NUR 155 Exam 3 Sensory & Activity
Study Guide 2026/2027
SECTION I: Sensory Perception & Alterations (Questions 1–45)
1. A nurse is caring for a patient with sensory deprivation. Which intervention is
most appropriate?
A. Dim the lights and reduce noise
B. Provide ear plugs and cluster care
C. Open blinds, orient to day/time, encourage visitors, and provide puzzles
D. Limit visitation to reduce stimulation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: For sensory deprivation, the nurse should increase meaningful
stimuli by opening blinds, orienting the patient to day/time, encouraging visitors,
and providing puzzles or activities. Options A, B, and D are interventions for
sensory overload, not deprivation .
2. A nurse is caring for a patient experiencing sensory overload. Which
intervention is most appropriate?
A. Open blinds and orient to day/time
B. Dim lights, provide ear plugs, and cluster care
C. Encourage multiple visitors for stimulation
D. Provide puzzles and activities
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For sensory overload, the nurse should reduce stimuli by dimming
lights, providing ear plugs, and clustering nursing care to allow rest periods.
Options A, C, and D would worsen sensory overload .
3. Proprioception refers to:
A. The sense of taste
B. Awareness of posture and movement
,C. The sense of smell
D. The sense of touch
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Proprioception is the awareness of posture and movement of body
parts. Option A is gustation; C is olfaction; D is tactile sensation .
4. The nurse is assessing a patient who says, “Ow, that was sharp!” after receiving
an injection. The nurse interprets this as:
A. The patient's sensation is intact
B. The patient's reception is intact
C. The patient's perception is intact
D. The patient's reaction is intact
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Perception occurs when a person becomes conscious of a stimulus
and interprets information based on experience. Reception is the nerve impulse
creation; reaction is how the person responds; sensation is general awareness .
5. A nurse is describing the transmission of sound to a patient. Which sequence
correctly lists the pathway of sound, beginning with the first structure?
1. Eardrum
2. Perilymph
3. Oval window
4. Bony ossicles
5. Eighth cranial nerve
A. 1, 5, 2, 4, 3
B. 1, 3, 4, 2, 5
C. 1, 2, 4, 5, 3
D. 1, 4, 3, 2, 5
, Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Sound travels: Eardrum → bony ossicles → oval window →
perilymph → eighth cranial nerve. This represents the normal conduction pathway
through the ear to the brain .
6. The nurse will be most concerned about the risk of malnutrition for a patient
with which sensory deficit?
A. Xerostomia
B. Dysequilibrium
C. Diabetic retinopathy
D. Peripheral neuropathy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Xerostomia is decreased saliva production, which decreases the
ability and desire to eat and can lead to nutritional problems. The other options do
not primarily affect nutrition .
7. A nurse is caring for an older adult. Which sensory change will the nurse
identify as normal during the assessment?
A. Impaired night vision
B. Difficulty hearing low pitch
C. Heightened sense of smell
D. Increased taste discrimination
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Night vision becomes impaired as physiological changes in the
aging eye occur. Older adults lose the ability to distinguish high-pitched noises and
consonants; smell and taste senses are also decreased with aging .
, 8. A nurse is caring for an older-adult patient who was in a motor vehicle accident
because the patient thought the stoplight was green. The patient asks, “Should I
stop driving?” Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. “Yes, you should stop driving. As you age, your cognitive function declines.”
B. “Yes, you should ask family members to drive you around from now on.”
C. “No, as you age, you lose the ability to see colors. If the top light is lit, it means
stop.”
D. “No, instead you should see your ophthalmologist and get some glasses.”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Part of normal aging is reduced color discrimination. The nurse
should teach the patient new ways to adapt to this deficit. The accident was not due
to cognitive decline or reflexes; glasses will not assist with color discrimination .
9. A patient with presbycusis turns one ear toward the nurse during conversation.
The nurse interprets this as:
A. A maladaptive response
B. An adaptation to the sensory deficit
C. A sign of cognitive decline
D. An indication of hearing loss in the unaffected ear
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Adaptation for a sensory deficit indicates that the patient alters
behavior to accommodate for the deficit, such as turning the unaffected ear toward
the speaker. Avoiding others would be maladaptive .
10. Which nursing diagnosis addresses psychological concerns for a patient with
both hearing and visual sensory impairment?
