NSG 3160
Health Assessment Exam 2 2026/2027 | Galen College of
Nursing | Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales
This Resource Includes
➢ NSG 3160 Health Assessment Exam 2 review
➢ Practice questions with answers
➢ Detailed rationales
, NSG 3160 Health Assessment Exam 2
2026/2027 | Galen College of Nursing |
Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales
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
Answer: A.) A patient's emotional and cognitive function
Rationale: Mental status refers to a patient's emotional and cognitive
functioning. It encompasses both the emotional state (mood, affect)
and cognitive abilities (orientation, memory, attention, thought
processes). While options B, C, and D represent components of mental
status, option A is the most comprehensive definition.
2. A mental disorder is best defined as:
A.) Presence of phobia
B.) A lack of rational thought and abstract researching
,C.) Extreme behavior that is usually associated with stress
D.) Remote memory from years ago may be impacted
Answer: C.) Extreme behavior that is usually associated with stress
Rationale: A mental disorder is characterized by extreme or abnormal
behavior that is often associated with stress. It represents a significant
deviation from normal functioning that impairs a person's ability to
cope with everyday life. Options A, B, and D describe specific symptoms
or conditions rather than a general definition of mental disorder.
3. The A, B, C, and T of the mental health assessment is:
A.) Attitude, behavior, cleanliness, talk/speech
B.) Appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought
C.) Airway, breathing, circulation
D.) Ability, beliefs, culture, traditions
Answer: B.) Appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought
Rationale: The ABC-T framework for mental health assessment stands
for Appearance, Behavior, Cognition, and Thought processes. This
systematic approach ensures comprehensive evaluation of all aspects
of mental status. Option C refers to a primary survey in emergency care
(ABC), not mental health assessment.
, 4. Which of the following best describes a patient's appearance?
A.) Posture is erect and body movement is voluntary
B.) Patient is oriented x3
C.) Patient is awake, alert, and aware and responds appropriately
D.) GAD score >3
Answer: A.) Posture is erect and body movement is voluntary
Rationale: Appearance includes posture, body movements, dress,
grooming, and hygiene. Option B (orientation) falls under cognition.
Option C (level of consciousness) falls under behavior. Option D refers
to a screening tool score, not appearance.
5. One method a nurse can use to assess recent memory:
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 4 unrelated words test
Answer: B.) Ask patient for a 24-hour diet recall
Rationale: Recent memory is assessed by asking the patient to recall
events from the past 24 hours, such as a 24-hour diet recall. Option A
Health Assessment Exam 2 2026/2027 | Galen College of
Nursing | Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales
This Resource Includes
➢ NSG 3160 Health Assessment Exam 2 review
➢ Practice questions with answers
➢ Detailed rationales
, NSG 3160 Health Assessment Exam 2
2026/2027 | Galen College of Nursing |
Questions, Answers & Detailed Rationales
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
Answer: A.) A patient's emotional and cognitive function
Rationale: Mental status refers to a patient's emotional and cognitive
functioning. It encompasses both the emotional state (mood, affect)
and cognitive abilities (orientation, memory, attention, thought
processes). While options B, C, and D represent components of mental
status, option A is the most comprehensive definition.
2. A mental disorder is best defined as:
A.) Presence of phobia
B.) A lack of rational thought and abstract researching
,C.) Extreme behavior that is usually associated with stress
D.) Remote memory from years ago may be impacted
Answer: C.) Extreme behavior that is usually associated with stress
Rationale: A mental disorder is characterized by extreme or abnormal
behavior that is often associated with stress. It represents a significant
deviation from normal functioning that impairs a person's ability to
cope with everyday life. Options A, B, and D describe specific symptoms
or conditions rather than a general definition of mental disorder.
3. The A, B, C, and T of the mental health assessment is:
A.) Attitude, behavior, cleanliness, talk/speech
B.) Appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought
C.) Airway, breathing, circulation
D.) Ability, beliefs, culture, traditions
Answer: B.) Appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought
Rationale: The ABC-T framework for mental health assessment stands
for Appearance, Behavior, Cognition, and Thought processes. This
systematic approach ensures comprehensive evaluation of all aspects
of mental status. Option C refers to a primary survey in emergency care
(ABC), not mental health assessment.
, 4. Which of the following best describes a patient's appearance?
A.) Posture is erect and body movement is voluntary
B.) Patient is oriented x3
C.) Patient is awake, alert, and aware and responds appropriately
D.) GAD score >3
Answer: A.) Posture is erect and body movement is voluntary
Rationale: Appearance includes posture, body movements, dress,
grooming, and hygiene. Option B (orientation) falls under cognition.
Option C (level of consciousness) falls under behavior. Option D refers
to a screening tool score, not appearance.
5. One method a nurse can use to assess recent memory:
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 4 unrelated words test
Answer: B.) Ask patient for a 24-hour diet recall
Rationale: Recent memory is assessed by asking the patient to recall
events from the past 24 hours, such as a 24-hour diet recall. Option A
