Health Assessment Exam 2 Practice Questions – NSG
3160 Complete Study Guide & Exam Prep 2026–2027
During a mental status assessment, which question by the nurse would best assess a person's
judgment?
A "Do you feel that you are being watched, followed, or controlled?"
B "What would you do if you found a stamped, addressed envelope lying on the sidewalk?"
C "What does the statement, 'People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones,' mean to you?"
D "Tell me what you plan to do once you are discharged from the hospital." - correct answers -D "Tell
me what you plan to do once you are discharged from the hospital."
The nurse is conducting a patient interview. Which statement made by the patient should the nurse
more fully explore to assess the mental status during the interview?
A "I have no health problems."
B "I never did too good in school."
C "I am not currently taking any medications."
D "I sleep like a baby." - correct answers -B "I never did too good in school."
1
,During an examination, the nurse can assess mental status by which activity?
A Observing the patient as he or she performs an intelligence quotient (IQ) test
B Examining the patient's response to a specific set of questions
C Observing the patient and inferring health or dysfunction
D Examining the patient's electroencephalogram - correct answers -C Observing the patient and
inferring health or dysfunction
When taking the health history on a patient with a seizure disorder, the nurse assesses whether the
patient has an aura. Which of these would be the best question for obtaining this information?
A "After the seizure, do you spend a lot of time sleeping?"
B "Do you have any warning sign before your seizure starts?"
C "Do you experience any color change or incontinence during the seizure?"
D "Does your muscle tone seem tense or limp?" - correct answers -B "Do you have any warning sign
before your seizure starts?
During the assessment of an 80-year-old patient, the nurse notices that his hands show tremors when
he reaches for something and his head is always nodding. No associated rigidity is observed with
movement. Which of these statements is most accurate?
2
,A These findings are normal, resulting from aging.
B These findings could be r/t hyperthyroidism.
C These findings are the result of Parkinson disease.
D This patient should be evaluated for a cerebellar lesion. - correct answers -A These findings are
normal, resulting from aging.
A man who was found wandering in a park at 2 AM has been brought to the emergency department for
an examination; he said he fell and hit his head. During the examination, the nurse asks him to use his
index finger to touch the nurse's finger, then his own nose, then the nurse's finger again (which has
been moved to a different location). The patient is clumsy, unable to follow the instructions, and
overshoots the mark, missing the finger. What does the nurse suspect?
A Cerebral injury
B Peripheral neuropathy
C Cerebrovascular accident
D Acute alcohol intoxication - correct answers -D Acute alcohol intoxication
When assessing the intensity of a patient's pain, which question by the nurse is appropriate?
A "How does pain limit your activities?"
B "What does your pain feel like?"
C "How much pain do you have now?"
D "What makes your pain better or worse?" - correct answers -C "How much pain do you have now?"
The nurse is teaching a class on pain at a local retirement community. Which statement about the pain
experienced by older adults should the nurse include in the instructions?
3
, A "Pain is a normal process of aging and is to be expected."
B "Pain indicates a pathologic condition or an injury and is not a normal process of aging."
C "Older adults must learn to tolerate pain."
D "Older individuals perceive pain to a lesser degree than do younger individuals." - correct answers -B
"Pain indicates a pathologic condition or an injury and is not a normal process of aging."
The nurse is conducting an interview with an adult male patient. Which statement made by the patient
indicates an alcohol use disorder?
A "I usually stay out longer and drink more than I intended but I still make it into work on time."
B "I've been late to work a few times so now I limit myself to 2 drinks/day and stick to it."
C "I have a strong urge to drink and I've tried to stop drinking several times but it doesn't last long."
D "I crave alcohol but have successfully cut down on my alcohol consumption." - correct answers -C "I
have a strong urge to drink and I've tried to stop drinking several times but it doesn't last long."
The nurse has completed an assessment on a patient who came to the clinic for a leg injury. As a result
of the assessment, the nurse has determined that the patient has at-risk alcohol use. Which action by
the nurse is most appropriate at this time?
