NR 302 Health Assessment I Exam 5 Practice Questions 2026
|Chamberlain College
1. When assessing the abdomen, which sequence of techniques should the
nurse use?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
C. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
D. Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation
Answer: C
Rationale: The correct sequence for abdominal assessment is inspection, auscultation,
percussion, and palpation. Percussion and palpation can increase peristalsis, which would
yield false bowel sounds if done before auscultation.
2. A patient complains of pain in the Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ). Which organ
is most likely located in this area?
A. Appendix
B. Spleen
C. Liver
D. Stomach
Answer: A
Rationale: The appendix is located in the Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ). The liver is in the
RUQ, the spleen and stomach are in the LUQ.
,3. To determine the presence of bowel sounds, how long must the nurse listen
in each quadrant before documenting them as ‘absent’?
A. 5 minutes
B. 2 minutes
C. 1 minute
D. 10 minutes
Answer: A
Rationale: Bowel sounds must be unheard for a full 5 minutes in a quadrant before they
can be documented as truly absent.
4. Which sound is expected when percussing over the liver?
A. Tympany
B. Dullness
C. Resonance
D. Hyperresonance
Answer: B
Rationale: Dullness is the sound produced by percussing over dense organs like the liver
or a full bladder.
5. Costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness is a sign of inflammation in which
organ?
A. Liver
B. Spleen
C. Kidney
D. Gallbladder
Answer: C
Rationale: Sharp pain with percussion at the costovertebral angle (CVA) suggests kidney
inflammation or pyelonephritis.
, 6. What is the term for hyperactive bowel sounds that are common with
hunger?
A. Stridor
B. Bruit
C. Friction rub
D. Borborygmus
Answer: D
Rationale: Borborygmus refers to the hyperactive, rumbling or growling sounds caused by
the movement of gas through the intestines.
7. While auscultating the abdomen, the nurse hears a harsh, blowing sound over
the aorta. This is known as a:
A. Venous hum
B. Bruit
C. Crepitus
D. Friction rub
Answer: B
Rationale: A bruit is a vascular sound that indicates turbulent blood flow, often found in
cases of stenosis or aneurysm.
8. The nurse performs the ‘fluid wave’ test to check for:
A. Appendicitis
B. Cholecystitis
C. Splenomegaly
D. Ascites
Answer: D
Rationale: The fluid wave test is used to detect ascites, which is the accumulation of free
fluid in the peritoneal cavity.
|Chamberlain College
1. When assessing the abdomen, which sequence of techniques should the
nurse use?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
C. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
D. Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation
Answer: C
Rationale: The correct sequence for abdominal assessment is inspection, auscultation,
percussion, and palpation. Percussion and palpation can increase peristalsis, which would
yield false bowel sounds if done before auscultation.
2. A patient complains of pain in the Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ). Which organ
is most likely located in this area?
A. Appendix
B. Spleen
C. Liver
D. Stomach
Answer: A
Rationale: The appendix is located in the Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ). The liver is in the
RUQ, the spleen and stomach are in the LUQ.
,3. To determine the presence of bowel sounds, how long must the nurse listen
in each quadrant before documenting them as ‘absent’?
A. 5 minutes
B. 2 minutes
C. 1 minute
D. 10 minutes
Answer: A
Rationale: Bowel sounds must be unheard for a full 5 minutes in a quadrant before they
can be documented as truly absent.
4. Which sound is expected when percussing over the liver?
A. Tympany
B. Dullness
C. Resonance
D. Hyperresonance
Answer: B
Rationale: Dullness is the sound produced by percussing over dense organs like the liver
or a full bladder.
5. Costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness is a sign of inflammation in which
organ?
A. Liver
B. Spleen
C. Kidney
D. Gallbladder
Answer: C
Rationale: Sharp pain with percussion at the costovertebral angle (CVA) suggests kidney
inflammation or pyelonephritis.
, 6. What is the term for hyperactive bowel sounds that are common with
hunger?
A. Stridor
B. Bruit
C. Friction rub
D. Borborygmus
Answer: D
Rationale: Borborygmus refers to the hyperactive, rumbling or growling sounds caused by
the movement of gas through the intestines.
7. While auscultating the abdomen, the nurse hears a harsh, blowing sound over
the aorta. This is known as a:
A. Venous hum
B. Bruit
C. Crepitus
D. Friction rub
Answer: B
Rationale: A bruit is a vascular sound that indicates turbulent blood flow, often found in
cases of stenosis or aneurysm.
8. The nurse performs the ‘fluid wave’ test to check for:
A. Appendicitis
B. Cholecystitis
C. Splenomegaly
D. Ascites
Answer: D
Rationale: The fluid wave test is used to detect ascites, which is the accumulation of free
fluid in the peritoneal cavity.
