1|Page
NURS 190 EXAM / ACTUAL NURS 190 PHYSICAL
ASSESSMENT EXAM 2026-2027 BANK QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS EXAM QUESTIONS WILL
COME FROM HERE (100% CORRECT ANSWERS A+ GRADED
1. A nurse is preparing to assess a patient's thorax and lungs. Which
sequence of assessment techniques is correct for this body system?
A) Palpation, inspection, auscultation, percussion
B) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
C) Inspection, auscultation, palpation, percussion
D) Percussion, palpation, inspection, auscultation
Answer: B
Rationale: For most body systems, the standard sequence is inspection,
palpation, percussion, and auscultation. However, the thorax and lungs,
along with the abdomen, require a modified sequence. For the thorax,
percussion is performed after palpation and before auscultation. For
the abdomen, auscultation follows inspection because percussion and
palpation can alter bowel sounds.
2. The nurse is taking a health history and asks the patient about the
character of their abdominal pain. What aspect of the symptom is the
nurse exploring?
,2|Page
A) The region or location
B) The quality or description
C) The timing, including onset and duration
D) The severity on a 0-10 scale
Answer: B
Rationale: Using a symptom analysis mnemonic like OLD CARTS or
PQRST ensures a comprehensive assessment. "Character" refers to the
quality of the symptom, such as sharp, dull, aching, burning, or
cramping. This helps differentiate between types of pain, like visceral
versus somatic.
3. When inspecting a patient’s eyes, the nurse notes an inward turning
of the lower eyelid. How should the nurse document this finding?
A) Ectropion
B) Entropion
C) Exophthalmos
D) Ptosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Entropion is an inversion of the eyelid margin, often the
lower lid, causing the lashes to rub against the cornea, leading to
irritation and risk of corneal abrasion. Understanding the correct
anatomical terminology ensures safe, interprofessional communication.
4. A nurse assesses a patient who has fallen and reports left leg pain.
The left thigh appears bruised, is larger in circumference than the right
,3|Page
thigh, and feels firm to the touch. What is the priority intervention
based on this rapid assessment?
A) Apply a cold pack to reduce swelling
B) Attempt to gently straighten the leg
C) Assess neurovascular status distal to the injury
D) Prepare the patient for immediate x-ray
Answer: C
Rationale: The assessment findings suggest a possible femur fracture,
which carries a high risk of significant internal bleeding and
neurovascular compromise. The immediate nursing priority is to assess
the "5 Ps": pain, pallor, paresthesia, paralysis, and pulselessness to
establish a baseline and identify a limb-threatening emergency such as
compartment syndrome.
5. The nurse is auscultating a patient’s heart sounds. The closure of the
mitral and tricuspid valves produces which normal heart sound?
A) S1
B) S2
C) S3
D) S4
Answer: A
Rationale: S1, the first heart sound ("lub"), is produced by the closure
of the atrioventricular valves, which are the mitral and tricuspid valves.
This sound signals the beginning of systole. S2 ("dub") is produced by
, 4|Page
the closure of the semilunar valves (aortic and pulmonic), signaling the
end of systole.
6. During a skin assessment, a nurse palpates a lesion that feels like a
small, fluid-filled blister less than 1 cm in diameter. What is the correct
term to document this finding?
A) Macule
B) Nodule
C) Vesicle
D) Pustule
Answer: C
Rationale: A vesicle is a primary skin lesion, a circumscribed, elevated,
fluid-filled cavity up to 1 cm in size. Example: herpes simplex blister. A
bulla is the same but larger than 1 cm. A pustule is filled with pus, a
nodule is a solid mass, and a macule is a flat color change.
7. When performing the Romberg test on a patient, which sensory
pathway is the nurse primarily assessing?
