Nurs 623 Exam 3 Practice Review Questions With
Correct Answers | Latest Update 2026/2027 | Graded
A+ | Assured Pass.
What is the proper order of assessing the abdomen?
A. inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
B. auscultation, percussion, palpation, inspection
C. palpation, inspection, auscultation, percussion
D. percussion, palpation, inspection, auscultation - ANSWER- A.
When percussing the abdomen, hyperresonance is present:
A. After eating a large meal
B. When there is gaseous distention
C. During the second trimester of pregnancy
D. Post appendectomy - ANSWER- B.
A 35-year-old female patient is seen in the clinic complaining of abdominal pain. Which
of the following should be included in the history and physical exam?
A. Digital Rectal Exam
B. Pelvic Exam
C. Sexual History
D. All of the above - ANSWER- D.
A 28-year-old patient is seen in the clinic with colicky abdominal pain, particularly with
meals. She has frequent constipation, flatulence, and abdominal distension. Which of
the data make a diagnosis of diverticulitis unlikely?
A. Her age
B. Flatulence
C. Frequent constipation
D. Colicky abdominal pain - ANSWER- A.
A 25-year-old accountant is seen in the clinic complaining of crampy abdominal pain
after meals. She is often constipated and takes laxatives. Following this, she has
diarrhea for a couple of days. She temporarily feels better after a bowel movement. She
states she is embarrassed by flatulence and has abdominal distension. She has had no
weight loss or blood in her stool. This problem has gone on for about 6 months. What
should the next step be?
A. Obtain a complete history
,B. Order a barium enema.
C. Schedule a Bernstein's test.
D. Prescribe a trial of antispasmodics. - ANSWER- A.
You assess for Cullen's sign in Dan, age 62, after surgery. Cullen's sign may indicate:
A. Cholecystitis
B. Appendicitis
C. Intra-abdominal bleeding
D. Prostatitis - ANSWER- C.
Marian, age 52, is obese. She complains of a rapid onset of severe right upper quadrant
(RUQ) pain, abdominal cramping, nausea, and vomiting. Your differential diagnosis
might be:
A. Diverticulitis
B. Gastritis
C. Cholecystitis
D. Appendicitis - ANSWER- C.
What is the most common cause of constipation?
A. Holding of bowel movements
B. Medication side-effect
C. Dietary choices
D. Lack of dietary fiber - ANSWER- D.
A patient is seen in the office and is complaining of constipation. The patient lists all of
the following medications. Which drug could be responsible for the constipation?
A. Lisinopril
B. Coreg
C. Linzess
D. Pepto-bismol - ANSWER- D.
A 46-year-old female patient is seen in the clinic with abdominal pain. Which of the
following tests is essential for this patient?
A. CBC
B. Urine HCG
C. Barium enema
D. CT - ANSWER- B.
A 45-year-old patient presents with a chief complaint of generalized abdominal pain.
Her physical exam is remarkable for left lower quadrant (LLQ) tenderness. Which of the
following should be considered in the differential diagnosis at this time?
A. Endometriosis
B. Colon Ca
C. Diverticulitis
, D. All of the above - ANSWER- D.
Which of the following pharmacological agents used to treat constipation may cause
flatulence and bloating and requires adequate fluid intake?
A. Lamictol
B. Linzess
C. Bulking agents
D. Senna cot - ANSWER- C.
Which laxative is safe for long-term use?
A. Senna cot
B. Magnesium citrate
C. Methylcellulose (Citrucel)
D. Milk of magnesia - ANSWER- C.
Which hepatic enzyme is increased with viral hepatitis, drug or chemical associated
hepatitis or non alcoholic fatty liver disease?
A. AST
B. BUN
C. ALT
D. CRP - ANSWER- C.
ALT usually increases higher than AST by greater than ten times the ULN in what
conditions:
A. Alcoholism
B. Viral, drug or chemical associated hepatitis
C. Septicemia
D. HIV/AIDS - ANSWER- B.
ALT usually increases higher than ALT at 3 times ULN in what conditions:
A. Septicemia
B. HIV/AIDS
C. Non alcoholic fatty liver disease
D. Chronic alcoholism - ANSWER- C.
Which hepatic enzyme is elevated with alcoholic hepatic injury and in acetaminophen
overdose:
A. ALT
B. AST
C. CRP
D. GGT - ANSWER- B.
The AST & ALT levels are markedly elevated over 20 times the ULN in which condition:
A. Liver transplant rejection
Correct Answers | Latest Update 2026/2027 | Graded
A+ | Assured Pass.
