NUR 2092 HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM 2
QUIZ BANK | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALE | LATEST UPDATE 2026 |
RASMUSSEN COLLEGE
1. The nurse will use which technique of assessment to determine
the presence of crepitus, swelling, and pulsations?
a. Inspection
b. Palpation
c. Percussion
d. Auscultation
Rationale: Palpation uses the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature,
moisture, organ location and size, swelling, vibration, pulsation, rigidity, crepitus, and
tenderness. Inspection only allows visual assessment, percussion assesses density
under the skin, and auscultation listens for body sounds. Palpation is essential for
detecting tactile changes like swelling or crepitus.
2. The nurse is preparing to use an otoscope for an examination.
Which statement is true regarding the otoscope?
a. Is often used to direct light onto the sinuses
b. Uses a short, broad speculum to help visualize the ear
c. Is used to examine the structures of the internal ear
d. Directs light into the ear canal and onto the tympanic membrane
Rationale: An otoscope is used to illuminate and examine the external ear canal and
tympanic membrane, allowing detection of infection, cerumen impaction, or
perforation. A broad speculum is for nasal exams, not the ear. Directing light
accurately ensures visualization of the middle ear structures.
,3. An examiner is using an ophthalmoscope to examine a patient’s
eyes. The patient has astigmatism and is nearsighted. The use of
which of these techniques would indicate the examination is being
correctly performed?
a. Using the large full circle of light when assessing pupils that are not dilated b.
Rotating the lens selector dial to the black numbers to compensate for astigmatism c.
Using the grid on the lens aperture dial to visualize the external structures of the eye
d. Rotating the lens selector dial to bring the object into focus
Rationale: The ophthalmoscope is used to examine internal eye structures such as
the retina and optic disc. The lens selector dial allows the examiner to adjust for
nearsightedness or farsightedness to bring the image into focus. Astigmatism is not
corrected by this dial. The grid is used for mapping lesions, and full light is for dilated
pupils.
4. The nurse is unable to palpate the right radial pulse on a patient.
The best action would be to:
a. Auscultate over the area with a fetoscope
b. Use a goniometer to measure the pulsations
c. Use a Doppler device to check for pulsations over the area
d. Check for the presence of pulsations with a stethoscope
Rationale: Doppler devices amplify pulsations when a pulse is difficult to palpate. A
fetoscope is for fetal heart tones, a goniometer measures joint motion, and a
stethoscope is used for heart, lung, and bowel sounds, not for absent pulses. Using
Doppler ensures accurate detection of peripheral pulses.
,5. The nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment. The
correct action by the nurse is reflected by which statement?
a. Performs the examination from the left side of the bed
b. Examines tender or painful areas first to help relieve the patient’s anxiety c.
Follows the same examination sequence, regardless of the patient’s age or
condition
d. Organizes the assessment to ensure that the patient does not change
positions too often
Rationale: Organizing the assessment reduces patient fatigue and discomfort. Tender
areas are assessed last to prevent increased pain and anxiety. Examination sequence
may vary depending on patient age or condition, and bedside position does not
universally need to be from the left.
6. A man is at the clinic for a physical examination. He states that
he is “very anxious” about the physical examination. What steps
can the nurse take to make him more comfortable?
a. Appear unhurried and confident when examining him
b. Stay in the room when he undresses in case he needs assistance
c. Ask him to change into an examining gown and take off his undergarments
d. Defer measuring vital signs until the end of the examination
Rationale: A confident, calm, and unhurried approach reduces patient anxiety.
Gradually performing familiar, non-threatening actions, like vital signs, helps the
patient become comfortable. Staying in the room during undressing or deferring vital
signs is not necessary and may increase anxiety.
7. When performing a physical examination, safety must be
considered to protect the examiner and the patient against the
spread of infection. Which of these statements describes the most
appropriate action the nurse should take?
, a. Washing one’s hands after removing gloves is not necessary, as long as the gloves
are still intact
b. Hands are washed before and after every physical patient encounter c.
Hands are washed before the examination of each body system
d. Gloves are worn throughout the entire examination to demonstrate concern for
infection
Rationale: Hand hygiene is required before and after each patient encounter to
prevent the spread of infection. Gloves should be worn only when exposure to body
fluids is possible, and washing before each body system is unnecessary unless
contamination occurs. Proper handwashing protects both patient and nurse.
8. The nurse is examining a patient’s lower leg and notices a
draining ulceration. Which of these actions is most appropriate in
this situation?
a. Washing hands, and contacting the physician
b. Continuing to examine the ulceration, and then washing hands
c. Washing hands, putting on gloves, and continuing with the examination of
the ulceration
d. Washing hands, proceeding with the rest of the physical examination, and then
examining the leg ulceration
Rationale: Potential contact with body fluids requires gloves. Proper infection control
involves washing hands first, donning gloves, and then assessing the wound.
Contacting the physician is not immediate unless there are emergent signs.
9. During the examination, offering some brief teaching about the
patient’s body or the examiner’s findings is often appropriate.
Which one of these statements by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. “Your atrial dysrhythmias are under control”b.
