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NUR 611 HEALTH ASSESSMENT 1 FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED QUESTIONS DETAILED
RATIONALES GRADED A+
NUR 611 Health Assessment 1 Final Exam
SECTION 1: ADVANCED NEUROLOGICAL ASSESSMENT (Questions 1–40)
Question 1
Which cranial nerve is assessed by testing the corneal reflex, which involves both an afferent
and efferent limb?
A) CN II and CN III
B) CN V and CN VII
C) CN IX and CN X
D) CN XI and CN XII
Answer: B
Rationale: The corneal reflex involves the afferent limb via the trigeminal nerve (CN V) and the
efferent limb via the facial nerve (CN VII). Touching the cornea causes both eyes to blink. The
optic (II) and oculomotor (III) are for vision and pupil response .
Question 2
A patient with Parkinson disease typically presents with which type of tremor?
A) Intention tremor
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B) Resting tremor
C) Postural tremor
D) Essential tremor
Answer: B
Rationale: Parkinson disease is characterized by a resting tremor that diminishes with voluntary
movement. Essential tremor is a postural and action tremor. Intention tremor occurs with
cerebellar dysfunction. Postural tremor occurs when holding a limb against gravity .
Question 3
The nurse instructs a patient to stand with both feet together, arms at sides, and eyes open. The
patient sways significantly and falls to the right. This finding is consistent with:
A) A left cerebellar lesion
B) A right cerebellar lesion
C) Bilateral vestibular dysfunction
D) Proprioceptive loss only
Answer: B
Rationale: With eyes open, the cerebellum compensates for balance. If the patient sways and
falls with eyes open, especially to one side, a cerebellar lesion on that side is likely. Vestibular
dysfunction causes sway worse with eyes closed, and proprioceptive loss causes positive
Romberg (sway with eyes closed) .
Question 4
The nurse asks the patient to close their eyes and identify a key placed in the hand. This tests:
A) Graphesthesia
B) Two-point discrimination
C) Stereognosis
D) Proprioception
Answer: C
Rationale: Stereognosis is the ability to recognize an object by touch alone, requiring intact
sensory pathways and cortical processing. Graphesthesia involves tracing a number on the skin;
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two-point discrimination tests the ability to feel two separate points; proprioception is joint
position sense .
Question 5
A patient with a lesion of the optic chiasm would present with:
A) Unilateral blindness
B) Bitemporal hemianopsia
C) Homonymous hemianopsia
D) Monocular visual loss
Answer: B
Rationale: The optic chiasm contains fibers from the nasal retinas of both eyes that cross to the
opposite side. A lesion here (e.g., pituitary adenoma) damages these crossing fibers, causing
loss of the temporal visual fields in both eyes (bitemporal hemianopsia). Unilateral blindness
results from optic nerve lesions; homonymous hemianopsia from tract or occipital lesions .
Question 6
The nurse is testing a patient’s ability to sense pain. Which tool is most appropriate?
A) A cotton wisp
B) A vibrating tuning fork
C) A safety pin or sterile needle
D) Two test tubes filled with hot and cold water
Answer: C
Rationale: Pain sensation (nociception) is tested using the sharp and dull ends of a pin or
needle. Light touch uses a cotton wisp; temperature uses hot and cold tubes; vibration uses a
tuning fork. The nurse must discard the pin after use to prevent infection .
Question 7
A positive Romberg sign indicates a problem with which of the following?
A) Visual acuity
B) Cerebellar function or proprioception
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C) Muscle strength
D) Range of motion
Answer: B
Rationale: A positive Romberg test (loss of balance when eyes are closed) suggests ataxia from
posterior column or cerebellar dysfunction .
Question 8
What is the test for assessing Cranial Nerve VIII function?
A) Snellen chart
B) Weber and Rinne tests
C) Corneal reflex
D) Gag reflex
Answer: B
Rationale: CN VIII (vestibulocochlear) function is assessed using the Weber and Rinne tests for
hearing .
Question 9
The nurse is assessing a patient's lower extremity strength. Which muscle is tested by asking the
patient to dorsiflex the foot against resistance?
A) Gastrocnemius
B) Soleus
C) Tibialis anterior
D) Peroneus longus
Answer: C
Rationale: The tibialis anterior muscle is the primary dorsiflexor of the foot. Asking the patient
to pull the toes up toward the nose and hold against resistance tests L4–L5 nerve roots. The
gastrocnemius and soleus plantarflex (S1); peroneus everts the foot .
