Health Assessment and Physical
Examination Test Bank Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2025/2026 Q&A | Instant
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1. What is the primary purpose of a health assessment?
A. To diagnose a disease
B. To identify patient needs and promote health
C. To administer medications
D. To schedule follow-up visits
Answer: B. To identify patient needs and promote health
Rationale: Health assessment is comprehensive and focuses on identifying risk
factors, health promotion, and patient education rather than just diagnosing
disease.
2. When performing a physical assessment, which technique is used first?
A. Percussion
B. Inspection
C. Palpation
D. Auscultation
Answer: B. Inspection
Rationale: Inspection is always the first step in a physical exam, allowing visual
assessment before touching or disturbing the patient.
3. Which vital sign is most affected by anxiety or pain?
A. Blood pressure
B. Temperature
C. Respiratory rate
D. Pulse
,Answer: D. Pulse
Rationale: Anxiety, fear, and pain can increase sympathetic nervous system
activity, leading to tachycardia.
4. What is the normal adult respiratory rate?
A. 8–12 breaths/min
B. 12–20 breaths/min
C. 20–28 breaths/min
D. 28–36 breaths/min
Answer: B. 12–20 breaths/min
Rationale: Normal adult respiration ranges between 12–20 breaths per minute
at rest.
5. Which assessment technique is best for detecting fluid in the lungs?
A. Inspection
B. Palpation
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Answer: D. Auscultation
Rationale: Auscultation allows the nurse to detect abnormal breath sounds
such as crackles or wheezes caused by fluid.
6. What is the correct sequence of abdominal assessment?
A. Palpation → Percussion → Auscultation → Inspection
B. Inspection → Palpation → Auscultation → Percussion
C. Inspection → Auscultation → Percussion → Palpation
D. Auscultation → Inspection → Palpation → Percussion
Answer: C. Inspection → Auscultation → Percussion → Palpation
Rationale: Auscultation is done before palpation/percussion to avoid altering
bowel sounds.
, 7. A patient presents with pallor. What could this indicate?
A. Hyperemia
B. Anemia or shock
C. Cyanosis
D. Jaundice
Answer: B. Anemia or shock
Rationale: Pallor occurs due to decreased blood flow or hemoglobin, often seen
in anemia or hypovolemic shock.
8. What is the term for a high-pitched whistling sound during expiration?
A. Stridor
B. Wheeze
C. Crackle
D. Rub
Answer: B. Wheeze
Rationale: Wheezes are musical, high-pitched sounds typically caused by
airway narrowing or obstruction.
9. Which technique is most appropriate to assess for organ enlargement?
A. Inspection
B. Palpation
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Answer: B. Palpation
Rationale: Palpation allows assessment of size, shape, and tenderness of
organs such as liver and spleen.
10. What is the purpose of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)?
A. To measure vital signs
B. To assess nutritional status
C. To evaluate neurological status
D. To assess skin integrity
Examination Test Bank Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2025/2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. What is the primary purpose of a health assessment?
A. To diagnose a disease
B. To identify patient needs and promote health
C. To administer medications
D. To schedule follow-up visits
Answer: B. To identify patient needs and promote health
Rationale: Health assessment is comprehensive and focuses on identifying risk
factors, health promotion, and patient education rather than just diagnosing
disease.
2. When performing a physical assessment, which technique is used first?
A. Percussion
B. Inspection
C. Palpation
D. Auscultation
Answer: B. Inspection
Rationale: Inspection is always the first step in a physical exam, allowing visual
assessment before touching or disturbing the patient.
3. Which vital sign is most affected by anxiety or pain?
A. Blood pressure
B. Temperature
C. Respiratory rate
D. Pulse
,Answer: D. Pulse
Rationale: Anxiety, fear, and pain can increase sympathetic nervous system
activity, leading to tachycardia.
4. What is the normal adult respiratory rate?
A. 8–12 breaths/min
B. 12–20 breaths/min
C. 20–28 breaths/min
D. 28–36 breaths/min
Answer: B. 12–20 breaths/min
Rationale: Normal adult respiration ranges between 12–20 breaths per minute
at rest.
5. Which assessment technique is best for detecting fluid in the lungs?
A. Inspection
B. Palpation
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Answer: D. Auscultation
Rationale: Auscultation allows the nurse to detect abnormal breath sounds
such as crackles or wheezes caused by fluid.
6. What is the correct sequence of abdominal assessment?
A. Palpation → Percussion → Auscultation → Inspection
B. Inspection → Palpation → Auscultation → Percussion
C. Inspection → Auscultation → Percussion → Palpation
D. Auscultation → Inspection → Palpation → Percussion
Answer: C. Inspection → Auscultation → Percussion → Palpation
Rationale: Auscultation is done before palpation/percussion to avoid altering
bowel sounds.
, 7. A patient presents with pallor. What could this indicate?
A. Hyperemia
B. Anemia or shock
C. Cyanosis
D. Jaundice
Answer: B. Anemia or shock
Rationale: Pallor occurs due to decreased blood flow or hemoglobin, often seen
in anemia or hypovolemic shock.
8. What is the term for a high-pitched whistling sound during expiration?
A. Stridor
B. Wheeze
C. Crackle
D. Rub
Answer: B. Wheeze
Rationale: Wheezes are musical, high-pitched sounds typically caused by
airway narrowing or obstruction.
9. Which technique is most appropriate to assess for organ enlargement?
A. Inspection
B. Palpation
C. Percussion
D. Auscultation
Answer: B. Palpation
Rationale: Palpation allows assessment of size, shape, and tenderness of
organs such as liver and spleen.
10. What is the purpose of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)?
A. To measure vital signs
B. To assess nutritional status
C. To evaluate neurological status
D. To assess skin integrity
