NSG 316 EXAM 3 HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Actual Questions and Answers
1. How do you calculate pulse deficit?: apical pulse - radial pulse
2. How long do you palpate the apical pulse?: 1 full minute
3. Where is S1 heard?: apex
4. Where is S2 heard?: base
5. Where is the apex of the heart?: "the tip"; inferior portion
6. Where is the base of the heart?: superior portion
7. When do you hear S1?: AV valve closure (signals beginning of systole)
8. When do you hear S2?: Semilunar valves close; end of systole
9. What is an S3 sound & when do you hear it?: ventricles are resistant to filling;
during early rapid filling phase (after S2)
10. What is an S4 sound & when do you hear it?: atria pump blood into a non-
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, compliant ventricle; just before S1 (end of diastole)
11. What is a murmur & what does it sound like?: turbulent blood flow due to
ineffective valve closure causing back flow and regurgitation; "blowing swooshing" sound
12. What are the 3 conditions that cause murmurs?: 1. increased blood velocity
(exercise, flow murmur)
2. decreased blood viscosity (anemia)
3. structural defects in valves
13. Patient with a valve replacement:: should be on blood thinners and may have
clicking sounds or a murmur
14. How do you classify a murmur?: timing, pitch, duration, quality, intensity
15. Where is the carotid artery found & how do you palpate it?: In the
groove between the trachea and the sternomastoid muscle; located medially along the muscle;
palpate gently and palpate one carotid at a time
16. Why do you only palpate one carotid artery at a time?: putting
pressure on both at the
same time could compromise oxygen supply to the brain; pass out
17. What is carotid sinus sensitivity?: Abnormal finding for carotid; The condition in
2/
8
Actual Questions and Answers
1. How do you calculate pulse deficit?: apical pulse - radial pulse
2. How long do you palpate the apical pulse?: 1 full minute
3. Where is S1 heard?: apex
4. Where is S2 heard?: base
5. Where is the apex of the heart?: "the tip"; inferior portion
6. Where is the base of the heart?: superior portion
7. When do you hear S1?: AV valve closure (signals beginning of systole)
8. When do you hear S2?: Semilunar valves close; end of systole
9. What is an S3 sound & when do you hear it?: ventricles are resistant to filling;
during early rapid filling phase (after S2)
10. What is an S4 sound & when do you hear it?: atria pump blood into a non-
1/
8
, compliant ventricle; just before S1 (end of diastole)
11. What is a murmur & what does it sound like?: turbulent blood flow due to
ineffective valve closure causing back flow and regurgitation; "blowing swooshing" sound
12. What are the 3 conditions that cause murmurs?: 1. increased blood velocity
(exercise, flow murmur)
2. decreased blood viscosity (anemia)
3. structural defects in valves
13. Patient with a valve replacement:: should be on blood thinners and may have
clicking sounds or a murmur
14. How do you classify a murmur?: timing, pitch, duration, quality, intensity
15. Where is the carotid artery found & how do you palpate it?: In the
groove between the trachea and the sternomastoid muscle; located medially along the muscle;
palpate gently and palpate one carotid at a time
16. Why do you only palpate one carotid artery at a time?: putting
pressure on both at the
same time could compromise oxygen supply to the brain; pass out
17. What is carotid sinus sensitivity?: Abnormal finding for carotid; The condition in
2/
8
