Nrsg 105 Exam Practice-Questions with complete
solutions
Level of consciousness and cognitive abilities
A 20-year-old construction worker has been brought into the emergency department with heat
stroke. He has delirium as a result of a fluid and electrolyte imbalance. For the mental status
examination, the nurse should first assess the patient's:
a. Affect and mood
b. Memory and affect
c. Language abilities
d. Level of consciousness and cognitive abilities
"How long have you been feeling this way?"
A patient states, "I feel so sad all of the time. I can't feel happy even doing things I used to like to
do." He also states that he is tired, sleeps poorly, and has no energy. To differentiate between a
dysthymic disorder and a major depressive disorder, the nurse should ask which question?
a. "Have you had any weight changes?"
b. "Are you having any thoughts of suicide?"
c. "How long have you been feeling this way?"
d. "Are you having feelings of worthlessness?"
"Are you having any disturbing dreams?"
A 26-year-old woman was robbed and beaten a month ago. She is returning to the clinic today
for a follow-up assessment. The nurse will want to ask her which one of these questions?
a. "How are things going with the trial?"
,b. "How are things going with your job?"
c. "Tell me about your recent engagement!"
d. "Are you having any disturbing dreams?"
Mental status functioning is inferred through the assessment of an individual's behaviors.
The nurse is performing a mental status examination. Which statement is true regarding the
assessment of mental status?
a. Mental status assessment diagnoses specific psychiatric disorders.
b. Mental disorders occur in response to everyday life stressors.
c. Mental status functioning is inferred through the assessment of an individual's behaviors.
d. Mental status can be directly assessed, similar to other systems of the body (e.g., heart sounds,
breath sounds).
"Pick up the pencil in your left hand, move it to your right hand, and place it on the table."
A 23-year-old patient in the clinic appears anxious. Her speech is rapid, and she is fidgety and in
constant motion. Which of these questions or statements would be most appropriate for the nurse
to use in this situation to assess attention span?
a. "How do you usually feel? Is this normal behavior for you?"
b. "I am going to say four words. In a few minutes, I will ask you to recall them."
c. "Describe the meaning of the phrase, 'Looking through rose-colored glasses.'"
d. "Pick up the pencil in your left hand, move it to your right hand, and place it on the table."
"Please point to articles in the room and parts of the body as I name them."
, The nurse is planning health teaching for a 65-year-old woman who has had a cerebrovascular
accident (stroke) and has aphasia. Which of these questions is most important to use when
assessing mental status in this patient?
"Are you feeling so hopeless that you feel like hurting yourself now?"
A 30-year-old female patient is describing feelings of hopelessness and depression. She has
attempted self-mutilation and has a history of suicide attempts. She describes difficulty sleeping
at night and has lost 10 pounds in the past month. Which of these statements or questions is the
nurse's best response in this situation?
a. "Do you have a weapon?"
b. "How do other people treat you?"
c. "Are you feeling so hopeless that you feel like hurting yourself now?"
d. "People often feel hopeless, but the feelings resolve within a few weeks."
This examination is a good tool to detect delirium and dementia and to differentiate these
from psychiatric mental illness.
The nurse is providing instructions to newly hired graduates for the mini-mental state
examination (MMSE). Which statement best describes this examination?
Global
The nurse discovers speech problems in a patient during an assessment. The patient has
spontaneous speech, but it is mostly absent or is reduced to a few stereotypical words or sounds.
This finding reflects which type of aphasia?
a. Global
b. Broca's
solutions
Level of consciousness and cognitive abilities
A 20-year-old construction worker has been brought into the emergency department with heat
stroke. He has delirium as a result of a fluid and electrolyte imbalance. For the mental status
examination, the nurse should first assess the patient's:
a. Affect and mood
b. Memory and affect
c. Language abilities
d. Level of consciousness and cognitive abilities
"How long have you been feeling this way?"
A patient states, "I feel so sad all of the time. I can't feel happy even doing things I used to like to
do." He also states that he is tired, sleeps poorly, and has no energy. To differentiate between a
dysthymic disorder and a major depressive disorder, the nurse should ask which question?
a. "Have you had any weight changes?"
b. "Are you having any thoughts of suicide?"
c. "How long have you been feeling this way?"
d. "Are you having feelings of worthlessness?"
"Are you having any disturbing dreams?"
A 26-year-old woman was robbed and beaten a month ago. She is returning to the clinic today
for a follow-up assessment. The nurse will want to ask her which one of these questions?
a. "How are things going with the trial?"
,b. "How are things going with your job?"
c. "Tell me about your recent engagement!"
d. "Are you having any disturbing dreams?"
Mental status functioning is inferred through the assessment of an individual's behaviors.
The nurse is performing a mental status examination. Which statement is true regarding the
assessment of mental status?
a. Mental status assessment diagnoses specific psychiatric disorders.
b. Mental disorders occur in response to everyday life stressors.
c. Mental status functioning is inferred through the assessment of an individual's behaviors.
d. Mental status can be directly assessed, similar to other systems of the body (e.g., heart sounds,
breath sounds).
"Pick up the pencil in your left hand, move it to your right hand, and place it on the table."
A 23-year-old patient in the clinic appears anxious. Her speech is rapid, and she is fidgety and in
constant motion. Which of these questions or statements would be most appropriate for the nurse
to use in this situation to assess attention span?
a. "How do you usually feel? Is this normal behavior for you?"
b. "I am going to say four words. In a few minutes, I will ask you to recall them."
c. "Describe the meaning of the phrase, 'Looking through rose-colored glasses.'"
d. "Pick up the pencil in your left hand, move it to your right hand, and place it on the table."
"Please point to articles in the room and parts of the body as I name them."
, The nurse is planning health teaching for a 65-year-old woman who has had a cerebrovascular
accident (stroke) and has aphasia. Which of these questions is most important to use when
assessing mental status in this patient?
"Are you feeling so hopeless that you feel like hurting yourself now?"
A 30-year-old female patient is describing feelings of hopelessness and depression. She has
attempted self-mutilation and has a history of suicide attempts. She describes difficulty sleeping
at night and has lost 10 pounds in the past month. Which of these statements or questions is the
nurse's best response in this situation?
a. "Do you have a weapon?"
b. "How do other people treat you?"
c. "Are you feeling so hopeless that you feel like hurting yourself now?"
d. "People often feel hopeless, but the feelings resolve within a few weeks."
This examination is a good tool to detect delirium and dementia and to differentiate these
from psychiatric mental illness.
The nurse is providing instructions to newly hired graduates for the mini-mental state
examination (MMSE). Which statement best describes this examination?
Global
The nurse discovers speech problems in a patient during an assessment. The patient has
spontaneous speech, but it is mostly absent or is reduced to a few stereotypical words or sounds.
This finding reflects which type of aphasia?
a. Global
b. Broca's