“You have pitting edema and mild varicosities”
QUIZ BANK | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALE | LATEST UPDATE 2026 |
RASMUSSEN COLLEGE
1. The nurse will use which technique of assessment to determine
the presence of crepitus, swelling, and pulsations?
a. Inspection
b. Palpation
c. Percussion
d. Auscultation
Rationale: Palpation uses the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature,
moisture, organ location and size, swelling, vibration, pulsation, rigidity, crepitus, and
tenderness. Inspection only allows visual assessment, percussion assesses density
under the skin, and auscultation listens for body sounds. Palpation is essential for
detecting tactile changes like swelling or crepitus.
2. The nurse is preparing to use an otoscope for an examination.
Which statement is true regarding the otoscope?
a. Is often used to direct light onto the sinuses
b. Uses a short, broad speculum to help visualize the ear
c. Is used to examine the structures of the internal ear
d. Directs light into the ear canal and onto the tympanic membrane
Rationale: An otoscope is used to illuminate and examine the external ear canal and
tympanic membrane, allowing detection of infection, cerumen impaction, or
perforation. A broad speculum is for nasal exams, not the ear. Directing light
accurately ensures visualization of the middle ear structures.
,3. An examiner is using an ophthalmoscope to examine a patient’s
eyes. The patient has astigmatism and is nearsighted. The use of
which of these techniques would indicate the examination is being
correctly performed?
a. Using the large full circle of light when assessing pupils that are not dilated b.
Rotating the lens selector dial to the black numbers to compensate for astigmatism c.
Using the grid on the lens aperture dial to visualize the external structures of the eye
d. Rotating the lens selector dial to bring the object into focus
Rationale: The ophthalmoscope is used to examine internal eye structures such as
the retina and optic disc. The lens selector dial allows the examiner to adjust for
nearsightedness or farsightedness to bring the image into focus. Astigmatism is not
corrected by this dial. The grid is used for mapping lesions, and full light is for dilated
pupils.
4. The nurse is unable to palpate the right radial pulse on a patient.
The best action would be to:
a. Auscultate over the area with a fetoscope
b. Use a goniometer to measure the pulsations
c. Use a Doppler device to check for pulsations over the area
d. Check for the presence of pulsations with a stethoscope
Rationale: Doppler devices amplify pulsations when a pulse is difficult to palpate. A
fetoscope is for fetal heart tones, a goniometer measures joint motion, and a
stethoscope is used for heart, lung, and bowel sounds, not for absent pulses. Using
Doppler ensures accurate detection of peripheral pulses.
,5. The nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment. The
correct action by the nurse is reflected by which statement?
a. Performs the examination from the left side of the bed
b. Examines tender or painful areas first to help relieve the patient’s anxiety c.
Follows the same examination sequence, regardless of the patient’s age or
condition
d. Organizes the assessment to ensure that the patient does not change
positions too often
Rationale: Organizing the assessment reduces patient fatigue and discomfort. Tender
areas are assessed last to prevent increased pain and anxiety. Examination sequence
may vary depending on patient age or condition, and bedside position does not
universally need to be from the left.
6. A man is at the clinic for a physical examination. He states that
he is “very anxious” about the physical examination. What steps
can the nurse take to make him more comfortable?
a. Appear unhurried and confident when examining him
b. Stay in the room when he undresses in case he needs assistance
c. Ask him to change into an examining gown and take off his undergarments
d. Defer measuring vital signs until the end of the examination
Rationale: A confident, calm, and unhurried approach reduces patient anxiety.
Gradually performing familiar, non-threatening actions, like vital signs, helps the
patient become comfortable. Staying in the room during undressing or deferring vital
signs is not necessary and may increase anxiety.
7. When performing a physical examination, safety must be
considered to protect the examiner and the patient against the
spread of infection. Which of these statements describes the most
appropriate action the nurse should take?
, a. Washing one’s hands after removing gloves is not necessary, as long as the gloves
are still intact
b. Hands are washed before and after every physical patient encounter c.
Hands are washed before the examination of each body system
d. Gloves are worn throughout the entire examination to demonstrate concern for
infection
Rationale: Hand hygiene is required before and after each patient encounter to
prevent the spread of infection. Gloves should be worn only when exposure to body
fluids is possible, and washing before each body system is unnecessary unless
contamination occurs. Proper handwashing protects both patient and nurse.
8. The nurse is examining a patient’s lower leg and notices a
draining ulceration. Which of these actions is most appropriate in
this situation?
a. Washing hands, and contacting the physician
b. Continuing to examine the ulceration, and then washing hands
c. Washing hands, putting on gloves, and continuing with the examination of
the ulceration
d. Washing hands, proceeding with the rest of the physical examination, and then
examining the leg ulceration
Rationale: Potential contact with body fluids requires gloves. Proper infection control
involves washing hands first, donning gloves, and then assessing the wound.
Contacting the physician is not immediate unless there are emergent signs.
9. During the examination, offering some brief teaching about the
patient’s body or the examiner’s findings is often appropriate.
Which one of these statements by the nurse is most appropriate?
a. “Your atrial dysrhythmias are under control”b.
“You have pitting edema and mild varicosities”