A. Self-care deficit
B. Risk for falls
C. Social isolation
D. Impaired physical mobility
Study Guide 2026/2027
SECTION I: Sensory Perception & Alterations (Questions 1–45)
1. A nurse is caring for a patient with sensory deprivation. Which intervention is
most appropriate?
A. Dim the lights and reduce noise
B. Provide ear plugs and cluster care
C. Open blinds, orient to day/time, encourage visitors, and provide puzzles
D. Limit visitation to reduce stimulation
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: For sensory deprivation, the nurse should increase meaningful
stimuli by opening blinds, orienting the patient to day/time, encouraging visitors,
and providing puzzles or activities. Options A, B, and D are interventions for
sensory overload, not deprivation .
2. A nurse is caring for a patient experiencing sensory overload. Which
intervention is most appropriate?
A. Open blinds and orient to day/time
B. Dim lights, provide ear plugs, and cluster care
C. Encourage multiple visitors for stimulation
D. Provide puzzles and activities
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: For sensory overload, the nurse should reduce stimuli by dimming
lights, providing ear plugs, and clustering nursing care to allow rest periods.
Options A, C, and D would worsen sensory overload .
3. Proprioception refers to:
A. The sense of taste
B. Awareness of posture and movement
,C. The sense of smell
D. The sense of touch
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Proprioception is the awareness of posture and movement of body
parts. Option A is gustation; C is olfaction; D is tactile sensation .
4. The nurse is assessing a patient who says, “Ow, that was sharp!” after receiving
an injection. The nurse interprets this as:
A. The patient's sensation is intact
B. The patient's reception is intact
C. The patient's perception is intact
D. The patient's reaction is intact
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Perception occurs when a person becomes conscious of a stimulus
and interprets information based on experience. Reception is the nerve impulse
creation; reaction is how the person responds; sensation is general awareness .
5. A nurse is describing the transmission of sound to a patient. Which sequence
correctly lists the pathway of sound, beginning with the first structure?
1. Eardrum
2. Perilymph
3. Oval window
4. Bony ossicles
5. Eighth cranial nerve
A. 1, 5, 2, 4, 3
B. 1, 3, 4, 2, 5
C. 1, 2, 4, 5, 3
D. 1, 4, 3, 2, 5
, Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Sound travels: Eardrum → bony ossicles → oval window →
perilymph → eighth cranial nerve. This represents the normal conduction pathway
through the ear to the brain .
6. The nurse will be most concerned about the risk of malnutrition for a patient
with which sensory deficit?
A. Xerostomia
B. Dysequilibrium
C. Diabetic retinopathy
D. Peripheral neuropathy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Xerostomia is decreased saliva production, which decreases the
ability and desire to eat and can lead to nutritional problems. The other options do
not primarily affect nutrition .
7. A nurse is caring for an older adult. Which sensory change will the nurse
identify as normal during the assessment?
A. Impaired night vision
B. Difficulty hearing low pitch
C. Heightened sense of smell
D. Increased taste discrimination
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Night vision becomes impaired as physiological changes in the
aging eye occur. Older adults lose the ability to distinguish high-pitched noises and
consonants; smell and taste senses are also decreased with aging .
, 8. A nurse is caring for an older-adult patient who was in a motor vehicle accident
because the patient thought the stoplight was green. The patient asks, “Should I
stop driving?” Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. “Yes, you should stop driving. As you age, your cognitive function declines.”
B. “Yes, you should ask family members to drive you around from now on.”
C. “No, as you age, you lose the ability to see colors. If the top light is lit, it means
stop.”
D. “No, instead you should see your ophthalmologist and get some glasses.”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Part of normal aging is reduced color discrimination. The nurse
should teach the patient new ways to adapt to this deficit. The accident was not due
to cognitive decline or reflexes; glasses will not assist with color discrimination .
9. A patient with presbycusis turns one ear toward the nurse during conversation.
The nurse interprets this as:
A. A maladaptive response
B. An adaptation to the sensory deficit
C. A sign of cognitive decline
D. An indication of hearing loss in the unaffected ear
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Adaptation for a sensory deficit indicates that the patient alters
behavior to accommodate for the deficit, such as turning the unaffected ear toward
the speaker. Avoiding others would be maladaptive .
10. Which nursing diagnosis addresses psychological concerns for a patient with
both hearing and visual sensory impairment?
A. Self-care deficit
B. Risk for falls
C. Social isolation
D. Impaired physical mobility
