LAB MANUAL FOR HEALTH ASSESSMENT IN NURSING

NAME _______________________________________ Date _________________SCORE _______

CHAPTER 3
COLLECTING OJECTIVE DATA: THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
Activity A MATCHING: Match the terms in the left column with the correct description in the right
column.
TERM
_____ 1. Simsposition
_____ 2. Sitting position
_____ 3. Supine position

_____ 4. Standing position

_____ 5. Prone position

_____ 6. Lithotomy position

_____ 7. Fingerpads

_____ 8. Ulnar surface or palm of hand

_____ 9. Dorsal surface of hand

_____ 10. Bell of stethoscope

_____ 11. Diaphragm of stethoscope

DESCRIPTION
a. Part of the examiners hand used to feel for
temperature
b. Side-lying position used during the rectal
examination
c. Position used during much of the physical
examination including examination of the
head, neck, lungs, chest, back, breast,
axilla, heart, vital signs and upper
extremities
d. Back-lying position used for examination of
the abdomen (with one small pillow under
the head and another under the knees);
this position also allows easy access for
palpation of peripheral pulses
e. Larger end of stethoscope used to detect
breath sounds, normal heart sounds and
bowel sounds
f. Position used to examine male genitalia
and to assess gait, posture, and balance
g. Part of examiners hand used to feel for
fine discriminations: pulses, texture, size,
consistency, shape and crepitus
h. Client lies on abdomen with head turned to
side; may be used to assess back and
mobility of hip joint
i. Part of examiners hand used to feel for
vibration, thrills or fremitus
j. Smaller end of stethoscope used to detect
low-pitched sounds (abnormal heart
sounds and bruits)
k. Back-lying position with hips at edge of
examining table and feet supported in
stirrups; used for examination of female
genitalia, reproductive tract and rectum

CHAPTER POSTTEST Activity C MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS: Choose the one best answer for
each of the following multiple choice questions.
1. Before beginning a physical assessment of a client, the nurse should first
a. Wash both hands with soap and water

LAB MANUAL FOR HEALTH ASSESSMENT IN NURSING

b. Determine whether the client is anxious
c. Ask the client to remove all clothing
d. Request a family member to be present
2. To alleviate clients anxiety during a comprehensive assessment, the nurse should
a. Begin with intrusive procedures first to get them completed quickly
b. Explain each procedure being performed and the reason for procedure
c. Remain in the examination room while the client changes into a gown
d. Ask the client to sign a consent for the physical examination
3. While performing a physical examination on an older adult, the nurse should plan to
a. Complete the examination as quickly as possible
b. Ask client to change position frequently
c. Provide only minimal teaching related to health care
d. Use minimal position changes
4. During a comprehensive assessment, the primary technique used by the nurse throughout the
examination is
a. Palpation
b. Percussion

c. Auscultation
d. Inspection

5. While examining a client, the nurse plans to palpate temperature of the skin by using the
a. Fingertips of the hand
b. Ulnar surface of the hand

c. Dorsal surface of the hand

d. Palmar surface of the hand

6. During palpation of a clients organs, the nurse palpates the spleen by applying pressure between
2.5 and 5cm. The nurse is performing
a. Light palpation
b. Moderate palpation

c. Deep palpation
d. Bimanual palpation

7. While performing a physical examination on an adult client, the nurse can detect the density of an
underlying structure by using
a. Inspection
b. Palpation

c. Doppler magnification
d. Percussion

8. When the nurse places one hand flat on the body surface and uses the fists of the other to strike
the back of the hand flat on the body surface, the nurse is using
a. Firm percussion
b. Direct percussion

c. Indirect percussion
d. Bunt percussion

9. An adult client visits a clinic and tells the nurse that she suspects she has urinary tract infection.
To detect tenderness over the clients kidneys, the nurse should instruct the client that he or she
will be performing
a. Moderate palpation
b. Deep palpation

c. Indirect percussion
d. Blunt percussion

10. The most commonly used method of percussion is

a. Direct percussion
b. Mild percussion

c. Indirect percussion
d. Blunt percussion

LAB MANUAL FOR HEALTH ASSESSMENT IN NURSING

11. During a comprehensive assessment of the lungs of an adult client with a diagnosis of
emphysema, the nurse anticipates that during percussion the client will exhibit
a. Hyperresonance
b. Tympany

c. Dullness
d. Flatness

12. While percussing an adult client during a physical examination, the nurse can expect to hear
flatness over the clients
a. Lungs
b. Bone

c. Liver
d. Abdomen

13. During a comprehensive assessment of an adult client, the nurse can best hear high-pitched
sounds by using the stethoscope with a
a. 1-inch bell
b. 1 -inch diaphragm

c. 15-inch flexible tubing

d. 1-inch diaphragm

e.
f.
g.

h.