NUR 213 HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM 2 2026 | Physical
Examination Actual Exam | Latest Update 2026/2027 | Verified
Answers | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Abdomen Assessment (Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation)
(Q1-20)
Q1. When performing an abdominal assessment, the correct sequence of techniques is:
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, percussion, auscultation, palpation
C. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation [CORRECT]
D. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Rationale: Auscultation must be performed before percussion and palpation because
manipulating the abdomen can alter bowel sounds and obscure true findings.
Inspection always comes first.
Correct Answer: C
Q2. A patient presents with right upper quadrant (RUQ) pain after eating a fatty meal. On
palpation, the patient exhibits inspiratory arrest when the examiner presses below the
right costal margin. This is a positive:
A. McBurney sign
B. Murphy sign [CORRECT]
C. Rovsing sign
D. Obturator sign
Rationale: A positive Murphy sign (inspiratory arrest with subcostal palpation) indicates
cholecystitis. McBurney point tenderness indicates appendicitis, Rovsing sign is
referred rebound pain, and the obturator sign indicates retrocecal appendicitis.
Correct Answer: B
Q3. The nurse is auscultating bowel sounds and hears 8-10 gurgles per minute. These
sounds are classified as:
A. Hypoactive
,B. Normoactive [CORRECT]
C. Hyperactive
D. Absent
Rationale: Normoactive bowel sounds occur at a rate of 5-30 gurgles per minute.
Hypoactive is fewer than 5, hyperactive is more frequent and high-pitched (borborygmi),
and absent requires listening for 5 minutes before declaring.
Correct Answer: B
Q4. To correctly declare that bowel sounds are absent, the nurse must listen for:
A. 30 seconds in each quadrant
B. 1 minute in each quadrant
C. 2 minutes in each quadrant
D. 5 minutes total before declaring absence [CORRECT]
Rationale: Bowel sounds are variable and may be intermittent. The examiner must listen
for a full 5 minutes before documenting absent bowel sounds to avoid missing
infrequent peristalsis.
Correct Answer: D
Q5. Percussion of the abdomen over most areas produces a tympanitic sound.
Tympany indicates:
A. Fluid accumulation
B. Solid organ tissue
C. Air or gas in the stomach or intestines [CORRECT]
D. A palpable mass
Rationale: Tympany is a high-pitched, drum-like sound produced over air-filled structures
such as the stomach and intestines. Dullness indicates solid organs or fluid, and
flatness indicates dense tissue.
Correct Answer: C
Q6. The normal liver span measured by percussion at the right midclavicular line (MCL)
is:
A. 2-4 cm
B. 4-6 cm
C. 6-12 cm [CORRECT]
D. 12-16 cm
, Rationale: The normal liver span is 6-12 cm in the right MCL. A span greater than 12 cm
suggests hepatomegaly, while less than 6 cm may indicate atrophy or emphysema
displacing the liver.
Correct Answer: C
Q7. During abdominal assessment, the nurse percusses the left anterior axillary line at
the 6th intercostal space and notes a change from tympany to dullness. This area of
splenic dullness:
A. Is never present in a healthy adult
B. Normally extends from the 6th to 9th intercostal space [CORRECT]
C. Indicates definite splenomegaly
D. Is best assessed with the patient supine
Rationale: Normal splenic dullness is percussed from the 6th to 9th intercostal spaces
along the left anterior axillary line. Loss of this dullness may indicate a ruptured spleen
or splenic displacement, while extension beyond 9th ICS suggests splenomegaly.
Correct Answer: B
Q8. A patient with ascites is lying supine. The nurse percusses the abdomen and notes
tympany at the umbilicus and dullness at the flanks. When the patient turns onto their
left side, the dullness shifts to the right side. This finding is:
A. A positive fluid wave
B. Shifting dullness [CORRECT]
C. Rebound tenderness
D. A positive psoas sign
Rationale: Shifting dullness occurs when fluid (ascites) moves to the dependent side of
the abdomen with position changes, causing the dullness to shift. It confirms the
presence of free peritoneal fluid.
