Galen College of Nursing NUR 155 Exam 3
Study Set | Practice Questions, Answers &
Exam Review 2026/2027
SECTION 1: SENSORY FUNCTION, COGNITION & SENSORY ALTERATIONS
1. Which of the following best describes the concept of "sensoristasis"?
A) A state of extreme drowsiness
B) The ability to perceive an object by touch alone
C) A state of optimal arousal and alertness
D) The permanent shortening of muscle tissue
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sensoristasis refers to a person's state of optimal arousal, where
the individual is alert and able to respond appropriately to stimuli. This balanced
state is essential for normal sensory perception and cognitive function. Option A
describes somnolence, Option B describes stereognosis, and Option D describes
contractures .
2. A nurse is caring for a patient who is somnolent. Which of the following best
describes the patient's level of consciousness?
A) The patient is alert and oriented
B) The patient is extremely drowsy but responds to stimuli
C) The patient is unresponsive to all stimuli
D) The patient is confused and disoriented
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Somnolence is a state of extreme drowsiness in which the patient
can be aroused and will respond to stimuli. This represents a decreased level of
consciousness but is not as severe as unresponsiveness (coma). Confusion and
disorientation describe different cognitive alterations .
,3. A patient who is unable to recognize objects by touch alone, despite having
intact sensory pathways, is experiencing:
A) Agnosia
B) Stereognosis
C) Astereognosis
D) Proprioception
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Astereognosis is the inability to recognize objects by touch alone,
even when sensory pathways are intact. Stereognosis is the normal ability to
perceive an object by size, shape, and texture through touch. Agnosia is a broader
term for the inability to recognize familiar objects through any sensory modality .
4. A nurse is assessing a patient's orientation. The patient correctly states their
name, location, and the current date. The nurse documents this patient as:
A) Alert and oriented × 1
B) Alert and oriented × 2
C) Alert and oriented × 3
D) Alert and oriented × 4
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Orientation is assessed in four spheres: person, place, time, and
situation. When a patient correctly identifies name (person), location (place), and
date (time), they are oriented to three spheres, documented as "alert and
oriented × 3." Orientation × 4 would additionally include the patient's
understanding of their current situation .
5. Which of the following patients is at greatest risk for sensory deprivation?
A) A patient in a busy intensive care unit with frequent visitors
B) A patient with bilateral eye patches in a quiet, dark room
C) A patient with hearing aids who participates in group activities
D) A patient recovering from cataract surgery with periodic visual checks
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sensory deprivation occurs when a person experiences inadequate
quality or quantity of sensory stimulation. A patient with bilateral eye patches in a
quiet, dark room has significant reduction in visual and auditory stimulation,
placing them at highest risk. Options A and C provide adequate stimulation, and
Option D involves only temporary and monitored visual limitation .
6. The nurse is caring for a patient with expressive aphasia. Which assessment
finding is most consistent with this condition?
A) The patient cannot understand spoken words
B) The patient can understand language but cannot produce coherent speech
C) The patient cannot recognize objects by sight
D) The patient experiences vertigo when standing
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Expressive aphasia (Broca's aphasia) is characterized by the patient
understanding language but being unable to produce fluent or coherent speech.
Receptive aphasia (Wernicke's aphasia) involves difficulty understanding spoken or
written language. Agnosia involves recognition deficits, and vertigo is a balance
disorder .
7. A nurse is assessing a patient's cranial nerve function. The nurse asks the
patient to close their eyes and identify whether a cotton ball touches their left
or right arm. Which cranial nerve is being assessed?
A) Cranial nerve V (Trigeminal)
B) Cranial nerve VII (Facial)
C) Cranial nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal)
D) Cranial nerve X (Vagus)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Testing light touch sensation on the arms assesses the sensory
component of cranial nerve V (Trigeminal nerve). The trigeminal nerve provides
, sensory innervation to the face and motor function for chewing. CN VII is tested
by facial symmetry and taste; CN IX by gag reflex; CN X by palate elevation .
8. Which of the following is an example of a sensory alteration that primarily
affects proprioception?
A) A patient cannot identify a coin placed in their hand without looking
B) A patient cannot feel pain in their lower extremities
C) A patient has difficulty knowing the position of their limbs without looking
D) A patient experiences ringing in their ears
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Proprioception is the awareness of body position and movement in
space. Difficulty knowing limb position without visual cues indicates
proprioceptive deficit. Option A describes astereognosis, Option B describes
sensory loss, and Option D describes tinnitus .
9. A nurse is implementing interventions for a patient experiencing sensory
overload. Which action is most appropriate?
A) Increasing the frequency of staff check-ins
B) Reducing unnecessary noise and clustering nursing care
C) Encouraging the patient to watch television continuously
D) Keeping the room lights on at all times for orientation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sensory overload occurs when a patient receives more sensory
input than they can process. Interventions include reducing environmental stimuli
by minimizing noise, dimming lights, clustering care activities, and providing
uninterrupted rest periods. Increasing stimulation (Options A, C, D) would worsen
the condition .
10. A patient with dementia repeatedly asks for their deceased spouse. Which
nursing response is most therapeutic?
