Health Assessment Exam 2: Study Guide Chapter 08: 1. When performing a physical assessment, the first technique the nurse will always use is: a. Palpation. b. Inspection. c. Percussion. d. Auscultation. B The skills requisite for the physical examination are inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. The skills are performed one at a time and in this order (with the exception of the abdominal assessment, during which auscultation takes place before palpation and percussion). ...