NSG 6020 Week 2 Quiz: Complete HEENT Assessment
-– 2026/2027 Edition –Questions with 100% Verified
Correct Answers
Questions with Step-by-Step Answers | 100% Verified | A+ Graded Review
INTRODUCTION:
This NSG 6020 Week 2 Quiz focuses on assessment of head, eyes, ears, nose, and
throat. This review covers normal findings, common abnormalities, and essential
physical examination techniques. Mastering these concepts prepares graduate nursing
students for accurate health assessment, clinical documentation, and early identification
of ENT and neurological conditions in practice.
Answers are in bold Green, with rationales after.
1. Normocephalic means a head size that is:
A. Small, flat, and disproportionate to the body
B. Round, symmetric, and appropriately related to the body size and age
C. Large, asymmetric, and bulging at the fontanelles
D. Elongated with visible cranial ridges
Rationale: Normocephalic is a normal finding meaning the head is of normal size and
shape - round, symmetric, and proportional to the body for the person's age.
2. Cranial nerves III, IV & VI are tested during the ocular exam by testing the 6
extraocular muscles. These muscles are tested by the nurse by administering
the:
A. Snellen chart test
B. Confrontation visual field test
C. Cardinal Positions of gaze test
D. Cover/uncover test
Rationale: CN III (oculomotor), IV (trochlear), and VI (abducens) innervate the 6
extraocular muscles. The 6 cardinal positions of gaze assesses movement in all
directions to evaluate these nerves.
3. On physical exam, the conjunctiva should show the structures below, and
appear:
A. Red, edematous, with purulent drainage
B. Pale, dry, and injected with prominent vessels
C. Clear, shiny, pink inside the lower lids and clear covering over the sclera of the
eye
D. Yellow, thickened, with hemorrhagic spots
, Rationale: Normal conjunctiva is transparent, shiny, with pink palpebral conjunctiva
inside the lower lid and clear bulbar conjunctiva over the white sclera. Redness, pallor,
or drainage indicates pathology.
4. PERRLA, in documenting findings of the eye exam, stands for:
A. Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light, and Adaptation
B. Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light, and Accommodation
C. Pupils Enlarged, Regular, Reactive to Light, and Accommodation
D. Pupils Equal, Reduced, Reactive to Light, and Alignment
Rationale: PERRLA is the standard documentation for normal pupil assessment.
Accommodation refers to pupillary constriction when focusing on a near object.
5. The Weber test is performed to evaluate:
A. Visual acuity for near vision
B. Intraocular pressure
C. Air vs bone conduction of sound
D. Lateralization of sound: sound heard equally in both ears or in one ear greater
than another
Rationale: Weber test uses a vibrating tuning fork placed on midline of skull. Normal is
sound heard equally in both ears. Lateralization to one ear suggests conductive or
sensorineural hearing loss.
6. In preparing to examine an adult patient's ear the nurse:
A. Pulls ear down and back
B. Pulls ear up and back (to straighten the S-shape of the canal)
C. Pulls ear up and forward
D. Pulls ear down and forward
Rationale: In adults, the ear canal is S-shaped. Pulling the pinna up and back
straightens it for better visualization of the tympanic membrane. For children <3 years,
pull down and back
.
7. The nurse is inspecting the ear canal of a patient. She notes dark brown
secretions in the canal. She correctly records this as:
A. Purulent otorrhea
B. Hemotympanum
C. Cerumen (earwax)
D. Foreign body
Rationale: Cerumen is normal, ranging from golden to dark brown, soft to hard. It
protects the canal. Purulent would be white/yellow/green, indicating infection.
8. The nurse conducts a gross hearing screening test using:
A. Tuning fork only
B. Whispered voice
C. Otoscope
D. Audiometer
-– 2026/2027 Edition –Questions with 100% Verified
Correct Answers
Questions with Step-by-Step Answers | 100% Verified | A+ Graded Review
INTRODUCTION:
This NSG 6020 Week 2 Quiz focuses on assessment of head, eyes, ears, nose, and
throat. This review covers normal findings, common abnormalities, and essential
physical examination techniques. Mastering these concepts prepares graduate nursing
students for accurate health assessment, clinical documentation, and early identification
of ENT and neurological conditions in practice.
Answers are in bold Green, with rationales after.
1. Normocephalic means a head size that is:
A. Small, flat, and disproportionate to the body
B. Round, symmetric, and appropriately related to the body size and age
C. Large, asymmetric, and bulging at the fontanelles
D. Elongated with visible cranial ridges
Rationale: Normocephalic is a normal finding meaning the head is of normal size and
shape - round, symmetric, and proportional to the body for the person's age.
2. Cranial nerves III, IV & VI are tested during the ocular exam by testing the 6
extraocular muscles. These muscles are tested by the nurse by administering
the:
A. Snellen chart test
B. Confrontation visual field test
C. Cardinal Positions of gaze test
D. Cover/uncover test
Rationale: CN III (oculomotor), IV (trochlear), and VI (abducens) innervate the 6
extraocular muscles. The 6 cardinal positions of gaze assesses movement in all
directions to evaluate these nerves.
3. On physical exam, the conjunctiva should show the structures below, and
appear:
A. Red, edematous, with purulent drainage
B. Pale, dry, and injected with prominent vessels
C. Clear, shiny, pink inside the lower lids and clear covering over the sclera of the
eye
D. Yellow, thickened, with hemorrhagic spots
, Rationale: Normal conjunctiva is transparent, shiny, with pink palpebral conjunctiva
inside the lower lid and clear bulbar conjunctiva over the white sclera. Redness, pallor,
or drainage indicates pathology.
4. PERRLA, in documenting findings of the eye exam, stands for:
A. Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light, and Adaptation
B. Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light, and Accommodation
C. Pupils Enlarged, Regular, Reactive to Light, and Accommodation
D. Pupils Equal, Reduced, Reactive to Light, and Alignment
Rationale: PERRLA is the standard documentation for normal pupil assessment.
Accommodation refers to pupillary constriction when focusing on a near object.
5. The Weber test is performed to evaluate:
A. Visual acuity for near vision
B. Intraocular pressure
C. Air vs bone conduction of sound
D. Lateralization of sound: sound heard equally in both ears or in one ear greater
than another
Rationale: Weber test uses a vibrating tuning fork placed on midline of skull. Normal is
sound heard equally in both ears. Lateralization to one ear suggests conductive or
sensorineural hearing loss.
6. In preparing to examine an adult patient's ear the nurse:
A. Pulls ear down and back
B. Pulls ear up and back (to straighten the S-shape of the canal)
C. Pulls ear up and forward
D. Pulls ear down and forward
Rationale: In adults, the ear canal is S-shaped. Pulling the pinna up and back
straightens it for better visualization of the tympanic membrane. For children <3 years,
pull down and back
.
7. The nurse is inspecting the ear canal of a patient. She notes dark brown
secretions in the canal. She correctly records this as:
A. Purulent otorrhea
B. Hemotympanum
C. Cerumen (earwax)
D. Foreign body
Rationale: Cerumen is normal, ranging from golden to dark brown, soft to hard. It
protects the canal. Purulent would be white/yellow/green, indicating infection.
8. The nurse conducts a gross hearing screening test using:
A. Tuning fork only
B. Whispered voice
C. Otoscope
D. Audiometer