What is the proper order of assessing the abdomen?
A. inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation
B. auscultation, percussion, palpation, inspection
C. palpation, inspection, auscultation, percussion
D. percussion, palpation, inspection, auscultation - ANSWER- A.
When percussing the abdomen, hyperresonance is present:
A. After eating a large meal
B. When there is gaseous distention
C. During the second trimester of pregnancy
D. Post appendectomy - ANSWER- B.
A 35-year-old female patient is seen in the clinic complaining of abdominal pain. Which
of the following should be included in the history and physical exam?
A. Digital Rectal Exam
B. Pelvic Exam
C. Sexual History
D. All of the above - ANSWER- D.
A 28-year-old patient is seen in the clinic with colicky abdominal pain, particularly with
meals. She has frequent constipation, flatulence, and abdominal distension. Which of
the data make a diagnosis of diverticulitis unlikely?
A. Her age
B. Flatulence
C. Frequent constipation
D. Colicky abdominal pain - ANSWER- A.
A 25-year-old accountant is seen in the clinic complaining of crampy abdominal pain
after meals. She is often constipated and takes laxatives. Following this, she has
diarrhea for a couple of days. She temporarily feels better after a bowel movement. She
states she is embarrassed by flatulence and has abdominal distension. She has had no
weight loss or blood in her stool. This problem has gone on for about 6 months. What
should the next step be?
A. Obtain a complete history
,B. Order a barium enema.
C. Schedule a Bernstein's test.
D. Prescribe a trial of antispasmodics. - ANSWER- A.
You assess for Cullen's sign in Dan, age 62, after surgery. Cullen's sign may indicate:
A. Cholecystitis
B. Appendicitis
C. Intra-abdominal bleeding
D. Prostatitis - ANSWER- C.
Marian, age 52, is obese. She complains of a rapid onset of severe right upper quadrant
(RUQ) pain, abdominal cramping, nausea, and vomiting. Your differential diagnosis
might be:
A. Diverticulitis
B. Gastritis
C. Cholecystitis
D. Appendicitis - ANSWER- C.
What is the most common cause of constipation?
A. Holding of bowel movements
B. Medication side-effect
C. Dietary choices
D. Lack of dietary fiber - ANSWER- D.
A patient is seen in the office and is complaining of constipation. The patient lists all of
the following medications. Which drug could be responsible for the constipation?
A. Lisinopril
B. Coreg
C. Linzess
D. Pepto-bismol - ANSWER- D.
A 46-year-old female patient is seen in the clinic with abdominal pain. Which of the
following tests is essential for this patient?
A. CBC
B. Urine HCG
C. Barium enema
D. CT - ANSWER- B.
A 45-year-old patient presents with a chief complaint of generalized abdominal pain.
Her physical exam is remarkable for left lower quadrant (LLQ) tenderness. Which of the
following should be considered in the differential diagnosis at this time?
A. Endometriosis
B. Colon Ca
C. Diverticulitis
, D. All of the above - ANSWER- D.
Which of the following pharmacological agents used to treat constipation may cause
flatulence and bloating and requires adequate fluid intake?
A. Lamictol
B. Linzess
C. Bulking agents
D. Senna cot - ANSWER- C.
Which laxative is safe for long-term use?
A. Senna cot
B. Magnesium citrate
C. Methylcellulose (Citrucel)
D. Milk of magnesia - ANSWER- C.
Which hepatic enzyme is increased with viral hepatitis, drug or chemical associated
hepatitis or non alcoholic fatty liver disease?
A. AST
B. BUN
C. ALT
D. CRP - ANSWER- C.
ALT usually increases higher than AST by greater than ten times the ULN in what
conditions:
A. Alcoholism
B. Viral, drug or chemical associated hepatitis
C. Septicemia
D. HIV/AIDS - ANSWER- B.
ALT usually increases higher than ALT at 3 times ULN in what conditions:
A. Septicemia
B. HIV/AIDS
C. Non alcoholic fatty liver disease
D. Chronic alcoholism - ANSWER- C.
Which hepatic enzyme is elevated with alcoholic hepatic injury and in acetaminophen
overdose:
A. ALT
B. AST
C. CRP
D. GGT - ANSWER- B.
The AST & ALT levels are markedly elevated over 20 times the ULN in which condition:
A. Liver transplant rejection
