NSG 3160 / NSG3160 Exam 2 – Health Assessment
(2026/2027 Update) | Verified Questions & Answers
with Rationale Galen College of Nursing
Question 1:
Mental status is defined as:
A. A patient's emotional and cognitive function
B. The patient's conscious, mood, and affect
C. General intelligence
D. Patient's perception
Correct Answer: A. A patient's emotional and cognitive function
Rationale: Mental status encompasses the patient's overall emotional and cognitive
function, integrating mood, affect, thought processes, and cognitive abilities. This broad
definition is more comprehensive than isolated components like consciousness or
intelligence alone .
Question 2:
A mental disorder is best defined as:
A. Presence of phobia
B. A lack of rational thought and abstract reasoning
C. Extreme behavior that is usually associated with stress
D. Remote memory from years ago may be impacted
Correct Answer: C. Extreme behavior that is usually associated with stress
Rationale: A mental disorder is characterized by significant behavioral or psychological
patterns associated with distress or impaired functioning, often triggered or exacerbated
by stress. It extends beyond a single symptom like phobia or isolated cognitive deficit .
,Question 3:
The A, B, C, and T of the mental health assessment stands for:
A. Attitude, behavior, cleanliness, talk/speech
B. Appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought
C. Airway, breathing, circulation
D. Ability, beliefs, culture, traditions
Correct Answer: B. Appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought
Rationale: The ABC-T framework for mental health assessment
evaluates Appearance, Behavior, Cognition, and Thought process/perception. This
provides a systematic approach to assessing mental status .
Question 4:
Which of the following best describes a patient's appearance assessment?
A. Posture is erect and body movement is voluntary
B. Patient is oriented x 3
C. Patient is awake, alert, and aware and responds appropriately
D. GAD score > 3
Correct Answer: A. Posture is erect and body movement is voluntary
Rationale: Appearance includes physical characteristics such as posture, body
movements, grooming, dress, and hygiene. Orientation, alertness, and anxiety scores are
components of cognition and thought assessment rather than appearance .
Question 5:
One method a nurse can use to assess recent memory is:
A. Assess a patient's ability to complete a thought without wandering
B. Ask patient for a 24-hour diet recall
,C. Ask about patient's first job
D. Perform a 4 unrelated words test
Correct Answer: B. Ask patient for a 24-hour diet recall
Rationale: Recent memory is assessed by asking about events in the past 24 hours, such
as dietary intake or current events. Remote memory (first job) evaluates long-term
memory. The 4 unrelated words test assesses new learning, not recent recall .
Question 6:
Recent memory deficit can occur with delirium and dementia:
A. True
B. False
Correct Answer: A. True
Rationale: Both delirium (acute confusion) and dementia (chronic cognitive decline)
present with impaired recent memory. Distinguishing between them requires assessing
onset, course, and other cognitive functions .
Question 7:
To assess attention span, the nurse should:
A. Ask a series of directions and note correct sequence performed
B. Ask the patient to recall 4 unrelated words after 5 minutes
C. Ask about the patient's first job
D. Perform a 24-hour diet recall
Correct Answer: A. Ask a series of directions and note correct sequence performed
, Rationale: Attention span is assessed by asking the patient to follow a series of
instructions in the correct sequence. This tests the ability to sustain focus and process
multi-step directions .
Question 8:
To assess new learning using the 4 unrelated words test, recall is assessed after:
A. 5 minutes
B. 10 minutes
C. 15 minutes
D. 30 minutes
Correct Answer: A. 5 minutes
Rationale: In the 4 unrelated words test, the patient is asked to recall the 4 words after
5 minutes. This assesses new learning and immediate recall. For longer-term memory
(duration), recall may be tested again at 10 and 30 minutes .
Question 9:
Which of the following is NOT one of the 4 most common anxiety disorders?
A. Panic disorder
B. Posttraumatic stress disorder
C. Social anxiety disorder
D. Depression
Correct Answer: D. Depression
Rationale: Depression is a mood disorder, not an anxiety disorder. The most common
anxiety disorders include panic disorder, PTSD, social anxiety disorder, and generalized
anxiety disorder .
