A full mental status examination should be completed if the patient
A. has a change in behavior and the family is concerned.
B. develops dysphagia.
C. has a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
D. complains of insomnia.
Aphasia is best described as
A. a language disturbance in speaking, writing, or understanding.
B. the impaired ability to carry out motor activities despite intact motor function.
C. the impaired ability to recognize or identify objects despite intact sensory
function.
D. a disturbance in executive functioning (planning, organizing, sequencing,
abstracting).
A patient in whom a seizure disorder was recently diagnosed plans to continue a career as a pilot. At
this time in the interview, the nurse begins to question the patient’s
A. thought process.
B. judgment.
C. perception.
D. intellect.
A major characteristic of dementia is
A. impaired short-term and long-term memory.
B. hallucinations.
C. sudden onset of symptoms.
D. cognitive deficits that are substance-induced.
Mental status assessment documents
A. emotional and cognitive functioning.
B. intelligence and educational level.
C. artistic or writing ability in the mentally ill person.
D. schizophrenia and other mental health disorders.
Although a full mental status examination may not be required for every patient, the health care
provider must address the four main components during a health history and physical examination.
The four components are
A. memory, attention, thought content, and perceptions.
B. language, orientation, attention, and abstract reasoning.
C. appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought processes.
D. mood, affect, consciousness, and orientation.
,An older adult
A. experiences a 10-point decrease in intelligence.
B. has diminished recent and remote memory recall.
C. has a slower response time.
D. has difficulty with problem solving.
Which of the following statements about mental status testing of children is correct?
A. Assessments should be done only if there are concerns voiced by parents.
B. Results of screening tests provide diagnostic evidence of mental health problems.
C. Abnormal findings are usually related to not achieving an expected developmental
milestone.
D. Input from parents and caregivers is discouraged when assessing psychosocial
development.
Which of the following best illustrates an abnormality of thought process?
A. Lability
B. Blocking
C. Compulsion
D. Aphasia
The mental status examination
A. should be completed at the end of the physical examination.
B. will not be affected if the patient has a language impairment.
C. is usually not assessed in children younger than 2 years of age.
D. assesses mental health strengths and coping skills and screens for any dysfunction.
The nurse would expect an older adult to have higher blood alcohol levels because older adults have
A. more lean muscle mass.
B. an increased consumption of alcohol.
C. decreased liver metabolism and kidney functioning.
D. increased gastrointestinal motility.
For a patient to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol abuse, the patient must report that alcohol
has repeatedly caused or contributed to
A. amnesia episodes while drinking.
B. relationship trouble with family or friends.
C. needing more than three drinks to feel the effects.
D. one or more family members complaining about alcohol use.
, If the patient has a drinking problem, which statement by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. “Your alcohol consumption is not that bad. You only need to cut down on the amount by
drinking only on the weekend.”
B. “I want you to record how much you drink over the next 2 to 3 months. This will help you
to determine if you have a drinking problem.”
C. “If you continue to drink, you might develop serious health problems. It is up to you to
find help and the way to quit.”
D. “I believe that you have an alcohol problem and strongly recommend that you quit
drinking. I am willing to help.”
A patient denies having a drinking problem. Which of the following laboratory tests is commonly
used as a biochemical marker that indicates chronic alcohol use?
A. Elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)
B. Elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
C. Elevated mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
D. Elevated blood alcohol content (BAC)
A patient with chronic alcohol use is most at risk for developing which of the following cardiovascular
diseases?
A. Bradycardia
B. Deep vein thrombosis
C. Hypertension
D. Acute myocardial infarction
One of the most frequently abused prescription opioid pain medications is
A. oxycodone.
B. meperidine.
C. morphine.
D. propoxyphene.
A female patient asks the nurse about the safe use of alcohol before and during pregnancy. The
best response by the nurse is to instruct the patient to
A. talk about alcohol use with the physician.
B. avoid alcohol before conception and during pregnancy.
C. reduce alcohol intake before pregnancy and to avoid alcohol after a positive pregnancy
test.
