NURS 6225 Advanced Health Assessment Exam 2 (2025) | Study
Guide & Q&A
2026 NURS 6225 Advanced Health Assessment Exam 2 –
Questions & Answers
“Get access to NURS 6225 Advanced Health Assessment Exam 2 (2022) — full questions &
answers, detailed explanations, and study tips to pass your advanced health assessment exam.”
During physical examination of a patient, you note resonance on percussion in the upper
lung fields. This is consistent with:
A. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
B. Pneumothorax
C. A normal finding
D. Pleural effusion
CORRECT ANSWER C The lung fields should be percussed posteriorly, starting from the superior-most
areas and then proceeding inferiorly to the level of the diaphragm. Resonance is the normal sound on
percussion. Hyperresonance suggests air trapping, which occurs with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease or tension pneumothorax. Dullness to percussion is detected over the actual site of consolidated
lung or pleural fluid. Dullness is also found with pneumonia, severe atelectasis, or pleural effusion.
On assessment of respiratory excursion, the clinician notes asymmetric expansion of the
chest. One side expands greater than the other. This could be due to:
A. Pneumothorax
B. Pleural effusion
C. Pneumonia
D. Pulmonary embolism
CORRECT ANSWER A The respiratory excursion, or expansion, is determined by placing hands around
the patient's posterior rib cage with the thumbs approximately at the level of the 10th rib between the
thumbs, and then asking the patient to take a deep breath and observing the movement of the hands.
The motion should be symmetrical. Less than anticipated movement occurs with advanced chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease and many restrictive processes, such as interstitial lung disease.
Asymmetry of movement occurs with atelectasis, lobar collapse, pneumothorax, and several other
conditions
During auscultation of the chest, your examination reveals a loud grating sound at the lower
anterolateral lung fields, at full inspiration and early expiration. This finding is consistent
with:
A. Pneumonia
B. Pleuritis
,C. Pneumothorax
D. A and B
CORRECT ANSWER A&B
An adventitious sound, called a pleural friction rub, is a typically loud, grating sound
produced when the two inflamed and roughened surfaces of the visceral and parietal pleurae
rub together. A friction rub is usually noted in the late inspiratory and early expiratory
phases, and in the lower anterolateral lung fields. Examples of conditions that result in a
pleural rub include pneumonia, pleuritis, and malignancy.
A cough is described as chronic if it has been present for:
A. 2 weeks or more
B. 8 weeks or more
C. 3 months or more
D. 6 months or more
CORRECT ANSWER B
Cough is classified as acute (less than 3 weeks in duration), subacute (lasting 3 to 8 weeks), and chronic
(8 or more weeks in duration), and these distinctions help to narrow the potential differential diagnoses.
The following criterion is considered a positive finding when determining whether a patient
with pneumonia can be safely monitored and treated at home:
A. Age over 40
B. Fever greater than 101°F
C. Tachypnea greater than 30 breaths per minute
D. Productive cough
CORRECT ANSWER C
Decision Rule: CURB-65 provides framework for determining whether the patient
diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia can be safely monitored and treated at
home. One point is awarded for each of the following factors present:
• Confusion of new onset
• Blood urea nitrogen greater than 20 mg/dL
• Respiratory rate of 30 breaths per minute or more
• Blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg systolic or diastolic 60 mm Hg or less
• Age 65 or older
Patients scoring 3 to 5 typically require hospitalization for observation and therapy. Scores
of 0 to 1 indicate likelihood that outpatient management is appropriate. A score of 2 is
inconclusive.
The most common etiological organism for community-acquired pneumonia is:
A. Streptococcus pneumoniae
B. Beta hemolytic streptococcus
C. Mycoplasma
D. Methicillin resistant staphylococcus
, CORRECT ANSWER A Pneumonia involves inflammation and consolidation of lung tissue. Pneumonia is
broadly categorized by whether it occurs outside of the hospital (community-acquired pneumonia) or
within the hospital (nosocomial, or hospital-acquired, pneumonia). The cause is most often
Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, or Staphylococcus aureus. Atypical pneumonia
involves infection of mycoplasma, legionella, or chlamydia.