Question 10
The nurse is testing a patient’s deep tendon reflexes. Which reflex is tested by striking the
NUR 611 HEALTH ASSESSMENT 1 FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED QUESTIONS DETAILED
RATIONALES GRADED A+
NUR 611 Health Assessment 1 Final Exam
SECTION 1: ADVANCED NEUROLOGICAL ASSESSMENT (Questions 1–40)
Question 1
Which cranial nerve is assessed by testing the corneal reflex, which involves both an afferent
and efferent limb?
A) CN II and CN III
B) CN V and CN VII
C) CN IX and CN X
D) CN XI and CN XII
Answer: B
Rationale: The corneal reflex involves the afferent limb via the trigeminal nerve (CN V) and the
efferent limb via the facial nerve (CN VII). Touching the cornea causes both eyes to blink. The
optic (II) and oculomotor (III) are for vision and pupil response .
Question 2
A patient with Parkinson disease typically presents with which type of tremor?
A) Intention tremor
,Page 2 of 103
B) Resting tremor
C) Postural tremor
D) Essential tremor
Answer: B
Rationale: Parkinson disease is characterized by a resting tremor that diminishes with voluntary
movement. Essential tremor is a postural and action tremor. Intention tremor occurs with
cerebellar dysfunction. Postural tremor occurs when holding a limb against gravity .
Question 3
The nurse instructs a patient to stand with both feet together, arms at sides, and eyes open. The
patient sways significantly and falls to the right. This finding is consistent with:
A) A left cerebellar lesion
B) A right cerebellar lesion
C) Bilateral vestibular dysfunction
D) Proprioceptive loss only
Answer: B
Rationale: With eyes open, the cerebellum compensates for balance. If the patient sways and
falls with eyes open, especially to one side, a cerebellar lesion on that side is likely. Vestibular
dysfunction causes sway worse with eyes closed, and proprioceptive loss causes positive
Romberg (sway with eyes closed) .
Question 4
The nurse asks the patient to close their eyes and identify a key placed in the hand. This tests:
A) Graphesthesia
B) Two-point discrimination
C) Stereognosis
D) Proprioception
Answer: C
Rationale: Stereognosis is the ability to recognize an object by touch alone, requiring intact
sensory pathways and cortical processing. Graphesthesia involves tracing a number on the skin;
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two-point discrimination tests the ability to feel two separate points; proprioception is joint
position sense .
Question 5
A patient with a lesion of the optic chiasm would present with:
A) Unilateral blindness
B) Bitemporal hemianopsia
C) Homonymous hemianopsia
D) Monocular visual loss
Answer: B
Rationale: The optic chiasm contains fibers from the nasal retinas of both eyes that cross to the
opposite side. A lesion here (e.g., pituitary adenoma) damages these crossing fibers, causing
loss of the temporal visual fields in both eyes (bitemporal hemianopsia). Unilateral blindness
results from optic nerve lesions; homonymous hemianopsia from tract or occipital lesions .
Question 6
The nurse is testing a patient’s ability to sense pain. Which tool is most appropriate?
A) A cotton wisp
B) A vibrating tuning fork
C) A safety pin or sterile needle
D) Two test tubes filled with hot and cold water
Answer: C
Rationale: Pain sensation (nociception) is tested using the sharp and dull ends of a pin or
needle. Light touch uses a cotton wisp; temperature uses hot and cold tubes; vibration uses a
tuning fork. The nurse must discard the pin after use to prevent infection .
Question 7
A positive Romberg sign indicates a problem with which of the following?
A) Visual acuity
B) Cerebellar function or proprioception
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C) Muscle strength
D) Range of motion
Answer: B
Rationale: A positive Romberg test (loss of balance when eyes are closed) suggests ataxia from
posterior column or cerebellar dysfunction .
Question 8
What is the test for assessing Cranial Nerve VIII function?
A) Snellen chart
B) Weber and Rinne tests
C) Corneal reflex
D) Gag reflex
Answer: B
Rationale: CN VIII (vestibulocochlear) function is assessed using the Weber and Rinne tests for
hearing .
Question 9
The nurse is assessing a patient's lower extremity strength. Which muscle is tested by asking the
patient to dorsiflex the foot against resistance?
A) Gastrocnemius
B) Soleus
C) Tibialis anterior
D) Peroneus longus
Answer: C
Rationale: The tibialis anterior muscle is the primary dorsiflexor of the foot. Asking the patient
to pull the toes up toward the nose and hold against resistance tests L4–L5 nerve roots. The
gastrocnemius and soleus plantarflex (S1); peroneus everts the foot .
Question 10
The nurse is testing a patient’s deep tendon reflexes. Which reflex is tested by striking the