D. limit alcoholic beverages to two or fewer drinks per week during pregnancy.
Patients should be instructed to consume alcohol in moderation. To consume at a moderate drinking
pattern, a female patient should be instructed to consume no more than
A. two drinks per day.
B. one drink per day.
C. three drinks per week.
D. six drinks per week.
A. has a change in behavior and the family is concerned.
B. develops dysphagia.
C. has a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
D. complains of insomnia.
Aphasia is best described as
A. a language disturbance in speaking, writing, or understanding.
B. the impaired ability to carry out motor activities despite intact motor function.
C. the impaired ability to recognize or identify objects despite intact sensory
function.
D. a disturbance in executive functioning (planning, organizing, sequencing,
abstracting).
A patient in whom a seizure disorder was recently diagnosed plans to continue a career as a pilot. At
this time in the interview, the nurse begins to question the patient’s
A. thought process.
B. judgment.
C. perception.
D. intellect.
A major characteristic of dementia is
A. impaired short-term and long-term memory.
B. hallucinations.
C. sudden onset of symptoms.
D. cognitive deficits that are substance-induced.
Mental status assessment documents
A. emotional and cognitive functioning.
B. intelligence and educational level.
C. artistic or writing ability in the mentally ill person.
D. schizophrenia and other mental health disorders.
Although a full mental status examination may not be required for every patient, the health care
provider must address the four main components during a health history and physical examination.
The four components are
A. memory, attention, thought content, and perceptions.
B. language, orientation, attention, and abstract reasoning.
C. appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought processes.
D. mood, affect, consciousness, and orientation.
,An older adult
A. experiences a 10-point decrease in intelligence.
B. has diminished recent and remote memory recall.
C. has a slower response time.
D. has difficulty with problem solving.
Which of the following statements about mental status testing of children is correct?
A. Assessments should be done only if there are concerns voiced by parents.
B. Results of screening tests provide diagnostic evidence of mental health problems.
C. Abnormal findings are usually related to not achieving an expected developmental
milestone.
D. Input from parents and caregivers is discouraged when assessing psychosocial
development.
Which of the following best illustrates an abnormality of thought process?
A. Lability
B. Blocking
C. Compulsion
D. Aphasia
The mental status examination
A. should be completed at the end of the physical examination.
B. will not be affected if the patient has a language impairment.
C. is usually not assessed in children younger than 2 years of age.
D. assesses mental health strengths and coping skills and screens for any dysfunction.
The nurse would expect an older adult to have higher blood alcohol levels because older adults have
A. more lean muscle mass.
B. an increased consumption of alcohol.
C. decreased liver metabolism and kidney functioning.
D. increased gastrointestinal motility.
For a patient to meet the criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol abuse, the patient must report that alcohol
has repeatedly caused or contributed to
A. amnesia episodes while drinking.
B. relationship trouble with family or friends.
C. needing more than three drinks to feel the effects.
D. one or more family members complaining about alcohol use.
, If the patient has a drinking problem, which statement by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. “Your alcohol consumption is not that bad. You only need to cut down on the amount by
drinking only on the weekend.”
B. “I want you to record how much you drink over the next 2 to 3 months. This will help you
to determine if you have a drinking problem.”
C. “If you continue to drink, you might develop serious health problems. It is up to you to
find help and the way to quit.”
D. “I believe that you have an alcohol problem and strongly recommend that you quit
drinking. I am willing to help.”
A patient denies having a drinking problem. Which of the following laboratory tests is commonly
used as a biochemical marker that indicates chronic alcohol use?
A. Elevated gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT)
B. Elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST)
C. Elevated mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
D. Elevated blood alcohol content (BAC)
A patient with chronic alcohol use is most at risk for developing which of the following cardiovascular
diseases?
A. Bradycardia
B. Deep vein thrombosis
C. Hypertension
D. Acute myocardial infarction
One of the most frequently abused prescription opioid pain medications is
A. oxycodone.
B. meperidine.
C. morphine.
D. propoxyphene.
A female patient asks the nurse about the safe use of alcohol before and during pregnancy. The
best response by the nurse is to instruct the patient to
A. talk about alcohol use with the physician.
B. avoid alcohol before conception and during pregnancy.
C. reduce alcohol intake before pregnancy and to avoid alcohol after a positive pregnancy
test.
D. limit alcoholic beverages to two or fewer drinks per week during pregnancy.
Patients should be instructed to consume alcohol in moderation. To consume at a moderate drinking
pattern, a female patient should be instructed to consume no more than
A. two drinks per day.
B. one drink per day.
C. three drinks per week.
D. six drinks per week.
