NUR 3065 (HEALTH ASSESSMENT): MENTAL AND
NEUROLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS (EXAM 3) 113
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS.
What are the components of the mental status examination? Answer -
Appearance
Behavior
Cognitive Function
Thought processes
Appearance Answer - Look at posture, body movements, dressed, hygiene
Normal Behavior Answer - Level of consciousness, facial expressions, speech
Cognitive Function Answer - Oriented, attention span in intact, recent memory
intact, can remember 4 random words
Thought Processes Answer - Logical, coherent thoughts, complete thoughts,
constantly aware of reality or stimuli around them
Abnormal Behavior Answer - Dysphonia, aphasia,
,Flat expression with depression, parkinsonism
Abnormal Thought Processes Answer - Unrealistic thoughts, illusions and
hallucinations
Delirium Answer - Acute, sudden change in mental status
Potential result of physiological derangement in body or acute illness
Reversible with treatment
Acute confusional state: clouding of consciousness, perception disturbance
What are the signs and symptoms of Delirium? Answer - Unarousable to
agitated
Often confused
Disoriented
Agitated
Uncooperative
May have loss of consciousness
What are the causes of Delirium? Answer - Drugs, dehydration
Electrolyte imbalance
Low O2, lack of drugs
Infection
Urinary/stool retention
Malnutrition/dehydration
Uremia
Metabolic disease
, Dementia Answer - Low, progressive nature
Increased incidence with age
Alzheimer's disease - ⅔ of cases
Not reversible
Mood, affect, through process and content are variable
Memory, judgment and other higher cortical functions deteriorate with time
What are the signs and symptoms of Dementia? Answer - Appearance and
behavior vary with extent of involvement
What are the strategies of assessing mental status for infants and children?
Answer - Denver II screening test
Behavioral Checklist
Denver II screening test Answer - Gives a chance to interact directly with child
to assess mental status
From birth to 6 years old, it helps identify those who may be slow to develop in
behavioral, language, cognitive, and psychosocial development
Behavioral Checklist Answer - School-age children, ages 7 to 11, is a tool given
to parent along with the history
Covers mood, play, school, friends, and family relations
What are the strategies of assessing mental status for adolescents? Answer -
A-B-C-T guidelines
- Appearance
- Behavior
- Cognition
NEUROLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS (EXAM 3) 113
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS.
What are the components of the mental status examination? Answer -
Appearance
Behavior
Cognitive Function
Thought processes
Appearance Answer - Look at posture, body movements, dressed, hygiene
Normal Behavior Answer - Level of consciousness, facial expressions, speech
Cognitive Function Answer - Oriented, attention span in intact, recent memory
intact, can remember 4 random words
Thought Processes Answer - Logical, coherent thoughts, complete thoughts,
constantly aware of reality or stimuli around them
Abnormal Behavior Answer - Dysphonia, aphasia,
,Flat expression with depression, parkinsonism
Abnormal Thought Processes Answer - Unrealistic thoughts, illusions and
hallucinations
Delirium Answer - Acute, sudden change in mental status
Potential result of physiological derangement in body or acute illness
Reversible with treatment
Acute confusional state: clouding of consciousness, perception disturbance
What are the signs and symptoms of Delirium? Answer - Unarousable to
agitated
Often confused
Disoriented
Agitated
Uncooperative
May have loss of consciousness
What are the causes of Delirium? Answer - Drugs, dehydration
Electrolyte imbalance
Low O2, lack of drugs
Infection
Urinary/stool retention
Malnutrition/dehydration
Uremia
Metabolic disease
, Dementia Answer - Low, progressive nature
Increased incidence with age
Alzheimer's disease - ⅔ of cases
Not reversible
Mood, affect, through process and content are variable
Memory, judgment and other higher cortical functions deteriorate with time
What are the signs and symptoms of Dementia? Answer - Appearance and
behavior vary with extent of involvement
What are the strategies of assessing mental status for infants and children?
Answer - Denver II screening test
Behavioral Checklist
Denver II screening test Answer - Gives a chance to interact directly with child
to assess mental status
From birth to 6 years old, it helps identify those who may be slow to develop in
behavioral, language, cognitive, and psychosocial development
Behavioral Checklist Answer - School-age children, ages 7 to 11, is a tool given
to parent along with the history
Covers mood, play, school, friends, and family relations
What are the strategies of assessing mental status for adolescents? Answer -
A-B-C-T guidelines
- Appearance
- Behavior
- Cognition
