NR 305 Health Assessment in Nursing Practice Questions 2026
|Chamberlain College
1. During a physical examination, which assessment technique should be
performed first for the abdomen?
A. Palpation
B. Inspection
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Answer: B
Rationale: For the abdominal assessment, the sequence is inspection, auscultation,
percussion, and then palpation to avoid altering bowel sounds.
2. A patient presents with a ‘stabbing’ pain in the lower leg. This description
primarily refers to which characteristic of pain?
A. Severity
B. Quality
C. Radiation
D. Duration
Answer: B
Rationale: The quality of pain refers to how the pain feels, such as sharp, dull, stabbing, or
burning.
,3. Which cranial nerve is being tested when the nurse asks the patient to shrug
their shoulders against resistance?
A. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
B. CN XI (Spinal Accessory)
C. CN X (Vagus)
D. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
Answer: B
Rationale: Cranial Nerve XI, the Spinal Accessory nerve, controls the trapezius and
sternocleidomastoid muscles used for shrugging.
4. When assessing the thorax, the nurse notes a ‘dull’ percussion sound over the
lung field. What does this suggest?
A. Normal lung tissue
B. Air trapping (emphysema)
C. Pneumothorax
D. Consolidation or fluid
Answer: D
Rationale: Dullness on percussion indicates a dense area, such as fluid or solid tissue
(pneumonia or tumor), replacing the air-filled lungs.
5. To assess for jaundice in a dark-skinned patient, where is the best location for
the nurse to look?
A. Sclera and hard palate
B. Forehead
C. Palms of the hands
D. Abdomen
Answer: A
Rationale: Jaundice is best observed in the sclera (yellowing) or the hard palate of the
mouth in dark-skinned individuals.
, 6. The nurse is using the Braden Scale to assess a patient. What is the primary
purpose of this scale?
A. To assess nutritional status
B. To evaluate fall risk
C. To measure level of consciousness
D. To predict pressure sore risk
Answer: D
Rationale: The Braden Scale is a validated tool used to identify patients at risk for
developing pressure ulcers.
7. While auscultating heart sounds, the nurse knows that S1 is loudest at which
location?
A. Second intercostal space right
B. Base of the heart
C. Apex of the heart
D. Erb’s point
Answer: C
Rationale: S1 (the ‘lub’) corresponds with the closure of the AV valves and is loudest at the
apex (mitral area).
8. A patient has a capillary refill time of 5 seconds. How should the nurse
interpret this finding?
A. Normal peripheral perfusion
B. Increased cardiac output
C. Delayed perfusion
D. Venous insufficiency
Answer: C
Rationale: Normal capillary refill should be less than 2-3 seconds; 5 seconds indicates
sluggish perfusion.
|Chamberlain College
1. During a physical examination, which assessment technique should be
performed first for the abdomen?
A. Palpation
B. Inspection
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Answer: B
Rationale: For the abdominal assessment, the sequence is inspection, auscultation,
percussion, and then palpation to avoid altering bowel sounds.
2. A patient presents with a ‘stabbing’ pain in the lower leg. This description
primarily refers to which characteristic of pain?
A. Severity
B. Quality
C. Radiation
D. Duration
Answer: B
Rationale: The quality of pain refers to how the pain feels, such as sharp, dull, stabbing, or
burning.
,3. Which cranial nerve is being tested when the nurse asks the patient to shrug
their shoulders against resistance?
A. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
B. CN XI (Spinal Accessory)
C. CN X (Vagus)
D. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
Answer: B
Rationale: Cranial Nerve XI, the Spinal Accessory nerve, controls the trapezius and
sternocleidomastoid muscles used for shrugging.
4. When assessing the thorax, the nurse notes a ‘dull’ percussion sound over the
lung field. What does this suggest?
A. Normal lung tissue
B. Air trapping (emphysema)
C. Pneumothorax
D. Consolidation or fluid
Answer: D
Rationale: Dullness on percussion indicates a dense area, such as fluid or solid tissue
(pneumonia or tumor), replacing the air-filled lungs.
5. To assess for jaundice in a dark-skinned patient, where is the best location for
the nurse to look?
A. Sclera and hard palate
B. Forehead
C. Palms of the hands
D. Abdomen
Answer: A
Rationale: Jaundice is best observed in the sclera (yellowing) or the hard palate of the
mouth in dark-skinned individuals.
, 6. The nurse is using the Braden Scale to assess a patient. What is the primary
purpose of this scale?
A. To assess nutritional status
B. To evaluate fall risk
C. To measure level of consciousness
D. To predict pressure sore risk
Answer: D
Rationale: The Braden Scale is a validated tool used to identify patients at risk for
developing pressure ulcers.
7. While auscultating heart sounds, the nurse knows that S1 is loudest at which
location?
A. Second intercostal space right
B. Base of the heart
C. Apex of the heart
D. Erb’s point
Answer: C
Rationale: S1 (the ‘lub’) corresponds with the closure of the AV valves and is loudest at the
apex (mitral area).
8. A patient has a capillary refill time of 5 seconds. How should the nurse
interpret this finding?
A. Normal peripheral perfusion
B. Increased cardiac output
C. Delayed perfusion
D. Venous insufficiency
Answer: C
Rationale: Normal capillary refill should be less than 2-3 seconds; 5 seconds indicates
sluggish perfusion.