Study Set | Practice Questions, Answers &
Exam Review 2026/2027
SECTION 1: SENSORY FUNCTION, COGNITION & SENSORY ALTERATIONS
1. Which of the following best describes the concept of "sensoristasis"?
A) A state of extreme drowsiness
B) The ability to perceive an object by touch alone
C) A state of optimal arousal and alertness
D) The permanent shortening of muscle tissue
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sensoristasis refers to a person's state of optimal arousal, where
the individual is alert and able to respond appropriately to stimuli. This balanced
state is essential for normal sensory perception and cognitive function. Option A
describes somnolence, Option B describes stereognosis, and Option D describes
contractures .
2. A nurse is caring for a patient who is somnolent. Which of the following best
describes the patient's level of consciousness?
A) The patient is alert and oriented
B) The patient is extremely drowsy but responds to stimuli
C) The patient is unresponsive to all stimuli
D) The patient is confused and disoriented
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Somnolence is a state of extreme drowsiness in which the patient
can be aroused and will respond to stimuli. This represents a decreased level of
consciousness but is not as severe as unresponsiveness (coma). Confusion and
disorientation describe different cognitive alterations .
,3. A patient who is unable to recognize objects by touch alone, despite having
intact sensory pathways, is experiencing:
A) Agnosia
B) Stereognosis
C) Astereognosis
D) Proprioception
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Astereognosis is the inability to recognize objects by touch alone,
even when sensory pathways are intact. Stereognosis is the normal ability to
perceive an object by size, shape, and texture through touch. Agnosia is a broader
term for the inability to recognize familiar objects through any sensory modality .
4. A nurse is assessing a patient's orientation. The patient correctly states their
name, location, and the current date. The nurse documents this patient as:
A) Alert and oriented × 1
B) Alert and oriented × 2
C) Alert and oriented × 3
D) Alert and oriented × 4
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Orientation is assessed in four spheres: person, place, time, and
situation. When a patient correctly identifies name (person), location (place), and
date (time), they are oriented to three spheres, documented as "alert and
oriented × 3." Orientation × 4 would additionally include the patient's
understanding of their current situation .
5. Which of the following patients is at greatest risk for sensory deprivation?
A) A patient in a busy intensive care unit with frequent visitors
B) A patient with bilateral eye patches in a quiet, dark room
C) A patient with hearing aids who participates in group activities
D) A patient recovering from cataract surgery with periodic visual checks
, Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sensory deprivation occurs when a person experiences inadequate
quality or quantity of sensory stimulation. A patient with bilateral eye patches in a
quiet, dark room has significant reduction in visual and auditory stimulation,
placing them at highest risk. Options A and C provide adequate stimulation, and
Option D involves only temporary and monitored visual limitation .
6. The nurse is caring for a patient with expressive aphasia. Which assessment
finding is most consistent with this condition?
A) The patient cannot understand spoken words
B) The patient can understand language but cannot produce coherent speech
C) The patient cannot recognize objects by sight
D) The patient experiences vertigo when standing
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Expressive aphasia (Broca's aphasia) is characterized by the patient
understanding language but being unable to produce fluent or coherent speech.
Receptive aphasia (Wernicke's aphasia) involves difficulty understanding spoken or
written language. Agnosia involves recognition deficits, and vertigo is a balance
disorder .
7. A nurse is assessing a patient's cranial nerve function. The nurse asks the
patient to close their eyes and identify whether a cotton ball touches their left
or right arm. Which cranial nerve is being assessed?
A) Cranial nerve V (Trigeminal)
B) Cranial nerve VII (Facial)
C) Cranial nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal)
D) Cranial nerve X (Vagus)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Testing light touch sensation on the arms assesses the sensory
component of cranial nerve V (Trigeminal nerve). The trigeminal nerve provides
, sensory innervation to the face and motor function for chewing. CN VII is tested
by facial symmetry and taste; CN IX by gag reflex; CN X by palate elevation .
8. Which of the following is an example of a sensory alteration that primarily
affects proprioception?
A) A patient cannot identify a coin placed in their hand without looking
B) A patient cannot feel pain in their lower extremities
C) A patient has difficulty knowing the position of their limbs without looking
D) A patient experiences ringing in their ears
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Proprioception is the awareness of body position and movement in
space. Difficulty knowing limb position without visual cues indicates
proprioceptive deficit. Option A describes astereognosis, Option B describes
sensory loss, and Option D describes tinnitus .
9. A nurse is implementing interventions for a patient experiencing sensory
overload. Which action is most appropriate?
A) Increasing the frequency of staff check-ins
B) Reducing unnecessary noise and clustering nursing care
C) Encouraging the patient to watch television continuously
D) Keeping the room lights on at all times for orientation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sensory overload occurs when a patient receives more sensory
input than they can process. Interventions include reducing environmental stimuli
by minimizing noise, dimming lights, clustering care activities, and providing
uninterrupted rest periods. Increasing stimulation (Options A, C, D) would worsen
the condition .
10. A patient with dementia repeatedly asks for their deceased spouse. Which
nursing response is most therapeutic?
