaltic activity.
Q28: Which finding suggests ascites?
A: Shifting dullness
Rationale: Fluid shifts with position changes.
Q29: Murphy’s sign indicates?
A: Cholecystitis
Rationale: Pain with palpation under right costal margin during inspiration.
Q30: Which quadrant contains the spleen?
A: Left upper quadrant
Rationale: Anatomical location of spleen.
Q31: Which heart sound is normal in children and young adults?
A: S3
Rationale: Physiologic S3 reflects rapid ventricular filling.
Q32: A bruit over the carotid artery suggests?
A: Turbulent blood flow due to stenosis
Rationale: Indicates narrowing or obstruction.
