NURS 5220 Module 3 Questions
Module 3 Questions
Chapter 5- Mental Status
Ms. Pammy is a 36-year-old woman who presents to your office with a complaint of depression. She is experiencing
anger, fear, and sorrow. Which of the following regulates feelings of anger, fear, and sorrow?
Limbic system
Mrs. Hilliard brings her 9-year-old daughter to your office. She has been diagnosed with autistic disorder. Which of
the following statements best describes this disorder?
Pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder
Mr. Edwards presents to the emergency department following an auto accident. Which of the following scales would
be used to evaluate the mental status of a patient following head trauma?
Glasgow Coma Scale
Disordered perceptions, decreased attention span, suspiciousness and fear with motor and sensory excitement are
characteristics of which disorder?
Delirium
Mr. Yates is a 67-year-old patient who presents to your office with his son. Which of the following would best test
Mr. Yates comprehension?
Ask him to follow one- and two-step commands.
Mrs. Tucker presents to your office today for a follow-up appointment. She appears to fidget in her seat and with her
hands. Which of the following would assess her attention span?
Could you take this paper, fold it in half, and put it on the counter?
A mother brings her child, an 18-month-old boy, to the clinic. She states that the child rarely talks or smiles. She has
also noticed that he does not like to be held. She states that his motor development seems to be normal. With what
condition are these symptoms consistent?
Autistic disorder
Mr. Johnson presents to your office with a complaint of anxiety. Which area of the mental assessment corresponds to
his complaint?
Emotional stability
Mrs. Karon is a 46-year-old female patient who presents to your office for a physical. When you enter the room, her
arms are folded tight and she will not look up to address you. Into which category of examination findings do these
observations belong?
Appearance and behavior
Mrs. Horter brings her 14-year-old son in with a complaint that he has a poor attention span. Which of the following
examination categories is most reflective of attention span?
Cognitive abilities
You administer the Isaac Set Test to evaluate mental function in a 78-year-old woman whose family reports apparent
changes in her cognition. You would interpret a score in which range as indicative of dementia?
14 or less
Which is a major difference between Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia?
Etiology
Which of the following actions would best evaluate the patient's judgment?
Ask the patient, "What do you plan to do after you are discharged from the hospital?"
Page 1 of 25
,NURS 5220 Module 3 Questions
Mr. Gates is a 68-year-old man who is brought to your office by his daughter. Which of the following would
demonstrate an evaluation of thought process and content?
Observing the person's patterns of thinking, especially the appropriateness of sequence, logic, coherence, and
relevance to the topics discussed
Mr. Brooks is a 65-year-old patient who presents to your office with his daughter. The daughter states that her father
has intact reading comprehension, impaired writing skills, and uses only nouns and verbs in speech. Which of the
following best identifies this condition?
Broca aphasia
Santos is a 78-year-old patient who presents to your office with his daughter. The daughter describes difficulties that
include a sudden onset of cognitive impairment, illogical flow of ideas, and hallucinations. Which of the following
best describes this condition?
Delirium
Mr. Green returns to your office with his son, 3 months following his CVA. The son questions when his father's
speech will improve. Which of the following areas of the brain are integral to motor speech?
The Broca area (frontal lobe)
Mr. Reasoner brings his son in for a routine physical examination. On examination, you note inappropriate
developmental inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Your diagnosis is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
You know that this occurs in children before they are:
7 years old.
A review of related history includes detailed inquiry about:
disorientation and confusion.
depression.
medication use.
all of the above.
Schizophrenia affects which of the following?
A person's perceptions
Mr. Jared is a 68-year-old patient who presents to your office with his daughter. During the interview, you note that
he has a slumped posture in the chair and lack of facial expression. Which of the following best describes this
condition?
Parkinson’s
The limbic system controls:
emotions.
Mrs. Gerrard is a 72-year-old patient who presents to your office. After your examination, you suspect she is
depressed. Which of the following findings could indicate depression in an adult patient?
The patient demonstrates impaired math skills.
