NSG3160 EXAM 3 2026 CERTIFICATION
EVALUATION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ 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. intellect.
c. judgment.
d. perception. Answer: c. judgment.
To assess judgment in the interview, the nurse should notice what
the person says about job plans, social or family obligations, and
plans for the future. Job and future plans should be realistic and
should take into account the person's health situation. Thought
processes should be consistent, coherent, relevant, and logical.
Perceptions should be congruent; the person should be consistently
aware of reality. Intellectual functioning is measured by problem-
solving and reasoning abilities.
◉ A major characteristic of dementia is
a. hallucinations.
,b. sudden onset of symptoms.
c. cognitive deficits that are substance-induced.
d. impaired short-term and long-term memory. Answer: d. impaired
short-term and long-term memory.
Dementia is the presence of cognitive deficits; the deficits include
memory impairment (impaired ability to learn new information or
to recall previously learned information). Hallucinations are a form
of delirium. Delirium is a disturbance that develops over a short
period of time. Delirium may be substance-induced.
◉ Mental status assessment documents
a. schizophrenia and other mental health disorders.
b. artistic or writing ability in the mentally ill person.
c. emotional and cognitive functioning.
d. intelligence and educational level. Answer: c. emotional and
cognitive functioning.
Mental status assessment is a systematic check of emotional and
cognitive functioning. Intelligence testing measures problem-solving
and reasoning abilities; results of intelligence testing should be
assessed considering educational and cultural background. Mental
status assessment evaluates appearance, behavior, cognition, and
thought processes, not artistic or writing ability. Abnormalities in
,mood and affect may indicate 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. language, orientation, attention, and abstract reasoning.
b. mood, affect, consciousness, and orientation.
c. appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought processes.
d. memory, attention, thought content, and perceptions. Answer: c.
appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought processes.
The four main components of a full mental status examination are
appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought processes. Select
behaviors that are assessed with a mental status examination
include memory, attention, thought content, and perceptions. Select
behaviors that are assessed with a mental status examination
include language, orientation, attention, and abstract reasoning.
Select behaviors that are assessed with a mental status examination
include mood, affect, consciousness, and orientation.
◉ An older adult
, a. has a slower response time.
b. has diminished recent and remote memory recall.
c. experiences a 10-point decrease in intelligence.
d. has difficulty with problem-solving. Answer: a. has a slower
response time.
Response time is slower in an aging adult; it may take longer for the
brain to process information and react. Timed intelligence testing
may be lower for an aging adult; intelligence has not declined, but it
may take longer to respond to questions. Recent memory requires
processing and may decrease with aging. Remote memory is not
affected by the aging process. Aging does not usually have an impact
on mental status (e.g., intelligence, reasoning abilities, and problem
solving).
◉ Which of the following statements about mental status testing of
children is correct?
a. The behavioral checklist is useful to assess children who are 3 to 5
years old.
b. Input from parents and caregivers is discouraged when assessing
psychosocial development.
c. The results of the Denver II screening test are valid for white,
middle-class children only.
EVALUATION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
◉ 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. intellect.
c. judgment.
d. perception. Answer: c. judgment.
To assess judgment in the interview, the nurse should notice what
the person says about job plans, social or family obligations, and
plans for the future. Job and future plans should be realistic and
should take into account the person's health situation. Thought
processes should be consistent, coherent, relevant, and logical.
Perceptions should be congruent; the person should be consistently
aware of reality. Intellectual functioning is measured by problem-
solving and reasoning abilities.
◉ A major characteristic of dementia is
a. hallucinations.
,b. sudden onset of symptoms.
c. cognitive deficits that are substance-induced.
d. impaired short-term and long-term memory. Answer: d. impaired
short-term and long-term memory.
Dementia is the presence of cognitive deficits; the deficits include
memory impairment (impaired ability to learn new information or
to recall previously learned information). Hallucinations are a form
of delirium. Delirium is a disturbance that develops over a short
period of time. Delirium may be substance-induced.
◉ Mental status assessment documents
a. schizophrenia and other mental health disorders.
b. artistic or writing ability in the mentally ill person.
c. emotional and cognitive functioning.
d. intelligence and educational level. Answer: c. emotional and
cognitive functioning.
Mental status assessment is a systematic check of emotional and
cognitive functioning. Intelligence testing measures problem-solving
and reasoning abilities; results of intelligence testing should be
assessed considering educational and cultural background. Mental
status assessment evaluates appearance, behavior, cognition, and
thought processes, not artistic or writing ability. Abnormalities in
,mood and affect may indicate 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. language, orientation, attention, and abstract reasoning.
b. mood, affect, consciousness, and orientation.
c. appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought processes.
d. memory, attention, thought content, and perceptions. Answer: c.
appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought processes.
The four main components of a full mental status examination are
appearance, behavior, cognition, and thought processes. Select
behaviors that are assessed with a mental status examination
include memory, attention, thought content, and perceptions. Select
behaviors that are assessed with a mental status examination
include language, orientation, attention, and abstract reasoning.
Select behaviors that are assessed with a mental status examination
include mood, affect, consciousness, and orientation.
◉ An older adult
, a. has a slower response time.
b. has diminished recent and remote memory recall.
c. experiences a 10-point decrease in intelligence.
d. has difficulty with problem-solving. Answer: a. has a slower
response time.
Response time is slower in an aging adult; it may take longer for the
brain to process information and react. Timed intelligence testing
may be lower for an aging adult; intelligence has not declined, but it
may take longer to respond to questions. Recent memory requires
processing and may decrease with aging. Remote memory is not
affected by the aging process. Aging does not usually have an impact
on mental status (e.g., intelligence, reasoning abilities, and problem
solving).
◉ Which of the following statements about mental status testing of
children is correct?
a. The behavioral checklist is useful to assess children who are 3 to 5
years old.
b. Input from parents and caregivers is discouraged when assessing
psychosocial development.
c. The results of the Denver II screening test are valid for white,
middle-class children only.
