NURS 190 Physical Assessment Week 1 Comprehensive Quiz 2026
|WCU
1. During a general survey, the nurse notes the patient is leaning forward with
arms braced on the chair arms. This ‘tripod position’ is most suggestive of which
condition?
A. Acute abdominal pain
B. Congestive heart failure
C. Chronic pulmonary disease
D. Severe anxiety disorder
Answer: C
Rationale: The tripod position (leaning forward with arms braced) is a classic
compensatory posture used by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) or respiratory distress to aid in the use of accessory muscles for breathing.
2. Which part of the hand is most sensitive and best suited for assessing skin
temperature during a physical examination?
A. The dorsal surface
B. The ulnar surface of the hand
C. The palmar surface
D. The fingertips
Answer: A
Rationale: The dorsal surface (back) of the hands is thinner than the palms and is more
sensitive to temperature variations.
,3. The nurse is performing a physical assessment on a patient. Which sequence
of techniques should the nurse use for most body systems?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
C. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: A
Rationale: The standard order of physical assessment is IPPA: Inspection, Palpation,
Percussion, and Auscultation. The abdomen is the notable exception (IAPP) to avoid
altering bowel sounds.
4. When assessing a patient’s radial pulse, the nurse notes the rhythm is
irregular. What is the most appropriate next action?
A. Notify the physician immediately
B. Count the pulse for a full 60 seconds
C. Check the pulse on the opposite wrist
D. Document the finding and move to respirations
Answer: B
Rationale: If a pulse is irregular, it must be counted for a full minute to obtain an accurate
heart rate and assessment of the rhythm.
5. A patient reports ‘throbbing pain in the left knee that started two days ago.’
This information is classified as which type of data?
A. Objective data
B. Diagnostic data
C. Secondary data
D. Subjective data
Answer: D
, Rationale: Subjective data consists of information provided by the patient (symptoms)
that cannot be directly observed or measured by the nurse.
6. Which technique is specifically used to assess for the presence of fluid or air
in body cavities?
A. Percussion
B. Direct inspection
C. Deep palpation
D. Olfaction
Answer: A
Rationale: Percussion involves tapping the skin with short, sharp strokes to produce
vibrations. The resulting sounds help determine the density (air, fluid, or solid) of the
underlying organ.
7. When using a stethoscope, the diaphragm is best for hearing which type of
sounds?
A. High-pitched sounds, such as breath and bowel sounds
B. Low-pitched sounds, such as heart murmurs
C. Bruits and vascular sounds
D. Extra heart sounds (S3 and S4)
Answer: A
Rationale: The diaphragm of the stethoscope is used for high-pitched sounds (breath,
bowel, and normal heart sounds), while the bell is used for low-pitched sounds.
|WCU
1. During a general survey, the nurse notes the patient is leaning forward with
arms braced on the chair arms. This ‘tripod position’ is most suggestive of which
condition?
A. Acute abdominal pain
B. Congestive heart failure
C. Chronic pulmonary disease
D. Severe anxiety disorder
Answer: C
Rationale: The tripod position (leaning forward with arms braced) is a classic
compensatory posture used by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) or respiratory distress to aid in the use of accessory muscles for breathing.
2. Which part of the hand is most sensitive and best suited for assessing skin
temperature during a physical examination?
A. The dorsal surface
B. The ulnar surface of the hand
C. The palmar surface
D. The fingertips
Answer: A
Rationale: The dorsal surface (back) of the hands is thinner than the palms and is more
sensitive to temperature variations.
,3. The nurse is performing a physical assessment on a patient. Which sequence
of techniques should the nurse use for most body systems?
A. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
B. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
C. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: A
Rationale: The standard order of physical assessment is IPPA: Inspection, Palpation,
Percussion, and Auscultation. The abdomen is the notable exception (IAPP) to avoid
altering bowel sounds.
4. When assessing a patient’s radial pulse, the nurse notes the rhythm is
irregular. What is the most appropriate next action?
A. Notify the physician immediately
B. Count the pulse for a full 60 seconds
C. Check the pulse on the opposite wrist
D. Document the finding and move to respirations
Answer: B
Rationale: If a pulse is irregular, it must be counted for a full minute to obtain an accurate
heart rate and assessment of the rhythm.
5. A patient reports ‘throbbing pain in the left knee that started two days ago.’
This information is classified as which type of data?
A. Objective data
B. Diagnostic data
C. Secondary data
D. Subjective data
Answer: D
, Rationale: Subjective data consists of information provided by the patient (symptoms)
that cannot be directly observed or measured by the nurse.
6. Which technique is specifically used to assess for the presence of fluid or air
in body cavities?
A. Percussion
B. Direct inspection
C. Deep palpation
D. Olfaction
Answer: A
Rationale: Percussion involves tapping the skin with short, sharp strokes to produce
vibrations. The resulting sounds help determine the density (air, fluid, or solid) of the
underlying organ.
7. When using a stethoscope, the diaphragm is best for hearing which type of
sounds?
A. High-pitched sounds, such as breath and bowel sounds
B. Low-pitched sounds, such as heart murmurs
C. Bruits and vascular sounds
D. Extra heart sounds (S3 and S4)
Answer: A
Rationale: The diaphragm of the stethoscope is used for high-pitched sounds (breath,
bowel, and normal heart sounds), while the bell is used for low-pitched sounds.