A 75-year-old patient with community-acquired pneumonia presents with a temperature of
102.1°F, chills, productive cough, blood pressure 90/62, respiratory rate 28, white blood
count 12,000, and blood urea nitrogen 20 mg/dl. He has a history of mild dementia and his
mental status is unchanged from his last visit. These findings indicate that the patient:
A. Can be treated as an outpatient
B. Requires hospitalization for treatment
C. Requires a high dose of parenteral antibiotic
D. Can be treated with oral antibiotics
CORRECT ANSWER A
Decision Rule: CURB-65 provides framework for determining whether the patient
diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia can be safely monitored and treated at
home. One point is awarded for each of the following factors present:
• Confusion of new onset
• Blood urea nitrogen greater than 20 mg/dl
• Respiratory rate 30 breaths or more per minute
• Blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg systolic or diastolic 60 mm Hg or less
• Age 65 or older
Patients scoring 3 to 5 typically require hospitalization for observation and therapy. Scores
of 0 to 1 indicate likelihood that outpatient management is appropriate. A score of 2 is
inconclusive.
If on physical examination the clinician auscultates rhonchi, the clinician should ask the
patient to take a deep breath and cough in order to:
A. Mobilize secretions
B. Diagnose pleural effusion
C. Accurately distinguish lung sounds
D. A and C
CORRECT ANSWER D
Cough is the most common symptom of bronchitis and may persist for several weeks after
the initial infection is resolved. During the acute phase, the cough may be productive. There
may be associated symptoms, including fever, malaise, chest discomfort, chills, and
headache. The chills and chest discomfort are mild in comparison to the symptoms of
pneumonia. There may be wheezes and/or rhonchi on auscultation, which disappear or alter
with cough effort.
Which of the following is considered a red flag when diagnosing a patient with pneumonia?
A. Fever of 102°F
B. Infiltrates on chest x-ray
Guide & Q&A
2026 NURS 6225 Advanced Health Assessment Exam 2 –
Questions & Answers
“Get access to NURS 6225 Advanced Health Assessment Exam 2 (2022) — full questions &
answers, detailed explanations, and study tips to pass your advanced health assessment exam.”
During physical examination of a patient, you note resonance on percussion in the upper
lung fields. This is consistent with:
A. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
B. Pneumothorax
C. A normal finding
D. Pleural effusion
CORRECT ANSWER C The lung fields should be percussed posteriorly, starting from the superior-most
areas and then proceeding inferiorly to the level of the diaphragm. Resonance is the normal sound on
percussion. Hyperresonance suggests air trapping, which occurs with chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease or tension pneumothorax. Dullness to percussion is detected over the actual site of consolidated
lung or pleural fluid. Dullness is also found with pneumonia, severe atelectasis, or pleural effusion.
On assessment of respiratory excursion, the clinician notes asymmetric expansion of the
chest. One side expands greater than the other. This could be due to:
A. Pneumothorax
B. Pleural effusion
C. Pneumonia
D. Pulmonary embolism
CORRECT ANSWER A The respiratory excursion, or expansion, is determined by placing hands around
the patient's posterior rib cage with the thumbs approximately at the level of the 10th rib between the
thumbs, and then asking the patient to take a deep breath and observing the movement of the hands.
The motion should be symmetrical. Less than anticipated movement occurs with advanced chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease and many restrictive processes, such as interstitial lung disease.
Asymmetry of movement occurs with atelectasis, lobar collapse, pneumothorax, and several other
conditions
During auscultation of the chest, your examination reveals a loud grating sound at the lower
anterolateral lung fields, at full inspiration and early expiration. This finding is consistent
with:
A. Pneumonia
B. Pleuritis
,C. Pneumothorax
D. A and B
CORRECT ANSWER A&B
An adventitious sound, called a pleural friction rub, is a typically loud, grating sound
produced when the two inflamed and roughened surfaces of the visceral and parietal pleurae
rub together. A friction rub is usually noted in the late inspiratory and early expiratory
phases, and in the lower anterolateral lung fields. Examples of conditions that result in a
pleural rub include pneumonia, pleuritis, and malignancy.