Anger or rage reactions, impulsive behavior, and hyperarousal persisting for more than a month are characteristic
signs of which problem?
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Mrs. Bates is a 56-year-old patient who presents to your office with her son. He states she has had a change in
mental status. On examination, you note that her judgment is poor. With which problem is poor judgment most
closely associated?
Dementia
Page 2 of 25
, NURS 5220 Module 3 Questions
The examiner asks the patient to complete this statement: "A bird is to air as a fish is to ." This is an
example of what type of testing?
Analogies
An inability to describe similarities or differences between common objects such as carrots and green beans is
suggestive of which problem?
A left cerebral hemisphere lesion
A 65-year-old woman is brought to the clinic by her family, who report that they have noticed a change in her
mental abilities over the past 2 weeks. Normally she is independent, intelligent, and socially oriented. Her medical
history is unremarkable except for congestive heart failure, which is controlled with digoxin. She has had no major
changes in her health. What question would be the most important for the examiner to ask the family?
"When was her digoxin blood level last checked?"
A patient who has difficulty writing or drawing is most likely to have which condition?
Peripheral neuropathy
Which is a classical indication of Alzheimer disease?
Disintegration of personality
In babies, babbling and cooing usually occur around:
3 to 4 months.
At what age do babies usually say one or two words such as "Mama" and "Dada?"
10 to 12 months
Social smiling usually occurs around:
2 to 3 months.
Change in thought process reflects:
emotional stability.
Arithmetic skills reflect:
cognitive abilities.
Typical changes in mental functioning that occur with aging include distinctive personality changes.
False
Which part of the brain mediates certain patterns of behavior that determine survival, such as mating, aggression,
fear, and affection?
Limbic system
Typical changes in mental functioning that occur with aging include deterioration of intellectual function around 60
years of age.
False
The Mini-Mental Status examination (MMSE) is designed to track cognitive changes over time.
True
Screening for depression should be a routine part of care for all new mothers.
True
Problem solving and short-term recall memory are associated with which section of the brain?
Frontal lobe
Page 3 of 25
Module 3 Questions
Chapter 5- Mental Status
Ms. Pammy is a 36-year-old woman who presents to your office with a complaint of depression. She is experiencing
anger, fear, and sorrow. Which of the following regulates feelings of anger, fear, and sorrow?
Limbic system
Mrs. Hilliard brings her 9-year-old daughter to your office. She has been diagnosed with autistic disorder. Which of
the following statements best describes this disorder?
Pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder
Mr. Edwards presents to the emergency department following an auto accident. Which of the following scales would
be used to evaluate the mental status of a patient following head trauma?
Glasgow Coma Scale
Disordered perceptions, decreased attention span, suspiciousness and fear with motor and sensory excitement are
characteristics of which disorder?
Delirium
Mr. Yates is a 67-year-old patient who presents to your office with his son. Which of the following would best test
Mr. Yates comprehension?
Ask him to follow one- and two-step commands.
Mrs. Tucker presents to your office today for a follow-up appointment. She appears to fidget in her seat and with her
hands. Which of the following would assess her attention span?
Could you take this paper, fold it in half, and put it on the counter?
A mother brings her child, an 18-month-old boy, to the clinic. She states that the child rarely talks or smiles. She has
also noticed that he does not like to be held. She states that his motor development seems to be normal. With what
condition are these symptoms consistent?
Autistic disorder
Mr. Johnson presents to your office with a complaint of anxiety. Which area of the mental assessment corresponds to
his complaint?
Emotional stability
Mrs. Karon is a 46-year-old female patient who presents to your office for a physical. When you enter the room, her
arms are folded tight and she will not look up to address you. Into which category of examination findings do these
observations belong?
Appearance and behavior
Mrs. Horter brings her 14-year-old son in with a complaint that he has a poor attention span. Which of the following
examination categories is most reflective of attention span?
Cognitive abilities
You administer the Isaac Set Test to evaluate mental function in a 78-year-old woman whose family reports apparent
changes in her cognition. You would interpret a score in which range as indicative of dementia?