A) Cerebellar function for coordination
B) Dorsal column tract for proprioception
C) Corticospinal tract for motor strength
D) Vestibular branch of CN VIII for equilibrium
Answer: B
NURS 190 EXAM / ACTUAL NURS 190 PHYSICAL
ASSESSMENT EXAM 2026-2027 BANK QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED VERIFIED ANSWERS EXAM QUESTIONS WILL
COME FROM HERE (100% CORRECT ANSWERS A+ GRADED
1. A nurse is preparing to assess a patient's thorax and lungs. Which
sequence of assessment techniques is correct for this body system?
A) Palpation, inspection, auscultation, percussion
B) Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
C) Inspection, auscultation, palpation, percussion
D) Percussion, palpation, inspection, auscultation
Answer: B
Rationale: For most body systems, the standard sequence is inspection,
palpation, percussion, and auscultation. However, the thorax and lungs,
along with the abdomen, require a modified sequence. For the thorax,
percussion is performed after palpation and before auscultation. For
the abdomen, auscultation follows inspection because percussion and
palpation can alter bowel sounds.
2. The nurse is taking a health history and asks the patient about the
character of their abdominal pain. What aspect of the symptom is the
nurse exploring?
,2|Page
A) The region or location
B) The quality or description
C) The timing, including onset and duration
D) The severity on a 0-10 scale
Answer: B
Rationale: Using a symptom analysis mnemonic like OLD CARTS or
PQRST ensures a comprehensive assessment. "Character" refers to the
quality of the symptom, such as sharp, dull, aching, burning, or
cramping. This helps differentiate between types of pain, like visceral
versus somatic.
3. When inspecting a patient’s eyes, the nurse notes an inward turning
of the lower eyelid. How should the nurse document this finding?
A) Ectropion
B) Entropion
C) Exophthalmos
D) Ptosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Entropion is an inversion of the eyelid margin, often the
lower lid, causing the lashes to rub against the cornea, leading to
irritation and risk of corneal abrasion. Understanding the correct
anatomical terminology ensures safe, interprofessional communication.
4. A nurse assesses a patient who has fallen and reports left leg pain.
The left thigh appears bruised, is larger in circumference than the right
,3|Page
thigh, and feels firm to the touch. What is the priority intervention
based on this rapid assessment?
A) Apply a cold pack to reduce swelling
B) Attempt to gently straighten the leg
C) Assess neurovascular status distal to the injury
D) Prepare the patient for immediate x-ray
Answer: C
Rationale: The assessment findings suggest a possible femur fracture,
which carries a high risk of significant internal bleeding and
neurovascular compromise. The immediate nursing priority is to assess
the "5 Ps": pain, pallor, paresthesia, paralysis, and pulselessness to
establish a baseline and identify a limb-threatening emergency such as
compartment syndrome.
5. The nurse is auscultating a patient’s heart sounds. The closure of the
mitral and tricuspid valves produces which normal heart sound?
A) S1
B) S2
C) S3
D) S4
Answer: A
Rationale: S1, the first heart sound ("lub"), is produced by the closure
of the atrioventricular valves, which are the mitral and tricuspid valves.
This sound signals the beginning of systole. S2 ("dub") is produced by
, 4|Page
the closure of the semilunar valves (aortic and pulmonic), signaling the
end of systole.
6. During a skin assessment, a nurse palpates a lesion that feels like a
small, fluid-filled blister less than 1 cm in diameter. What is the correct
term to document this finding?
A) Macule
B) Nodule
C) Vesicle
D) Pustule
Answer: C
Rationale: A vesicle is a primary skin lesion, a circumscribed, elevated,
fluid-filled cavity up to 1 cm in size. Example: herpes simplex blister. A
bulla is the same but larger than 1 cm. A pustule is filled with pus, a
nodule is a solid mass, and a macule is a flat color change.
7. When performing the Romberg test on a patient, which sensory
pathway is the nurse primarily assessing?
A) Cerebellar function for coordination
B) Dorsal column tract for proprioception
C) Corticospinal tract for motor strength
D) Vestibular branch of CN VIII for equilibrium
Answer: B
