,NU 325 Exam 4 | Health Assessment | University of
South Alabama
1. Which component of the mental status examination assesses the patient’s
awareness of person, place, and time?
A) Orientation
B) Registration
C) Recall
D) Language
Correct Answer: Orientation
Rationale: Orientation assesses awareness of person, place, and time and is a
foundational component of cognitive function. Registration and recall assess
memory, while language evaluates communication and comprehension.
2. What is the primary purpose of the Mini-Mental State Examination?
A) To screen for depression
B) To quantify cognitive impairment
C) To assess cranial nerve function
D) To evaluate motor strength
Correct Answer: To quantify cognitive impairment
,Rationale: The MMSE is a structured screening tool that quantifies cognitive
function across orientation, memory, attention, language, and visuospatial skills.
It does not diagnose depression, assess cranial nerves, or measure motor strength.
3. Which finding during a mental status examination suggests aphasia?
A) The patient is unable to understand or produce language
B) The patient has an intention tremor
C) The patient reports vivid hallucinations
D) The patient has nuchal rigidity
Correct Answer: The patient is unable to understand or produce language
Rationale: Aphasia is an acquired language disorder affecting comprehension,
expression, or both, often from a cortical lesion. Intention tremor suggests
cerebellar dysfunction, hallucinations suggest psychosis or delirium, and nuchal
rigidity suggests meningeal irritation.
4. The nurse asks a patient to remember three words and repeat them after five
minutes. Which cognitive domain is being assessed?
A) Attention
B) Memory
C) Executive function
D) Language
Correct Answer: Memory
, Rationale: Delayed recall of three words assesses memory, specifically short-
term and working memory. Attention is assessed by digit span, executive function
by problem-solving tasks, and language by naming and comprehension.
5. Which assessment finding is most consistent with delirium rather than
dementia?
A) Gradual decline in memory over years
B) Acute onset with fluctuating consciousness
C) Preserved attention and alertness
D) Stable cognitive function over months
Correct Answer: Acute onset with fluctuating consciousness
Rationale: Delirium is characterized by an acute onset, fluctuating level of
consciousness, and inattention, often due to an underlying medical cause.
Dementia typically has an insidious, progressive course with relatively preserved
consciousness until late stages.
6. What is the primary purpose of the PHQ-2 screening tool?
A) To screen for alcohol use disorder
B) To screen for depression
C) To assess anxiety severity
D) To evaluate cognitive impairment
Correct Answer: To screen for depression
South Alabama
1. Which component of the mental status examination assesses the patient’s
awareness of person, place, and time?
A) Orientation
B) Registration
C) Recall
D) Language
Correct Answer: Orientation
Rationale: Orientation assesses awareness of person, place, and time and is a
foundational component of cognitive function. Registration and recall assess
memory, while language evaluates communication and comprehension.
2. What is the primary purpose of the Mini-Mental State Examination?
A) To screen for depression
B) To quantify cognitive impairment
C) To assess cranial nerve function
D) To evaluate motor strength
Correct Answer: To quantify cognitive impairment
,Rationale: The MMSE is a structured screening tool that quantifies cognitive
function across orientation, memory, attention, language, and visuospatial skills.
It does not diagnose depression, assess cranial nerves, or measure motor strength.
3. Which finding during a mental status examination suggests aphasia?
A) The patient is unable to understand or produce language
B) The patient has an intention tremor
C) The patient reports vivid hallucinations
D) The patient has nuchal rigidity
Correct Answer: The patient is unable to understand or produce language
Rationale: Aphasia is an acquired language disorder affecting comprehension,
expression, or both, often from a cortical lesion. Intention tremor suggests
cerebellar dysfunction, hallucinations suggest psychosis or delirium, and nuchal
rigidity suggests meningeal irritation.
4. The nurse asks a patient to remember three words and repeat them after five
minutes. Which cognitive domain is being assessed?
A) Attention
B) Memory
C) Executive function
D) Language
Correct Answer: Memory
, Rationale: Delayed recall of three words assesses memory, specifically short-
term and working memory. Attention is assessed by digit span, executive function
by problem-solving tasks, and language by naming and comprehension.
5. Which assessment finding is most consistent with delirium rather than
dementia?
A) Gradual decline in memory over years
B) Acute onset with fluctuating consciousness
C) Preserved attention and alertness
D) Stable cognitive function over months
Correct Answer: Acute onset with fluctuating consciousness
Rationale: Delirium is characterized by an acute onset, fluctuating level of
consciousness, and inattention, often due to an underlying medical cause.
Dementia typically has an insidious, progressive course with relatively preserved
consciousness until late stages.
6. What is the primary purpose of the PHQ-2 screening tool?
A) To screen for alcohol use disorder
B) To screen for depression
C) To assess anxiety severity
D) To evaluate cognitive impairment
Correct Answer: To screen for depression