14 or less
Which is a major difference between Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia?
Etiology
Which of the following actions would best evaluate the patient's judgment?
Ask the patient, "What do you plan to do after you are discharged from the hospital?"
Page 1 of 25
,NURS 5220 Module 3 Questions
Mr. Gates is a 68-year-old man who is brought to your office by his daughter. Which of the following would
demonstrate an evaluation of thought process and content?
Observing the person's patterns of thinking, especially the appropriateness of sequence, logic, coherence, and
relevance to the topics discussed
Mr. Brooks is a 65-year-old patient who presents to your office with his daughter. The daughter states that her father
has intact reading comprehension, impaired writing skills, and uses only nouns and verbs in speech. Which of the
following best identifies this condition?
Broca aphasia
Santos is a 78-year-old patient who presents to your office with his daughter. The daughter describes difficulties that
include a sudden onset of cognitive impairment, illogical flow of ideas, and hallucinations. Which of the following
best describes this condition?
Delirium
Mr. Green returns to your office with his son, 3 months following his CVA. The son questions when his father's
speech will improve. Which of the following areas of the brain are integral to motor speech?
The Broca area (frontal lobe)
Mr. Reasoner brings his son in for a routine physical examination. On examination, you note inappropriate
developmental inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Your diagnosis is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
You know that this occurs in children before they are:
7 years old.
A review of related history includes detailed inquiry about:
disorientation and confusion.
depression.
medication use.
all of the above.
Schizophrenia affects which of the following?
A person's perceptions
Mr. Jared is a 68-year-old patient who presents to your office with his daughter. During the interview, you note that
he has a slumped posture in the chair and lack of facial expression. Which of the following best describes this
condition?
Parkinson’s
The limbic system controls:
emotions.
Mrs. Gerrard is a 72-year-old patient who presents to your office. After your examination, you suspect she is
depressed. Which of the following findings could indicate depression in an adult patient?
The patient demonstrates impaired math skills.
Anger or rage reactions, impulsive behavior, and hyperarousal persisting for more than a month are characteristic
signs of which problem?
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Mrs. Bates is a 56-year-old patient who presents to your office with her son. He states she has had a change in
mental status. On examination, you note that her judgment is poor. With which problem is poor judgment most
closely associated?
Dementia
Page 2 of 25
, NURS 5220 Module 3 Questions
The examiner asks the patient to complete this statement: "A bird is to air as a fish is to ." This is an
example of what type of testing?
Analogies
An inability to describe similarities or differences between common objects such as carrots and green beans is
suggestive of which problem?
A left cerebral hemisphere lesion
A 65-year-old woman is brought to the clinic by her family, who report that they have noticed a change in her
mental abilities over the past 2 weeks. Normally she is independent, intelligent, and socially oriented. Her medical
history is unremarkable except for congestive heart failure, which is controlled with digoxin. She has had no major
changes in her health. What question would be the most important for the examiner to ask the family?
"When was her digoxin blood level last checked?"
A patient who has difficulty writing or drawing is most likely to have which condition?
Peripheral neuropathy
Which is a classical indication of Alzheimer disease?
Disintegration of personality
In babies, babbling and cooing usually occur around:
3 to 4 months.
At what age do babies usually say one or two words such as "Mama" and "Dada?"
10 to 12 months
Social smiling usually occurs around:
2 to 3 months.
Change in thought process reflects:
emotional stability.
Arithmetic skills reflect:
cognitive abilities.
Typical changes in mental functioning that occur with aging include distinctive personality changes.
False
Which part of the brain mediates certain patterns of behavior that determine survival, such as mating, aggression,
fear, and affection?
Limbic system
Typical changes in mental functioning that occur with aging include deterioration of intellectual function around 60
years of age.
False
The Mini-Mental Status examination (MMSE) is designed to track cognitive changes over time.
True
Screening for depression should be a routine part of care for all new mothers.
True
Problem solving and short-term recall memory are associated with which section of the brain?
Frontal lobe
Page 3 of 25
