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NURS 261 FINAL EXAM LATEST 2025 HEALTH
ASSESSMENT VCU VERIFIED EXAM
Identify the anatomy of the abdominal cavity. - (answer)Trachea, Esophagus,
Right lung, Left lung, Liver (right and left lobe) Stomach, Gallbladder, Spleen,
Pancreas, Transverse Colon, Descending Colon, Ascending Colon, Cecum, Small
Intestine, Appendix, Rectum
Describe the anatomical landmarks used in the assessment of the abdomen. -
(answer)Xiphoid Process (middle of chest between nipples)
Costal Margin (slightly left of midline)
Midline (center of stomach midline)
Umbilicus (midline belly button)
Anterosuperior iliac spine
McBurneys Point
Pouparts ligament
Superior margin of os pubis
Describe the expected findings from inspection of the abdomen. - (answer)-
Surface characteristics should be smooth. Silver white striae; scars; and a very
faint vascular network may be present. The umbilicus should be centrally located
- Skin color may be paler than other parts of the body because of lack of exposure
- Contours may be round, flat or scaphoid.
- A flat contour is found in muscular or athletic adults. - A round contour is found
in adults with poor muscle tone or subcutaneous fat.
, 2
- A scaphoid contour is found in thin adults
- The abdomen should move smoothly and evenly with respirations
- Females exhibit thoracic movements
- Males exhibit abdominal movements
- Peristalsis is not visible
Describe the process for auscultating the abdomen for bowel sounds, and the
expected findings. - (answer)Bowel sounds are produced by the movement of air
and fluid through stomach, small and large intestines. Because of this listening in
all four quadrants is not necessary. A bowel sound heard in one quadrant can be
hear in another quadrant.
Process: use diaphragm of stethoscope lightly and listen in a systematic
progression. RLQ, RUQ, LUQ, LLQ.
Explain the order of assessment techniques of the abdomen, including the
rationale for the order. - (answer)Inspection, auscultation, palpation, percussion.
Always auscultate the abdomen before palpation so that the presence of absence
of bowel sounds or pain is not altered.
Identify at least two uses of auscultation in the abdominal exam. - (answer)To
notice the presence of bowel sounds
i. Decreased or absence of bowel sounds occur with mechanical obstruction or
bowel obstruction
To listen for bruit sounds
i. A bruit indicates a turbulent blood flow by narrowing of blood vessels
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ii. Bruits over the aorta suggest an aneurysm
iii.Normal vascular sounds are not heard
Be able to select health history questions related to the abdomen and GI system. -
(answer)CURRENT HEALTH HISTORY
a. Do you have any chronic disease such as diabetes mellitus? Chronic hepatitis?
Or cirrhosis?
b. Do you take any prescribed medications or over the counter?
c. How often do you have a bowel movement? What is the color and consistency?
When was your last bowel movement?
PAST HEALTH HISTORY
a. Have you had problems with your abdomen or digestive system in the past?
Esophagus? Stomach? Intestines? Liver? Gallbladder? Spleen? If yes, describe
b. Have you had surgery of your abdomen or urinary tract? If yes, describe. Has
the surgery required that you change any of your former routines such as the
food you can eat or bowel or urinary elimination? How have you adjusted to the
effects of these surgeries?
c. Have you had problems with your urinary tract in the past?
d. Do you ever experience leaking of urine? When does this occur? Do you ever
use pads, tissue or cloth in your underwear to absorb urine?
FAMILY HISTORY
a. In your family is there history of diseases of the GI system such as GERD, peptic
ulcer disease, stomach cancer, or colon cancer?
b.In your family, do you have any history of diseases of the urinary tract such as
kidney stones? Kidney cancer? Or bladder cancer?
, 4
PERSONAL PSYCHO-SOCIAL HISTORY
a. Do you drink alcohol? If so how much and how often? When was your last
drink?
b.Do you smoke? If so how much and how often? Have you considered stopping
or cutting down?
List the commonly reported problems of the abdomen and GI system. -
(answer)GERD: Flow of gastric secretions up into esophagus.
PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE: ulcer occurring in lower end of esophagus, stomach, or
duodenum. Patients complain of burning after eating.
CROHN'S DISEASE: Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)—is also called
regional enteritis or regional ileitis. Patients complain of severe abdominal pain,
cramping, diarrhea, nausea, fever, chills, weakness, anorexia, and weight loss.
ULCERATIVE COLITIS: a chronic IBD, starts in rectum and progresses through large
intestine.
DIVERTICULITIS: inflammation of diverticula, herniation through muscular wall in
colon.
VIRAL HEPATITIS: Inflammation of liver from viruses.
CIRROHSIS: chronic degenerative liver disease; causes include viral hepatitis,
biliary obstruction, alcohol abuse.
CHOLECYSTITIS: Inflammation of gallbladder (cholecystitis); with gallstones
(cholelithiasis).
PANCREATITIS: acute or chronic inflammation from auto digestion.
UTI: Urinary tract infections may involve urinary bladder (cystitis), urethra
(urethritis), or renal pelvis (pyelonephritis).