Correct Answer: B
Q9. To assess for ascites, the nurse places the palm of one hand on the patient's right
flank and taps the left flank with the other hand. A distinct tap is felt on the opposite
hand. This is a:
A. Positive shifting dullness
B. Positive fluid wave [CORRECT]
C. Positive Murphy sign
D. Rebound tenderness
Examination Actual Exam | Latest Update 2026/2027 | Verified
Answers | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Abdomen Assessment (Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation)
(Q1-20)
Q1. When performing an abdominal assessment, the correct sequence of techniques is:
A. Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
B. Inspection, percussion, auscultation, palpation
C. Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation [CORRECT]
D. Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion
Rationale: Auscultation must be performed before percussion and palpation because
manipulating the abdomen can alter bowel sounds and obscure true findings.
Inspection always comes first.
Correct Answer: C
Q2. A patient presents with right upper quadrant (RUQ) pain after eating a fatty meal. On
palpation, the patient exhibits inspiratory arrest when the examiner presses below the
right costal margin. This is a positive:
A. McBurney sign
B. Murphy sign [CORRECT]
C. Rovsing sign
D. Obturator sign
Rationale: A positive Murphy sign (inspiratory arrest with subcostal palpation) indicates
cholecystitis. McBurney point tenderness indicates appendicitis, Rovsing sign is
referred rebound pain, and the obturator sign indicates retrocecal appendicitis.
Correct Answer: B
Q3. The nurse is auscultating bowel sounds and hears 8-10 gurgles per minute. These
sounds are classified as:
A. Hypoactive
,B. Normoactive [CORRECT]
C. Hyperactive
D. Absent
Rationale: Normoactive bowel sounds occur at a rate of 5-30 gurgles per minute.
Hypoactive is fewer than 5, hyperactive is more frequent and high-pitched (borborygmi),
and absent requires listening for 5 minutes before declaring.
Correct Answer: B
Q4. To correctly declare that bowel sounds are absent, the nurse must listen for:
A. 30 seconds in each quadrant
B. 1 minute in each quadrant
C. 2 minutes in each quadrant
D. 5 minutes total before declaring absence [CORRECT]
Rationale: Bowel sounds are variable and may be intermittent. The examiner must listen
for a full 5 minutes before documenting absent bowel sounds to avoid missing
infrequent peristalsis.
Correct Answer: D
Q5. Percussion of the abdomen over most areas produces a tympanitic sound.
Tympany indicates:
A. Fluid accumulation
B. Solid organ tissue
C. Air or gas in the stomach or intestines [CORRECT]
D. A palpable mass
Rationale: Tympany is a high-pitched, drum-like sound produced over air-filled structures
such as the stomach and intestines. Dullness indicates solid organs or fluid, and
flatness indicates dense tissue.
Correct Answer: C
Q6. The normal liver span measured by percussion at the right midclavicular line (MCL)
is:
A. 2-4 cm
B. 4-6 cm
C. 6-12 cm [CORRECT]
D. 12-16 cm
, Rationale: The normal liver span is 6-12 cm in the right MCL. A span greater than 12 cm
suggests hepatomegaly, while less than 6 cm may indicate atrophy or emphysema
displacing the liver.
Correct Answer: C
Q7. During abdominal assessment, the nurse percusses the left anterior axillary line at
the 6th intercostal space and notes a change from tympany to dullness. This area of
splenic dullness:
A. Is never present in a healthy adult
B. Normally extends from the 6th to 9th intercostal space [CORRECT]
C. Indicates definite splenomegaly
D. Is best assessed with the patient supine
Rationale: Normal splenic dullness is percussed from the 6th to 9th intercostal spaces
along the left anterior axillary line. Loss of this dullness may indicate a ruptured spleen
or splenic displacement, while extension beyond 9th ICS suggests splenomegaly.
Correct Answer: B
Q8. A patient with ascites is lying supine. The nurse percusses the abdomen and notes
tympany at the umbilicus and dullness at the flanks. When the patient turns onto their
left side, the dullness shifts to the right side. This finding is:
A. A positive fluid wave
B. Shifting dullness [CORRECT]
C. Rebound tenderness
D. A positive psoas sign
Rationale: Shifting dullness occurs when fluid (ascites) moves to the dependent side of
the abdomen with position changes, causing the dullness to shift. It confirms the
presence of free peritoneal fluid.
Correct Answer: B
Q9. To assess for ascites, the nurse places the palm of one hand on the patient's right
flank and taps the left flank with the other hand. A distinct tap is felt on the opposite
hand. This is a:
A. Positive shifting dullness
B. Positive fluid wave [CORRECT]
C. Positive Murphy sign
D. Rebound tenderness
