NR 302 Health Assessment I - Exam 3 Study Guide 2026 |Chamberlain
College
1. Where is the best anatomical location to auscultate the aortic valve?
A. Fifth intercostal space at the left midclavicular line
B. Second left intercostal space at the sternal border
C. Third left intercostal space at the sternal border
D. Second right intercostal space at the sternal border
Answer: D
Rationale: The aortic valve area is located at the second right intercostal space. The
pulmonic is at the second left, Erb’s point at the third left, and mitral at the fifth intercostal
space midclavicular line.
2. When performing a physical assessment of the abdomen, in what order
should the nurse perform the techniques?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Inspection, Auscultation, Palpation, Percussion
C. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Percussion, Palpation
Answer: C
Rationale: For the abdomen, auscultation is done before percussion and palpation to avoid
stimulating bowel sounds or causing pain that might alter the findings.
,3. Which heart sound is caused by the closure of the atrioventricular (AV)
valves?
A. S2
B. S4
C. S3
D. S1
Answer: D
Rationale: S1 (the ‘lub’) is the sound of the mitral and tricuspid (AV) valves closing at the
start of systole. S2 is the closure of semilunar valves.
4. A nurse is assessing a patient for tactile fremitus. Which condition would
cause an increase in fremitus?
A. Pneumothorax
B. Pneumonia with consolidation
C. Pleural effusion
D. Emphysema
Answer: B
Rationale: Tactile fremitus increases with lung consolidation (like pneumonia) because
sound travels better through solid/fluid-filled tissue than air.
5. The nurse is testing a patient’s cranial nerves. Which cranial nerve is
responsible for visual acuity?
A. CN IV (Trochlear)
B. CN III (Oculomotor)
C. CN II (Optic)
D. CN VI (Abducens)
Answer: C
Rationale: CN II is the optic nerve, responsible for vision. CN III, IV, and VI are responsible
for extraocular eye movements.
, 6. While assessing the musculoskeletal system, the nurse notes an exaggerated
lumbar curve. This is known as:
A. Kyphosis
B. Scoliosis
C. Ankylosis
D. Lordosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Lordosis is an inward curvature of the lumbar spine (swayback). Kyphosis is
the thoracic curve (hunchback), and scoliosis is a lateral curve.
7. What does a 2+ grade for peripheral pulses indicate?
A. Absent, non-palpable
B. Weak, thready
C. Normal, brisk
D. Bounding
Answer: C
Rationale: On a scale of 0 to 3+ or 4+, 2+ is typically considered the normal, expected
strength of a pulse.
8. The nurse auscultates high-pitched, musical whistling sounds in the lungs.
How should this be documented?
A. Stridor
B. Crackles
C. Rhonchi
D. Wheezes
Answer: D
Rationale: Wheezes are high-pitched, musical sounds caused by narrowed airways.
Crackles are popping sounds, and stridor is a loud, high-pitched crowing sound from upper
airway obstruction.
College
1. Where is the best anatomical location to auscultate the aortic valve?
A. Fifth intercostal space at the left midclavicular line
B. Second left intercostal space at the sternal border
C. Third left intercostal space at the sternal border
D. Second right intercostal space at the sternal border
Answer: D
Rationale: The aortic valve area is located at the second right intercostal space. The
pulmonic is at the second left, Erb’s point at the third left, and mitral at the fifth intercostal
space midclavicular line.
2. When performing a physical assessment of the abdomen, in what order
should the nurse perform the techniques?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Inspection, Auscultation, Palpation, Percussion
C. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Percussion, Palpation
Answer: C
Rationale: For the abdomen, auscultation is done before percussion and palpation to avoid
stimulating bowel sounds or causing pain that might alter the findings.
,3. Which heart sound is caused by the closure of the atrioventricular (AV)
valves?
A. S2
B. S4
C. S3
D. S1
Answer: D
Rationale: S1 (the ‘lub’) is the sound of the mitral and tricuspid (AV) valves closing at the
start of systole. S2 is the closure of semilunar valves.
4. A nurse is assessing a patient for tactile fremitus. Which condition would
cause an increase in fremitus?
A. Pneumothorax
B. Pneumonia with consolidation
C. Pleural effusion
D. Emphysema
Answer: B
Rationale: Tactile fremitus increases with lung consolidation (like pneumonia) because
sound travels better through solid/fluid-filled tissue than air.
5. The nurse is testing a patient’s cranial nerves. Which cranial nerve is
responsible for visual acuity?
A. CN IV (Trochlear)
B. CN III (Oculomotor)
C. CN II (Optic)
D. CN VI (Abducens)
Answer: C
Rationale: CN II is the optic nerve, responsible for vision. CN III, IV, and VI are responsible
for extraocular eye movements.
, 6. While assessing the musculoskeletal system, the nurse notes an exaggerated
lumbar curve. This is known as:
A. Kyphosis
B. Scoliosis
C. Ankylosis
D. Lordosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Lordosis is an inward curvature of the lumbar spine (swayback). Kyphosis is
the thoracic curve (hunchback), and scoliosis is a lateral curve.
7. What does a 2+ grade for peripheral pulses indicate?
A. Absent, non-palpable
B. Weak, thready
C. Normal, brisk
D. Bounding
Answer: C
Rationale: On a scale of 0 to 3+ or 4+, 2+ is typically considered the normal, expected
strength of a pulse.
8. The nurse auscultates high-pitched, musical whistling sounds in the lungs.
How should this be documented?
A. Stridor
B. Crackles
C. Rhonchi
D. Wheezes
Answer: D
Rationale: Wheezes are high-pitched, musical sounds caused by narrowed airways.
Crackles are popping sounds, and stridor is a loud, high-pitched crowing sound from upper
airway obstruction.