NURS 261 FINAL EXAM LATEST 2025 HEALTH
ASSESSMENT VCU VERIFIED EXAM
Identify the anatomy of the abdominal cavity. - (answer)Trachea, Esophagus,
Right lung, Left lung, Liver (right and left lobe) Stomach, Gallbladder, Spleen,
Pancreas, Transverse Colon, Descending Colon, Ascending Colon, Cecum, Small
Intestine, Appendix, Rectum
Describe the anatomical landmarks used in the assessment of the abdomen. -
(answer)Xiphoid Process (middle of chest between nipples)
Costal Margin (slightly left of midline)
Midline (center of stomach midline)
Umbilicus (midline belly button)
Anterosuperior iliac spine
McBurneys Point
Pouparts ligament
Superior margin of os pubis
Describe the expected findings from inspection of the abdomen. - (answer)-
Surface characteristics should be smooth. Silver white striae; scars; and a very
faint vascular network may be present. The umbilicus should be centrally located
- Skin color may be paler than other parts of the body because of lack of exposure
- Contours may be round, flat or scaphoid.
- A flat contour is found in muscular or athletic adults. - A round contour is found
in adults with poor muscle tone or subcutaneous fat.
, 2
- A scaphoid contour is found in thin adults
- The abdomen should move smoothly and evenly with respirations
- Females exhibit thoracic movements
- Males exhibit abdominal movements
- Peristalsis is not visible
Describe the process for auscultating the abdomen for bowel sounds, and the
expected findings. - (answer)Bowel sounds are produced by the movement of air
and fluid through stomach, small and large intestines. Because of this listening in
all four quadrants is not necessary. A bowel sound heard in one quadrant can be
hear in another quadrant.
Process: use diaphragm of stethoscope lightly and listen in a systematic
progression. RLQ, RUQ, LUQ, LLQ.
Explain the order of assessment techniques of the abdomen, including the
rationale for the order. - (answer)Inspection, auscultation, palpation, percussion.
Always auscultate the abdomen before palpation so that the presence of absence
of bowel sounds or pain is not altered.
Identify at least two uses of auscultation in the abdominal exam. - (answer)To
notice the presence of bowel sounds
i. Decreased or absence of bowel sounds occur with mechanical obstruction or
bowel obstruction
To listen for bruit sounds
i. A bruit indicates a turbulent blood flow by narrowing of blood vessels
, 3
ii. Bruits over the aorta suggest an aneurysm
iii.Normal vascular sounds are not heard
Be able to select health history questions related to the abdomen and GI system. -
(answer)CURRENT HEALTH HISTORY
a. Do you have any chronic disease such as diabetes mellitus? Chronic hepatitis?
Or cirrhosis?
b. Do you take any prescribed medications or over the counter?
c. How often do you have a bowel movement? What is the color and consistency?
When was your last bowel movement?
PAST HEALTH HISTORY
a. Have you had problems with your abdomen or digestive system in the past?
Esophagus? Stomach? Intestines? Liver? Gallbladder? Spleen? If yes, describe
b. Have you had surgery of your abdomen or urinary tract? If yes, describe. Has
the surgery required that you change any of your former routines such as the
food you can eat or bowel or urinary elimination? How have you adjusted to the
effects of these surgeries?
c. Have you had problems with your urinary tract in the past?
d. Do you ever experience leaking of urine? When does this occur? Do you ever
use pads, tissue or cloth in your underwear to absorb urine?
FAMILY HISTORY
a. In your family is there history of diseases of the GI system such as GERD, peptic
ulcer disease, stomach cancer, or colon cancer?
b.In your family, do you have any history of diseases of the urinary tract such as
kidney stones? Kidney cancer? Or bladder cancer?
, 4
PERSONAL PSYCHO-SOCIAL HISTORY
a. Do you drink alcohol? If so how much and how often? When was your last
drink?
b.Do you smoke? If so how much and how often? Have you considered stopping
or cutting down?
List the commonly reported problems of the abdomen and GI system. -
(answer)GERD: Flow of gastric secretions up into esophagus.
PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE: ulcer occurring in lower end of esophagus, stomach, or
duodenum. Patients complain of burning after eating.
CROHN'S DISEASE: Chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)—is also called
regional enteritis or regional ileitis. Patients complain of severe abdominal pain,
cramping, diarrhea, nausea, fever, chills, weakness, anorexia, and weight loss.
ULCERATIVE COLITIS: a chronic IBD, starts in rectum and progresses through large
intestine.
DIVERTICULITIS: inflammation of diverticula, herniation through muscular wall in
colon.
VIRAL HEPATITIS: Inflammation of liver from viruses.
CIRROHSIS: chronic degenerative liver disease; causes include viral hepatitis,
biliary obstruction, alcohol abuse.
CHOLECYSTITIS: Inflammation of gallbladder (cholecystitis); with gallstones
(cholelithiasis).
PANCREATITIS: acute or chronic inflammation from auto digestion.
UTI: Urinary tract infections may involve urinary bladder (cystitis), urethra
(urethritis), or renal pelvis (pyelonephritis).
