NUR 6001 EXAM 3 – Advanced Health
Assessment (2026)
William Paterson University (WPU) – Practice
Exam
Questions 1–200
SECTION 1: Neurological Assessment & Cranial
Nerves (Questions 1–60)
1. A 30-year-old female reports feeling very
unsteady and having difficulty maintaining her
balance. What area of the brain would the nurse
practitioner be concerned about with these
findings?
A. Thalamus
B. Brainstem
C. Cerebellum
D. Extrapyramidal tract
,Answer: C
Rationale: The cerebellum coordinates balance,
posture, and voluntary movement. Lesions or
dysfunction commonly present with an unsteady
gait, difficulty maintaining balance, and falls, which
are key concerns in a neurological assessment.
2. Which cranial nerve is assessed by asking the
patient to shrug their shoulders against
resistance?
A. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
B. CN X (Vagus)
C. CN XI (Accessory)
D. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
Answer: C
Rationale: The spinal accessory nerve (CN XI)
innervates the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid
muscles. The shoulder shrug primarily tests the
trapezius muscle, making CN XI the specific nerve
assessed by this maneuver.
,3. During an assessment of the cranial nerves, the
nurse practitioner finds asymmetry when the
patient frowns or smiles, uneven lifting of the
eyebrows, sagging of the lower eyelid, and
escape of air when pressure is applied to the
right puffed cheek. This would indicate
dysfunction of which cranial nerve?
A. Motor component of cranial nerve VII (Facial)
B. Motor component of cranial nerve IV (Trochlear)
C. Motor and sensory component of cranial nerve XI
(Accessory)
D. Motor component of cranial nerve X (Vagus) and
sensory component of cranial nerve VII
Answer: A
Rationale: Cranial nerve VII (Facial) controls muscles
of facial expression. Asymmetry with smiling,
eyebrow raise, and cheek puffing indicates a motor
deficit of CN VII, not ocular or spinal accessory
nerves.
, 4. Which cranial nerves are purely motor?
A. I, VII, X
B. V, V, VI
C. I, XI, XII
D. I, VIII, XI
Answer: C
Rationale: Cranial nerves III (Oculomotor), XI (Spinal
Accessory), and XII (Hypoglossal) arepurelymotor.
Cranial nerves I(Olfactory), II (Optic), and VIII
(Vestibulocochlear) are purely sensory, whileothers
havebothmotorandsensory components.
5. A patient reportsasudden, severe headache
described as "the worst of my life." Which condition
must beruled out first?
A. Migraine withaura
B. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
C. Tensionheadache
D. Cluster headache
Answer: B
Assessment (2026)
William Paterson University (WPU) – Practice
Exam
Questions 1–200
SECTION 1: Neurological Assessment & Cranial
Nerves (Questions 1–60)
1. A 30-year-old female reports feeling very
unsteady and having difficulty maintaining her
balance. What area of the brain would the nurse
practitioner be concerned about with these
findings?
A. Thalamus
B. Brainstem
C. Cerebellum
D. Extrapyramidal tract
,Answer: C
Rationale: The cerebellum coordinates balance,
posture, and voluntary movement. Lesions or
dysfunction commonly present with an unsteady
gait, difficulty maintaining balance, and falls, which
are key concerns in a neurological assessment.
2. Which cranial nerve is assessed by asking the
patient to shrug their shoulders against
resistance?
A. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
B. CN X (Vagus)
C. CN XI (Accessory)
D. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
Answer: C
Rationale: The spinal accessory nerve (CN XI)
innervates the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid
muscles. The shoulder shrug primarily tests the
trapezius muscle, making CN XI the specific nerve
assessed by this maneuver.
,3. During an assessment of the cranial nerves, the
nurse practitioner finds asymmetry when the
patient frowns or smiles, uneven lifting of the
eyebrows, sagging of the lower eyelid, and
escape of air when pressure is applied to the
right puffed cheek. This would indicate
dysfunction of which cranial nerve?
A. Motor component of cranial nerve VII (Facial)
B. Motor component of cranial nerve IV (Trochlear)
C. Motor and sensory component of cranial nerve XI
(Accessory)
D. Motor component of cranial nerve X (Vagus) and
sensory component of cranial nerve VII
Answer: A
Rationale: Cranial nerve VII (Facial) controls muscles
of facial expression. Asymmetry with smiling,
eyebrow raise, and cheek puffing indicates a motor
deficit of CN VII, not ocular or spinal accessory
nerves.
, 4. Which cranial nerves are purely motor?
A. I, VII, X
B. V, V, VI
C. I, XI, XII
D. I, VIII, XI
Answer: C
Rationale: Cranial nerves III (Oculomotor), XI (Spinal
Accessory), and XII (Hypoglossal) arepurelymotor.
Cranial nerves I(Olfactory), II (Optic), and VIII
(Vestibulocochlear) are purely sensory, whileothers
havebothmotorandsensory components.
5. A patient reportsasudden, severe headache
described as "the worst of my life." Which condition
must beruled out first?
A. Migraine withaura
B. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
C. Tensionheadache
D. Cluster headache
Answer: B