A cough is described as chronic if it has been present for:
A. 2 weeks or more
B. 8 weeks or more
C. 3 months or more
D. 6 months or more
CORRECT ANSWER B
Cough is classified as acute (less than 3 weeks in duration), subacute (lasting 3 to 8 weeks), and chronic
(8 or more weeks in duration), and these distinctions help to narrow the potential differential diagnoses.
The following criterion is considered a positive finding when determining whether a patient
with pneumonia can be safely monitored and treated at home:
A. Age over 40
B. Fever greater than 101°F
C. Tachypnea greater than 30 breaths per minute
D. Productive cough
CORRECT ANSWER C
Decision Rule: CURB-65 provides framework for determining whether the patient
diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia can be safely monitored and treated at
home. One point is awarded for each of the following factors present:
• Confusion of new onset
• Blood urea nitrogen greater than 20 mg/dL
• Respiratory rate of 30 breaths per minute or more
• Blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg systolic or diastolic 60 mm Hg or less
• Age 65 or older
Patients scoring 3 to 5 typically require hospitalization for observation and therapy. Scores
of 0 to 1 indicate likelihood that outpatient management is appropriate. A score of 2 is
inconclusive.
The most common etiological organism for community-acquired pneumonia is:
A. Streptococcus pneumoniae
B. Beta hemolytic streptococcus
C. Mycoplasma
D. Methicillin resistant staphylococcus
, CORRECT ANSWER A Pneumonia involves inflammation and consolidation of lung tissue. Pneumonia is
broadly categorized by whether it occurs outside of the hospital (community-acquired pneumonia) or
within the hospital (nosocomial, or hospital-acquired, pneumonia). The cause is most often
Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, or Staphylococcus aureus. Atypical pneumonia
involves infection of mycoplasma, legionella, or chlamydia.
A 75-year-old patient with community-acquired pneumonia presents with a temperature of
102.1°F, chills, productive cough, blood pressure 90/62, respiratory rate 28, white blood
count 12,000, and blood urea nitrogen 20 mg/dl. He has a history of mild dementia and his
mental status is unchanged from his last visit. These findings indicate that the patient:
A. Can be treated as an outpatient
B. Requires hospitalization for treatment
C. Requires a high dose of parenteral antibiotic
D. Can be treated with oral antibiotics
CORRECT ANSWER A
Decision Rule: CURB-65 provides framework for determining whether the patient
diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia can be safely monitored and treated at
home. One point is awarded for each of the following factors present:
• Confusion of new onset
• Blood urea nitrogen greater than 20 mg/dl
• Respiratory rate 30 breaths or more per minute
• Blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg systolic or diastolic 60 mm Hg or less
• Age 65 or older
Patients scoring 3 to 5 typically require hospitalization for observation and therapy. Scores
of 0 to 1 indicate likelihood that outpatient management is appropriate. A score of 2 is
inconclusive.
If on physical examination the clinician auscultates rhonchi, the clinician should ask the
patient to take a deep breath and cough in order to:
A. Mobilize secretions
B. Diagnose pleural effusion
C. Accurately distinguish lung sounds
D. A and C
CORRECT ANSWER D
Cough is the most common symptom of bronchitis and may persist for several weeks after
the initial infection is resolved. During the acute phase, the cough may be productive. There
may be associated symptoms, including fever, malaise, chest discomfort, chills, and
headache. The chills and chest discomfort are mild in comparison to the symptoms of
pneumonia. There may be wheezes and/or rhonchi on auscultation, which disappear or alter
with cough effort.
Which of the following is considered a red flag when diagnosing a patient with pneumonia?
A. Fever of 102°F
B. Infiltrates on chest x-ray
