NR 302 Health Assessment I Final Exam Practice 2026 |Chamberlain
College
1. Which assessment technique should the nurse use first when examining a
patient’s abdomen?
A. Palpation
B. Auscultation
C. Inspection
D. Percussion
Answer: C
Rationale: Inspection is always performed first in the assessment sequence (IPPA). For the
abdomen, the order is modified to Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, then Palpation to
avoid altering bowel sounds.
2. The nurse is collecting subjective data during a health history. Which of the
following is an example of subjective data?
A. Pitting edema in the lower extremities
B. A blood pressure reading of 145/92 mmHg
C. An audible wheeze during lung auscultation
D. The patient reporting a ‘throbbing’ headache
Answer: D
Rationale: Subjective data is what the patient says about themselves (symptoms).
Objective data is what the health professional observes (signs) through physical
examination.
,3. When assessing a patient’s pulse, the nurse notes the rhythm is irregular.
What is the most appropriate next action?
A. Document the finding as normal for the patient
B. Count the apical pulse for one full minute
C. Re-assess the radial pulse for 30 seconds and multiply by two
D. Notify the physician immediately before further assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: If a peripheral pulse is irregular, the nurse should count the apical pulse for one
full minute to obtain the most accurate measurement of heart rate and rhythm.
4. Which part of the hand is best suited for assessing skin temperature?
A. The dorsal surface (back) of the hand
B. The ulnar surface of the hand
C. The palmar surface of the hand
D. The fingertips
Answer: A
Rationale: The dorsal surface (back) of the hand is thinner than the palms and more
sensitive to temperature variations.
5. A patient complains of pain in the right knee. Using the PQRST mnemonic, the
nurse asks, ‘What makes the pain feel better or worse?’ Which component of
the mnemonic does this address?
A. Provocative or Palliative
B. Quality or Quantity
C. Region or Radiation
D. Severity Scale
Answer: A
Rationale: P stands for Provocative or Palliative, which investigates what triggers the pain
or what relieves it.
, 6. What sound does the nurse expect to hear when percussing over healthy lung
tissue?
A. Dullness
B. Tympany
C. Hyperresonance
D. Resonance
Answer: D
Rationale: Resonance is the clear, hollow, low-pitched sound heard over normal, air-filled
lung tissue in an adult.
7. The nurse is using the SBAR tool for communication. Which of the following
information belongs in the ‘B’ (Background) section?
A. ‘The patient has a history of COPD and was admitted for pneumonia two days ago.’
B. ‘I recommend that we start the patient on 2 liters of oxygen.’
C. ‘I am calling because the patient’s oxygen saturation dropped to 85%.’
D. ‘The patient is currently alert but appears short of breath.’
Answer: A
Rationale: The Background (B) section provides pertinent medical history and the context
of the patient’s admission or condition.
8. When assessing the skin of an elderly patient, the nurse notes a slow return
of skin after pinching it under the clavicle. This finding is known as:
A. Vascularity
B. Ecchymosis
C. Tenting
D. Lichenification
Answer: C
Rationale: Tenting is a delay in the skin returning to its original place after being pinched,
indicating decreased skin turgor or dehydration.
College
1. Which assessment technique should the nurse use first when examining a
patient’s abdomen?
A. Palpation
B. Auscultation
C. Inspection
D. Percussion
Answer: C
Rationale: Inspection is always performed first in the assessment sequence (IPPA). For the
abdomen, the order is modified to Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, then Palpation to
avoid altering bowel sounds.
2. The nurse is collecting subjective data during a health history. Which of the
following is an example of subjective data?
A. Pitting edema in the lower extremities
B. A blood pressure reading of 145/92 mmHg
C. An audible wheeze during lung auscultation
D. The patient reporting a ‘throbbing’ headache
Answer: D
Rationale: Subjective data is what the patient says about themselves (symptoms).
Objective data is what the health professional observes (signs) through physical
examination.
,3. When assessing a patient’s pulse, the nurse notes the rhythm is irregular.
What is the most appropriate next action?
A. Document the finding as normal for the patient
B. Count the apical pulse for one full minute
C. Re-assess the radial pulse for 30 seconds and multiply by two
D. Notify the physician immediately before further assessment
Answer: B
Rationale: If a peripheral pulse is irregular, the nurse should count the apical pulse for one
full minute to obtain the most accurate measurement of heart rate and rhythm.
4. Which part of the hand is best suited for assessing skin temperature?
A. The dorsal surface (back) of the hand
B. The ulnar surface of the hand
C. The palmar surface of the hand
D. The fingertips
Answer: A
Rationale: The dorsal surface (back) of the hand is thinner than the palms and more
sensitive to temperature variations.
5. A patient complains of pain in the right knee. Using the PQRST mnemonic, the
nurse asks, ‘What makes the pain feel better or worse?’ Which component of
the mnemonic does this address?
A. Provocative or Palliative
B. Quality or Quantity
C. Region or Radiation
D. Severity Scale
Answer: A
Rationale: P stands for Provocative or Palliative, which investigates what triggers the pain
or what relieves it.
, 6. What sound does the nurse expect to hear when percussing over healthy lung
tissue?
A. Dullness
B. Tympany
C. Hyperresonance
D. Resonance
Answer: D
Rationale: Resonance is the clear, hollow, low-pitched sound heard over normal, air-filled
lung tissue in an adult.
7. The nurse is using the SBAR tool for communication. Which of the following
information belongs in the ‘B’ (Background) section?
A. ‘The patient has a history of COPD and was admitted for pneumonia two days ago.’
B. ‘I recommend that we start the patient on 2 liters of oxygen.’
C. ‘I am calling because the patient’s oxygen saturation dropped to 85%.’
D. ‘The patient is currently alert but appears short of breath.’
Answer: A
Rationale: The Background (B) section provides pertinent medical history and the context
of the patient’s admission or condition.
8. When assessing the skin of an elderly patient, the nurse notes a slow return
of skin after pinching it under the clavicle. This finding is known as:
A. Vascularity
B. Ecchymosis
C. Tenting
D. Lichenification
Answer: C
Rationale: Tenting is a delay in the skin returning to its original place after being pinched,
indicating decreased skin turgor or dehydration.
