NURS 5220 Exam 3 V2 | NURS 5220
Advanced Health Assessment and
Diagnostic Reasoning Review | Actual
Q&A with Rationale (NURS5220 Exam 3) |
The University of Texas at Arlington
1. During a neurological examination, the nurse practitioner asks the patient to smile, frown,
and puff out their cheeks. Which cranial nerve is being evaluated?
A. Cranial Nerve VII (Facial)
B. Cranial Nerve V (Trigeminal)
C. Cranial Nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal)
D. Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal)
Answer: A
Rationale: Cranial Nerve VII, the facial nerve, is responsible for the motor innervation of
the muscles of facial expression. Assessment requires observing for symmetry during
movements such as smiling, frowning, and puffing the cheeks. Asymmetry may indicate a
peripheral lesion such as Bell’s palsy or a central nervous system event like a stroke.
2. A 75-year-old patient is being screened for cognitive impairment using the Mini-Mental
State Examination (MMSE). Which score typically indicates ‘mild’ cognitive impairment?
A. 0–7
,B. 24–30
C. 18–23
D. 8–17
Answer: C
Rationale: The MMSE is a 30-point scale used extensively in geriatric assessments to
screen for cognitive decline. A score of 18 to 23 is generally considered indicative of mild
cognitive impairment. Scores below 18 suggest moderate to severe impairment, while 24
and above are typically normal.
3. When assessing a patient for a suspected meniscus tear, which orthopedic maneuver
involves rotating the lower leg while applying pressure to the knee joint in a flexed position?
A. Lachman test
B. Bulge sign
C. McMurray test
D. Phalen test
Answer: C
Rationale: The McMurray test is specifically designed to identify tears in the meniscus of
the knee. The clinician flexes the knee and rotates the tibia while extending the leg to elicit
a click or pain. A positive result is highly suggestive of meniscal injury and warrants further
imaging.
, 4. A mother brings her 4-month-old infant for a well-child checkup. Which developmental
milestone should the nurse practitioner expect the infant to have achieved?
A. Sitting without support
B. Walking with assistance
C. Using a pincer grasp
D. Rolling from prone to supine
Answer: D
Rationale: By 4 months of age, most infants should be able to roll from their stomach to
their back. Sitting without support is typically expected by 6 months, and the pincer grasp
develops closer to 9 months. Monitoring these milestones is essential for early detection of
developmental delays.
5. During a sensory assessment, the clinician moves the patient’s big toe up and down and
asks the patient to identify the direction with their eyes closed. What is being tested?
A. Proprioception (Position sense)
B. Stereognosis
C. Graphesthesia
D. Two-point discrimination
Answer: A
Advanced Health Assessment and
Diagnostic Reasoning Review | Actual
Q&A with Rationale (NURS5220 Exam 3) |
The University of Texas at Arlington
1. During a neurological examination, the nurse practitioner asks the patient to smile, frown,
and puff out their cheeks. Which cranial nerve is being evaluated?
A. Cranial Nerve VII (Facial)
B. Cranial Nerve V (Trigeminal)
C. Cranial Nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal)
D. Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal)
Answer: A
Rationale: Cranial Nerve VII, the facial nerve, is responsible for the motor innervation of
the muscles of facial expression. Assessment requires observing for symmetry during
movements such as smiling, frowning, and puffing the cheeks. Asymmetry may indicate a
peripheral lesion such as Bell’s palsy or a central nervous system event like a stroke.
2. A 75-year-old patient is being screened for cognitive impairment using the Mini-Mental
State Examination (MMSE). Which score typically indicates ‘mild’ cognitive impairment?
A. 0–7
,B. 24–30
C. 18–23
D. 8–17
Answer: C
Rationale: The MMSE is a 30-point scale used extensively in geriatric assessments to
screen for cognitive decline. A score of 18 to 23 is generally considered indicative of mild
cognitive impairment. Scores below 18 suggest moderate to severe impairment, while 24
and above are typically normal.
3. When assessing a patient for a suspected meniscus tear, which orthopedic maneuver
involves rotating the lower leg while applying pressure to the knee joint in a flexed position?
A. Lachman test
B. Bulge sign
C. McMurray test
D. Phalen test
Answer: C
Rationale: The McMurray test is specifically designed to identify tears in the meniscus of
the knee. The clinician flexes the knee and rotates the tibia while extending the leg to elicit
a click or pain. A positive result is highly suggestive of meniscal injury and warrants further
imaging.
, 4. A mother brings her 4-month-old infant for a well-child checkup. Which developmental
milestone should the nurse practitioner expect the infant to have achieved?
A. Sitting without support
B. Walking with assistance
C. Using a pincer grasp
D. Rolling from prone to supine
Answer: D
Rationale: By 4 months of age, most infants should be able to roll from their stomach to
their back. Sitting without support is typically expected by 6 months, and the pincer grasp
develops closer to 9 months. Monitoring these milestones is essential for early detection of
developmental delays.
5. During a sensory assessment, the clinician moves the patient’s big toe up and down and
asks the patient to identify the direction with their eyes closed. What is being tested?
A. Proprioception (Position sense)
B. Stereognosis
C. Graphesthesia
D. Two-point discrimination
Answer: A