(2026/2027 Update) | Verified Questions & Answers
with Rationale Galen College of Nursing
Question 1:
Mental status is defined as:
A. A patient's emotional and cognitive function
B. The patient's conscious, mood, and affect
C. General intelligence
D. Patient's perception
Correct Answer: A. A patient's emotional and cognitive function
Rationale: Mental status encompasses the patient's overall emotional and cognitive
function, integrating mood, affect, thought processes, and cognitive abilities. This broad
definition is more comprehensive than isolated components like consciousness or
intelligence alone .
Question 2:
A mental disorder is best defined as:
A. Presence of phobia
B. A lack of rational thought and abstract reasoning
C. Extreme behavior that is usually associated with stress
D. Remote memory from years ago may be impacted
Correct Answer: C. Extreme behavior that is usually associated with stress
Rationale: A mental disorder is characterized by significant behavioral or psychological
patterns associated with distress or impaired functioning, often triggered or exacerbated
by stress. It extends beyond a single symptom like phobia or isolated cognitive deficit .
,Question 3:
The A, B, C, and T of the mental health assessment stands for:
A. Attitude, behavior, cleanliness, talk/speech
B. Appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought
C. Airway, breathing, circulation
D. Ability, beliefs, culture, traditions
Correct Answer: B. Appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought
Rationale: The ABC-T framework for mental health assessment
evaluates Appearance, Behavior, Cognition, and Thought process/perception. This
provides a systematic approach to assessing mental status .
Question 4:
Which of the following best describes a patient's appearance assessment?
A. Posture is erect and body movement is voluntary
B. Patient is oriented x 3
C. Patient is awake, alert, and aware and responds appropriately
D. GAD score > 3
Correct Answer: A. Posture is erect and body movement is voluntary
Rationale: Appearance includes physical characteristics such as posture, body
movements, grooming, dress, and hygiene. Orientation, alertness, and anxiety scores are
components of cognition and thought assessment rather than appearance .
Question 5:
One method a nurse can use to assess recent memory is:
A. Assess a patient's ability to complete a thought without wandering
B. Ask patient for a 24-hour diet recall
,C. Ask about patient's first job
D. Perform a 4 unrelated words test
Correct Answer: B. Ask patient for a 24-hour diet recall
Rationale: Recent memory is assessed by asking about events in the past 24 hours, such
as dietary intake or current events. Remote memory (first job) evaluates long-term
memory. The 4 unrelated words test assesses new learning, not recent recall .
Question 6:
Recent memory deficit can occur with delirium and dementia:
A. True
B. False
Correct Answer: A. True
Rationale: Both delirium (acute confusion) and dementia (chronic cognitive decline)
present with impaired recent memory. Distinguishing between them requires assessing
onset, course, and other cognitive functions .
Question 7:
To assess attention span, the nurse should:
A. Ask a series of directions and note correct sequence performed
B. Ask the patient to recall 4 unrelated words after 5 minutes
C. Ask about the patient's first job
D. Perform a 24-hour diet recall
Correct Answer: A. Ask a series of directions and note correct sequence performed
, Rationale: Attention span is assessed by asking the patient to follow a series of
instructions in the correct sequence. This tests the ability to sustain focus and process
multi-step directions .
Question 8:
To assess new learning using the 4 unrelated words test, recall is assessed after:
A. 5 minutes
B. 10 minutes
C. 15 minutes
D. 30 minutes
Correct Answer: A. 5 minutes
Rationale: In the 4 unrelated words test, the patient is asked to recall the 4 words after
5 minutes. This assesses new learning and immediate recall. For longer-term memory
(duration), recall may be tested again at 10 and 30 minutes .
Question 9:
Which of the following is NOT one of the 4 most common anxiety disorders?
A. Panic disorder
B. Posttraumatic stress disorder
C. Social anxiety disorder
D. Depression
Correct Answer: D. Depression
Rationale: Depression is a mood disorder, not an anxiety disorder. The most common
anxiety disorders include panic disorder, PTSD, social anxiety disorder, and generalized
anxiety disorder .