4
3160 Complete Study Guide & Exam Prep 2026–2027
During a mental status assessment, which question by the nurse would best assess a person's
judgment?
A "Do you feel that you are being watched, followed, or controlled?"
B "What would you do if you found a stamped, addressed envelope lying on the sidewalk?"
C "What does the statement, 'People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones,' mean to you?"
D "Tell me what you plan to do once you are discharged from the hospital." - correct answers -D "Tell
me what you plan to do once you are discharged from the hospital."
The nurse is conducting a patient interview. Which statement made by the patient should the nurse
more fully explore to assess the mental status during the interview?
A "I have no health problems."
B "I never did too good in school."
C "I am not currently taking any medications."
D "I sleep like a baby." - correct answers -B "I never did too good in school."
1
,During an examination, the nurse can assess mental status by which activity?
A Observing the patient as he or she performs an intelligence quotient (IQ) test
B Examining the patient's response to a specific set of questions
C Observing the patient and inferring health or dysfunction
D Examining the patient's electroencephalogram - correct answers -C Observing the patient and
inferring health or dysfunction
When taking the health history on a patient with a seizure disorder, the nurse assesses whether the
patient has an aura. Which of these would be the best question for obtaining this information?
A "After the seizure, do you spend a lot of time sleeping?"
B "Do you have any warning sign before your seizure starts?"
C "Do you experience any color change or incontinence during the seizure?"
D "Does your muscle tone seem tense or limp?" - correct answers -B "Do you have any warning sign
before your seizure starts?
During the assessment of an 80-year-old patient, the nurse notices that his hands show tremors when
he reaches for something and his head is always nodding. No associated rigidity is observed with
movement. Which of these statements is most accurate?
2
,A These findings are normal, resulting from aging.
B These findings could be r/t hyperthyroidism.
C These findings are the result of Parkinson disease.
D This patient should be evaluated for a cerebellar lesion. - correct answers -A These findings are
normal, resulting from aging.
A man who was found wandering in a park at 2 AM has been brought to the emergency department for
an examination; he said he fell and hit his head. During the examination, the nurse asks him to use his
index finger to touch the nurse's finger, then his own nose, then the nurse's finger again (which has
been moved to a different location). The patient is clumsy, unable to follow the instructions, and
overshoots the mark, missing the finger. What does the nurse suspect?
A Cerebral injury
B Peripheral neuropathy
C Cerebrovascular accident
D Acute alcohol intoxication - correct answers -D Acute alcohol intoxication
When assessing the intensity of a patient's pain, which question by the nurse is appropriate?
A "How does pain limit your activities?"
B "What does your pain feel like?"
C "How much pain do you have now?"
D "What makes your pain better or worse?" - correct answers -C "How much pain do you have now?"
The nurse is teaching a class on pain at a local retirement community. Which statement about the pain
experienced by older adults should the nurse include in the instructions?
3
, A "Pain is a normal process of aging and is to be expected."
B "Pain indicates a pathologic condition or an injury and is not a normal process of aging."
C "Older adults must learn to tolerate pain."
D "Older individuals perceive pain to a lesser degree than do younger individuals." - correct answers -B
"Pain indicates a pathologic condition or an injury and is not a normal process of aging."
The nurse is conducting an interview with an adult male patient. Which statement made by the patient
indicates an alcohol use disorder?
A "I usually stay out longer and drink more than I intended but I still make it into work on time."
B "I've been late to work a few times so now I limit myself to 2 drinks/day and stick to it."
C "I have a strong urge to drink and I've tried to stop drinking several times but it doesn't last long."
D "I crave alcohol but have successfully cut down on my alcohol consumption." - correct answers -C "I
have a strong urge to drink and I've tried to stop drinking several times but it doesn't last long."
The nurse has completed an assessment on a patient who came to the clinic for a leg injury. As a result
of the assessment, the nurse has determined that the patient has at-risk alcohol use. Which action by
the nurse is most appropriate at this time?
4
