©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
NUR 3121 Health Assessment Unit #2
Exam Practice Questions and Answers
When performing a physical assessment, the technique the nurse will always use first is: - Ans:✔✔-ANS:
inspection.
The skills requisite for the physical examination are inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
The skills are performed one at a time and in this order (with the exception of the abdominal
assessment, where auscultation takes place before palpation and percussion). The assessment of each
body system begins with inspection. A focused inspection takes time and yields a surprising amount of
information.
The nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment. Which statement is true about the inspection
phase of the physical assessment? - Ans:✔✔-ANS: Inspection takes time and reveals a surprising amount
of information.
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, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
A focused inspection takes time and yields a surprising amount of information. Initially, the examiner
may feel uncomfortable "staring" at the person without also "doing something." A focused assessment is
much more than a "quick glance."
The nurse is assessing a patient's skin during an office visit. What is the best technique to use to best
assess the patient's skin temperature? Use the: - Ans:✔✔-ANS: dorsal surface of the hand because the
skin is thinner than on the palms.
The dorsa (backs) of hands and fingers are best for determining temperature because the skin there is
thinner than on the palms. Fingertips are best for fine, tactile discrimination; the other responses are not
useful for palpation.
Which of these techniques uses the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature, moisture, and
swelling when the nurse is assessing a patient? - Ans:✔✔-ANS: Palpation
Palpation uses the sense of touch to assess the patient for these factors. Inspection involves vision;
percussion assesses through the use of palpable vibrations and audible sounds; and auscultation uses
the sense of hearing.
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, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
The nurse is preparing to assess a patient's abdomen by palpation. How should the nurse proceed? -
Ans:✔✔-ANS: Start with light palpation to detect surface characteristics and to accustom the patient to
being touched.
Light palpation is performed initially to detect any surface characteristics and to accustom the person to
being touched. Tender areas should be palpated last, not first.
The nurse would use bimanual palpation technique in which situation? - Ans:✔✔-ANS: Palpating the
kidneys and uterus
Bimanual palpation requires the use of both hands to envelop or capture certain body parts or organs
such as the kidneys, uterus, or adnexa. The other situations are not appropriate for bimanual palpation.
The nurse is preparing to percuss the abdomen of a patient. The purpose of the percussion is to assess
the underlying tissue: - Ans:✔✔-ANS: density.
Percussion yields a sound that depicts the location, size, and density of the underlying organ. Turgor and
texture are assessed with palpation.
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, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
The nurse is reviewing percussion techniques with a newly graduated nurse. Which technique, if used by
the new nurse, indicates that more review is needed? The nurse: - Ans:✔✔-ANS: percusses once over
each area.
For percussion, the nurse should percuss two times over each location. The striking finger should be
lifted off quickly because a resting finger damps off vibrations. The tip of the striking finger should make
contact, not the pad of the finger. The wrist must be relaxed, and it is used to make the strikes, not the
arm.
When percussing over the liver of a patient, the nurse notices a dull sound. The nurse should: - Ans:✔✔-
ANS: consider this a normal finding.
Percussion over relatively dense organs, such as the liver or spleen, will produce a dull sound. The other
responses are not correct.
The nurse is unable to identify any changes in sound when percussing over the abdomen of an obese
patient. What should the nurse do next? - Ans:✔✔-ANS: Increase the amount of strength used when
attempting to percuss over the abdomen.
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FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
NUR 3121 Health Assessment Unit #2
Exam Practice Questions and Answers
When performing a physical assessment, the technique the nurse will always use first is: - Ans:✔✔-ANS:
inspection.
The skills requisite for the physical examination are inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.
The skills are performed one at a time and in this order (with the exception of the abdominal
assessment, where auscultation takes place before palpation and percussion). The assessment of each
body system begins with inspection. A focused inspection takes time and yields a surprising amount of
information.
The nurse is preparing to perform a physical assessment. Which statement is true about the inspection
phase of the physical assessment? - Ans:✔✔-ANS: Inspection takes time and reveals a surprising amount
of information.
Page 1/50
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
A focused inspection takes time and yields a surprising amount of information. Initially, the examiner
may feel uncomfortable "staring" at the person without also "doing something." A focused assessment is
much more than a "quick glance."
The nurse is assessing a patient's skin during an office visit. What is the best technique to use to best
assess the patient's skin temperature? Use the: - Ans:✔✔-ANS: dorsal surface of the hand because the
skin is thinner than on the palms.
The dorsa (backs) of hands and fingers are best for determining temperature because the skin there is
thinner than on the palms. Fingertips are best for fine, tactile discrimination; the other responses are not
useful for palpation.
Which of these techniques uses the sense of touch to assess texture, temperature, moisture, and
swelling when the nurse is assessing a patient? - Ans:✔✔-ANS: Palpation
Palpation uses the sense of touch to assess the patient for these factors. Inspection involves vision;
percussion assesses through the use of palpable vibrations and audible sounds; and auscultation uses
the sense of hearing.
Page 2/50
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
The nurse is preparing to assess a patient's abdomen by palpation. How should the nurse proceed? -
Ans:✔✔-ANS: Start with light palpation to detect surface characteristics and to accustom the patient to
being touched.
Light palpation is performed initially to detect any surface characteristics and to accustom the person to
being touched. Tender areas should be palpated last, not first.
The nurse would use bimanual palpation technique in which situation? - Ans:✔✔-ANS: Palpating the
kidneys and uterus
Bimanual palpation requires the use of both hands to envelop or capture certain body parts or organs
such as the kidneys, uterus, or adnexa. The other situations are not appropriate for bimanual palpation.
The nurse is preparing to percuss the abdomen of a patient. The purpose of the percussion is to assess
the underlying tissue: - Ans:✔✔-ANS: density.
Percussion yields a sound that depicts the location, size, and density of the underlying organ. Turgor and
texture are assessed with palpation.
Page 3/50
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
The nurse is reviewing percussion techniques with a newly graduated nurse. Which technique, if used by
the new nurse, indicates that more review is needed? The nurse: - Ans:✔✔-ANS: percusses once over
each area.
For percussion, the nurse should percuss two times over each location. The striking finger should be
lifted off quickly because a resting finger damps off vibrations. The tip of the striking finger should make
contact, not the pad of the finger. The wrist must be relaxed, and it is used to make the strikes, not the
arm.
When percussing over the liver of a patient, the nurse notices a dull sound. The nurse should: - Ans:✔✔-
ANS: consider this a normal finding.
Percussion over relatively dense organs, such as the liver or spleen, will produce a dull sound. The other
responses are not correct.
The nurse is unable to identify any changes in sound when percussing over the abdomen of an obese
patient. What should the nurse do next? - Ans:✔✔-ANS: Increase the amount of strength used when
attempting to percuss over the abdomen.
Page 4/50
