Assessment Techniques
HEENT
Cardiac & Respiratory
Abdomen & GI
Neuro
100

This technique involves using the sense of touch to assess temperature, texture, and tenderness.

What is palpation?

100

What does PERRLA stand for?

What is Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation?

100

Where is the apical pulse best auscultated?

What is the 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line?

100

What is the first step in abdominal assessment?

What is inspection?

100

Which scale is used to assess level of consciousness?

What is Glasgow Coma Scale?

200

This technique is used to listen for internal body sounds such as heart, lung, or bowel sounds.

What is auscultation?

200

The nurse palpates the neck and finds small, movable, and non-tender lumps- what is the nurse assessing?

What are lymph nodes?

200

Crackles in lung sounds often indicate what?

What is Fluid in alveoli (pneumonia, CHF)?

200

A nurse listens for bowel sounds for 5 minutes in all 4 quadrants and does not hear any. How would this be documented? 

What are absent bowel sounds? 

200

What does a GCS score of 15 indicate?

What is full alertness?

300

Which technique is used first during a general survey?

What is inspection?

300

What is the term for yellowing of the sclera?

What is the jaundice?

300

What does S1 represent?

What is the closure of mitral and tricuspid valves?

300

A hyperactive bowel sound indicates.

what is possible diarrhea or gastroenteritis?

300

The nurse asks the patient to squeeze their hands bilaterally to assess this.

What are muscle strength and equality? 

400

This technique involves tapping the body to determine the density of underlying tissues.

What is percussion?

400

This finding describes pupils that are unequal in size.

What is anisocoria?

400

What is the proper sequence for lung assessment?

What is Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation?

400

RUQ pain may indicate a problem with which organ?

What is the liver or gallbladder?

400

This term describes a state in which a patient is drowsy but easily awakened to respond.

What is lethergy?

500

This assessment technique relies on the nurse’s sense of smell to detect signs of infection, metabolic disorders, or poor hygiene.

What is olfaction?

500

How to check for facial symmetry?

Have patient smile

500

Which side of the stethoscope is best for hearing high-pitched heart sounds?

What is the diaphragm?

500

Rebound tenderness is tested for which condition?

What is Appendicitis?

500

This is a focused assessment, frequently ordered by a medical provider to assess neurological status every 1-4 hours for changes following a head injury.

What is a neuro check?