Galen NSG 3160 Exam 4 – Health Assessment – (2026) Actual Questions &
Answers.
Abdominal Assessment
1. A nurse is preparing to perform an abdominal assessment. In which order
should the techniques be performed?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
C. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D. Palpation, percussion, inspection, auscultation
Correct Answer: C. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: The abdomen requires a unique sequence. Palpation and percussion
can stimulate peristalsis, altering bowel sounds. Therefore, auscultation must be
performed after inspection but before percussion/palpation to ensure accurate
assessment of undisturbed bowel sounds.
2. To confirm the absence of bowel sounds, the nurse must auscultate for at least:
A. 30 seconds in each quadrant
B. 1 minute in each quadrant
C. 2 minutes in each quadrant
,D. 5 minutes in each quadrant
Correct Answer: D. 5 minutes in each quadrant
Rationale: Peristalsis is an intermittent function. To accurately document that
bowel sounds are truly absent (silent abdomen), the nurse must listen for a full 5
minutes over the quadrant to ensure no sounds are present.
3. The nurse percusses the abdomen and hears a loud, drum-like, high-pitched
sound over most of the gastric area. How should this be documented?
A. Resonance
B. Flatness
C. Dullness
D. Tympany
Correct Answer: D. Tympany
Rationale: Tympany is the predominant sound heard over the abdomen due to
the presence of air in the stomach and intestines. It is a high-pitched, drum-like
sound.
4. A nurse suspects a patient has appendicitis. Which assessment finding is most
consistent with this condition?
,A. Pain at McBurney’s point
B. Left lower quadrant guarding
C. Referred pain to the left shoulder
D. CVA tenderness
Correct Answer: A. Pain at McBurney’s point
Rationale: McBurney’s point is located in the Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)
approximately two-thirds of the distance from the umbilicus to the anterior
superior iliac spine. Tenderness here is a classic sign of appendicitis.
5. To assess for Rebound Tenderness (Blumberg’s sign), the nurse should:
A. Strike the costovertebral angle with a closed fist
B. Press deeply into the abdomen and quickly release
C. Lightly stroke the skin from the flank toward the umbilicus
D. Palpate the abdomen while the patient coughs
Correct Answer: B. Press deeply into the abdomen and quickly release
Rationale: Rebound tenderness is tested by applying slow, deep pressure and
then quickly withdrawing the hand. Pain upon release indicates peritoneal
irritation (peritonitis).
, 6. A patient presents with a sudden onset of sharp, severe Right Upper Quadrant
(RUQ) pain that radiates to the right shoulder. This is suggestive of:
A. Peptic ulcer disease
B. Acute cholecystitis
C. Pancreatitis
D. Renal calculi
Correct Answer: B. Acute cholecystitis
Rationale: The RUQ is the anatomical location of the gallbladder. Pain radiating to
the right shoulder (referred pain) occurs when inflammation irritates the phrenic
nerve (C4 dermatome), which shares a nerve root with the shoulder.
7. A patient describes abdominal pain as a "burning, gnawing sensation" in the
epigastric area that occurs 2-3 hours after meals and is relieved by eating. This is
classic for:
A. Duodenal ulcer
B. Gastric ulcer
C. Pancreatitis
D. Gastroesophageal reflux
Answers.
Abdominal Assessment
1. A nurse is preparing to perform an abdominal assessment. In which order
should the techniques be performed?
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
C. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
D. Palpation, percussion, inspection, auscultation
Correct Answer: C. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
Rationale: The abdomen requires a unique sequence. Palpation and percussion
can stimulate peristalsis, altering bowel sounds. Therefore, auscultation must be
performed after inspection but before percussion/palpation to ensure accurate
assessment of undisturbed bowel sounds.
2. To confirm the absence of bowel sounds, the nurse must auscultate for at least:
A. 30 seconds in each quadrant
B. 1 minute in each quadrant
C. 2 minutes in each quadrant
,D. 5 minutes in each quadrant
Correct Answer: D. 5 minutes in each quadrant
Rationale: Peristalsis is an intermittent function. To accurately document that
bowel sounds are truly absent (silent abdomen), the nurse must listen for a full 5
minutes over the quadrant to ensure no sounds are present.
3. The nurse percusses the abdomen and hears a loud, drum-like, high-pitched
sound over most of the gastric area. How should this be documented?
A. Resonance
B. Flatness
C. Dullness
D. Tympany
Correct Answer: D. Tympany
Rationale: Tympany is the predominant sound heard over the abdomen due to
the presence of air in the stomach and intestines. It is a high-pitched, drum-like
sound.
4. A nurse suspects a patient has appendicitis. Which assessment finding is most
consistent with this condition?
,A. Pain at McBurney’s point
B. Left lower quadrant guarding
C. Referred pain to the left shoulder
D. CVA tenderness
Correct Answer: A. Pain at McBurney’s point
Rationale: McBurney’s point is located in the Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)
approximately two-thirds of the distance from the umbilicus to the anterior
superior iliac spine. Tenderness here is a classic sign of appendicitis.
5. To assess for Rebound Tenderness (Blumberg’s sign), the nurse should:
A. Strike the costovertebral angle with a closed fist
B. Press deeply into the abdomen and quickly release
C. Lightly stroke the skin from the flank toward the umbilicus
D. Palpate the abdomen while the patient coughs
Correct Answer: B. Press deeply into the abdomen and quickly release
Rationale: Rebound tenderness is tested by applying slow, deep pressure and
then quickly withdrawing the hand. Pain upon release indicates peritoneal
irritation (peritonitis).
, 6. A patient presents with a sudden onset of sharp, severe Right Upper Quadrant
(RUQ) pain that radiates to the right shoulder. This is suggestive of:
A. Peptic ulcer disease
B. Acute cholecystitis
C. Pancreatitis
D. Renal calculi
Correct Answer: B. Acute cholecystitis
Rationale: The RUQ is the anatomical location of the gallbladder. Pain radiating to
the right shoulder (referred pain) occurs when inflammation irritates the phrenic
nerve (C4 dermatome), which shares a nerve root with the shoulder.
7. A patient describes abdominal pain as a "burning, gnawing sensation" in the
epigastric area that occurs 2-3 hours after meals and is relieved by eating. This is
classic for:
A. Duodenal ulcer
B. Gastric ulcer
C. Pancreatitis
D. Gastroesophageal reflux
