NR 305 Health Assessment Exam 2 Study Guide 2026 |Chamberlain
College
1. When performing a physical assessment, in what order should the nurse
assess the abdomen?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
C. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
D. Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation
Answer: C
Rationale: For the abdominal assessment, auscultation is performed before percussion
and palpation to avoid stimulating bowel sounds that were not originally present.
2. Which heart sound is caused by the closure of the atrioventricular valves
(mitral and tricuspid)?
A. S3
B. S2
C. S1
D. S4
Answer: C
Rationale: The first heart sound (S1) occurs with the closure of the AV valves and signals
the beginning of systole.
,3. The nurse is percussing over healthy lung tissue. Which sound does the nurse
expect to hear?
A. Dullness
B. Resonance
C. Tympany
D. Hyperresonance
Answer: B
Rationale: Resonance is the low-pitched, clear, hollow sound that predominates in healthy
lung tissue in adults.
4. A patient has a 3+ pitting edema in the lower extremities. How would the
nurse describe this?
A. Mild pitting, slight indentation, no perceptible swelling
B. Deep pitting, indentation remains for a short time, leg looks swollen
C. Moderate pitting, indentation subsides rapidly
D. Very deep pitting, indentation lasts a long time, leg is very swollen
Answer: B
Rationale: 3+ edema is characterized by deep pitting where the indentation remains for a
short time and the leg appears swollen.
5. The nurse is assessing the cranial nerves. To test Cranial Nerve VII (Facial),
which action should the nurse ask the patient to perform?
A. Shrug the shoulders against resistance
B. Smile and puff out the cheeks
C. Stick out the tongue
D. Follow a finger through the six cardinal positions of gaze
Answer: B
Rationale: Cranial Nerve VII is the Facial nerve, which controls facial expressions like
smiling, frowning, and puffing out cheeks.
, 6. Where is the apical pulse located in a healthy adult?
A. Second intercostal space, right sternal border
B. Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
C. Second intercostal space, left sternal border
D. Fourth intercostal space, left sternal border
Answer: B
Rationale: The apical pulse, or point of maximal impulse (PMI), is normally located at the
fifth intercostal space at the left midclavicular line.
7. During a respiratory assessment, the nurse notes a coarse, low-pitched sound
during both inspiration and expiration that clears with coughing. What is this
sound?
A. Fine crackles
B. Rhonchi
C. Wheezes
D. Pleural friction rub
Answer: B
Rationale: Rhonchi (also known as sonorous wheezes) are low-pitched, snoring sounds
often caused by secretions in the larger airways and frequently clear with coughing.
8. When assessing for costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness, the nurse is
checking for inflammation of which organ?
A. Liver
B. Kidney
C. Spleen
D. Appendix
Answer: B
Rationale: CVA tenderness is checked by percussing the posterior 12th rib; pain in this
area indicates kidney inflammation or infection.
College
1. When performing a physical assessment, in what order should the nurse
assess the abdomen?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
C. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
D. Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation
Answer: C
Rationale: For the abdominal assessment, auscultation is performed before percussion
and palpation to avoid stimulating bowel sounds that were not originally present.
2. Which heart sound is caused by the closure of the atrioventricular valves
(mitral and tricuspid)?
A. S3
B. S2
C. S1
D. S4
Answer: C
Rationale: The first heart sound (S1) occurs with the closure of the AV valves and signals
the beginning of systole.
,3. The nurse is percussing over healthy lung tissue. Which sound does the nurse
expect to hear?
A. Dullness
B. Resonance
C. Tympany
D. Hyperresonance
Answer: B
Rationale: Resonance is the low-pitched, clear, hollow sound that predominates in healthy
lung tissue in adults.
4. A patient has a 3+ pitting edema in the lower extremities. How would the
nurse describe this?
A. Mild pitting, slight indentation, no perceptible swelling
B. Deep pitting, indentation remains for a short time, leg looks swollen
C. Moderate pitting, indentation subsides rapidly
D. Very deep pitting, indentation lasts a long time, leg is very swollen
Answer: B
Rationale: 3+ edema is characterized by deep pitting where the indentation remains for a
short time and the leg appears swollen.
5. The nurse is assessing the cranial nerves. To test Cranial Nerve VII (Facial),
which action should the nurse ask the patient to perform?
A. Shrug the shoulders against resistance
B. Smile and puff out the cheeks
C. Stick out the tongue
D. Follow a finger through the six cardinal positions of gaze
Answer: B
Rationale: Cranial Nerve VII is the Facial nerve, which controls facial expressions like
smiling, frowning, and puffing out cheeks.
, 6. Where is the apical pulse located in a healthy adult?
A. Second intercostal space, right sternal border
B. Fifth intercostal space, left midclavicular line
C. Second intercostal space, left sternal border
D. Fourth intercostal space, left sternal border
Answer: B
Rationale: The apical pulse, or point of maximal impulse (PMI), is normally located at the
fifth intercostal space at the left midclavicular line.
7. During a respiratory assessment, the nurse notes a coarse, low-pitched sound
during both inspiration and expiration that clears with coughing. What is this
sound?
A. Fine crackles
B. Rhonchi
C. Wheezes
D. Pleural friction rub
Answer: B
Rationale: Rhonchi (also known as sonorous wheezes) are low-pitched, snoring sounds
often caused by secretions in the larger airways and frequently clear with coughing.
8. When assessing for costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness, the nurse is
checking for inflammation of which organ?
A. Liver
B. Kidney
C. Spleen
D. Appendix
Answer: B
Rationale: CVA tenderness is checked by percussing the posterior 12th rib; pain in this
area indicates kidney inflammation or infection.
