NR 302 Health Assessment I Week 2 Comprehensive Quiz 2026
|Chamberlain College
1. What is the correct order of physical assessment techniques for most body
systems?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
C. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: A
Rationale: The standard sequence is Inspection first, followed by Palpation, Percussion,
and Auscultation, except for the abdominal exam.
2. When assessing the abdomen, why is the sequence of physical assessment
techniques modified?
A. To prevent the stimulation of bowel sounds before auscultation
B. Because inspection is not necessary for the abdomen
C. To ensure the patient is comfortable
D. Because percussion is the most important step for the abdomen
Answer: A
Rationale: Auscultation is done second in abdominal assessment because palpation and
percussion can increase peristalsis, leading to false bowel sound interpretations.
,3. Which part of the hand is best suited for assessing body temperature during
palpation?
A. Ulnar surface
B. Dorsal aspect
C. Fingertips
D. Palmar surface
Answer: B
Rationale: The dorsal aspect (back) of the hand is best for sensing temperature because
the skin is thinner than on the palms.
4. What is the diaphragm of the stethoscope primarily used for?
A. Listening to low-pitched heart murmurs
B. Listening to high-pitched sounds like breath and bowel sounds
C. Assessing bruits over the carotid artery
D. Listening to pediatric heart sounds only
Answer: B
Rationale: The diaphragm is the larger, flat side used for high-pitched sounds, while the
bell is for low-pitched sounds.
5. Which percussion note is normally heard over healthy lung tissue?
A. Tympany
B. Dullness
C. Resonance
D. Flatness
Answer: C
Rationale: Resonance is the clear, hollow sound heard over normal lung tissue.
, 6. A nurse is performing percussion over the stomach. Which sound should be
expected?
A. Resonance
B. Tympany
C. Dullness
D. Hyperresonance
Answer: B
Rationale: Tympany is a loud, high-pitched, musical or drum-like sound heard over air-
filled organs like the stomach or intestine.
7. What does ‘P’ represent in the PQRST mnemonic for pain assessment?
A. Pressure
B. Pattern
C. Provocation or Palliative
D. Progression
Answer: C
Rationale: P stands for Provocation/Palliative: What makes the pain worse? What makes it
better?
8. Which of the following describes visceral pain?
A. Pain originating from the skin surface
B. Pain originating from musculoskeletal tissues
C. Pain originating from large internal organs
D. Pain resulting from a lesion in the nervous system
Answer: C
Rationale: Visceral pain originates from larger internal organs such as the stomach,
intestine, or pancreas.
|Chamberlain College
1. What is the correct order of physical assessment techniques for most body
systems?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
C. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: A
Rationale: The standard sequence is Inspection first, followed by Palpation, Percussion,
and Auscultation, except for the abdominal exam.
2. When assessing the abdomen, why is the sequence of physical assessment
techniques modified?
A. To prevent the stimulation of bowel sounds before auscultation
B. Because inspection is not necessary for the abdomen
C. To ensure the patient is comfortable
D. Because percussion is the most important step for the abdomen
Answer: A
Rationale: Auscultation is done second in abdominal assessment because palpation and
percussion can increase peristalsis, leading to false bowel sound interpretations.
,3. Which part of the hand is best suited for assessing body temperature during
palpation?
A. Ulnar surface
B. Dorsal aspect
C. Fingertips
D. Palmar surface
Answer: B
Rationale: The dorsal aspect (back) of the hand is best for sensing temperature because
the skin is thinner than on the palms.
4. What is the diaphragm of the stethoscope primarily used for?
A. Listening to low-pitched heart murmurs
B. Listening to high-pitched sounds like breath and bowel sounds
C. Assessing bruits over the carotid artery
D. Listening to pediatric heart sounds only
Answer: B
Rationale: The diaphragm is the larger, flat side used for high-pitched sounds, while the
bell is for low-pitched sounds.
5. Which percussion note is normally heard over healthy lung tissue?
A. Tympany
B. Dullness
C. Resonance
D. Flatness
Answer: C
Rationale: Resonance is the clear, hollow sound heard over normal lung tissue.
, 6. A nurse is performing percussion over the stomach. Which sound should be
expected?
A. Resonance
B. Tympany
C. Dullness
D. Hyperresonance
Answer: B
Rationale: Tympany is a loud, high-pitched, musical or drum-like sound heard over air-
filled organs like the stomach or intestine.
7. What does ‘P’ represent in the PQRST mnemonic for pain assessment?
A. Pressure
B. Pattern
C. Provocation or Palliative
D. Progression
Answer: C
Rationale: P stands for Provocation/Palliative: What makes the pain worse? What makes it
better?
8. Which of the following describes visceral pain?
A. Pain originating from the skin surface
B. Pain originating from musculoskeletal tissues
C. Pain originating from large internal organs
D. Pain resulting from a lesion in the nervous system
Answer: C
Rationale: Visceral pain originates from larger internal organs such as the stomach,
intestine, or pancreas.
