Study Guide for NR 302 Health Assessment I – Exam 2
Techniques and Equipment:
1. What are the four steps and order of how you will perform them?
a. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, and Auscultation
b. Abdomen: Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, and Palpation
2. Difference between
a. Light, moderate and deep palpation
i. Used to determine depth, size, shape, consistency, and mobility of
body structures
ii. Always begin with Light Palpation first
1. Light palpation
a. Is used to assess surface characteristics, such as
skin texture; pulse; or a tender, inflamed area near
the surface of the skin
b. The finger pads of the dominant hand are placed on
the surface of area to be examined. The hand is
moved slowly, and the finger pads, at a depth of 1
, cm (0.39 in.), form circles on the skin during
assessment
2. Moderate palpation
a. Is used to assess most of the other structures of the
body
b. For moderate palpation, the nurse uses moderate
pressure, places the palmar surface of the fingers of
the dominant hand over the structure to be
assessed, and presses downward approximately 1 to
2 cm (0.25 to 0.5 in.), rotating the fingers in a
circular motion
c. Now the nurse can determine the depth, size, shape,
consistency, and mobility of organs as well as any
pain, tenderness, or pulsations that might be
present
3. Deep palpation
a. Is used to palpate an organ that lies deep within a
body cavity such as the kidney, liver, or spleen, or
when overlying musculature is thick, tense, or rigid
such as in obesity or with abdominal guarding
b. The nurse should use more than moderate pressure
by placing the palmar surface of the fingers of the
dominant hand on the skin surface. The extended
Techniques and Equipment:
1. What are the four steps and order of how you will perform them?
a. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, and Auscultation
b. Abdomen: Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, and Palpation
2. Difference between
a. Light, moderate and deep palpation
i. Used to determine depth, size, shape, consistency, and mobility of
body structures
ii. Always begin with Light Palpation first
1. Light palpation
a. Is used to assess surface characteristics, such as
skin texture; pulse; or a tender, inflamed area near
the surface of the skin
b. The finger pads of the dominant hand are placed on
the surface of area to be examined. The hand is
moved slowly, and the finger pads, at a depth of 1
, cm (0.39 in.), form circles on the skin during
assessment
2. Moderate palpation
a. Is used to assess most of the other structures of the
body
b. For moderate palpation, the nurse uses moderate
pressure, places the palmar surface of the fingers of
the dominant hand over the structure to be
assessed, and presses downward approximately 1 to
2 cm (0.25 to 0.5 in.), rotating the fingers in a
circular motion
c. Now the nurse can determine the depth, size, shape,
consistency, and mobility of organs as well as any
pain, tenderness, or pulsations that might be
present
3. Deep palpation
a. Is used to palpate an organ that lies deep within a
body cavity such as the kidney, liver, or spleen, or
when overlying musculature is thick, tense, or rigid
such as in obesity or with abdominal guarding
b. The nurse should use more than moderate pressure
by placing the palmar surface of the fingers of the
dominant hand on the skin surface. The extended
