,Maryville NURS 612 Exam 4 | Advanced Health Assessment
(2026) Q&A
1. The examiner asks the patient to complete this statement: "A bird is to air as a fish
is to ______." This is an example of what type of testing?
A) Calculation
B) Analogies
C) Judgment
D) Mood and feelings
Correct Answer: Analogies
Rationale: An analogy is a comparison of two things based on their being alike in
some way. Analogies are used to investigate cognitive abilities. This type of testing
assesses abstract reasoning and the ability to identify relationships between
concepts.
2. An inability to describe similarities or differences between common objects such as
carrots and green beans is suggestive of which problem?
A) A left cerebral hemisphere lesion
B) Depression
C) An eating disorder
D) Aphasia
Correct Answer: A left cerebral hemisphere lesion
Rationale: Patients with average intelligence should be able to describe the
similarities and differences between common objects. An inability to do so may
,indicate a lesion of the left or dominant cerebral hemisphere, which is responsible for
language and analytical reasoning.
3. A 65-year-old woman is brought to the clinic by her family, who report a change in
her mental abilities over the past 2 weeks. Normally she is independent, intelligent,
and socially oriented. Her medical history is unremarkable except for congestive
heart failure, which is controlled with digoxin. What question would be the most
important for the examiner to ask the family?
A) "Is there a family history of Alzheimer's disease?"
B) "How much alcohol does she drink in an average week?"
C) "When was her digoxin blood level last checked?"
D) "Did you know that mental function begins to decline after the age of 60?"
Correct Answer: "When was her digoxin blood level last checked?"
Rationale: Digoxin may cause disorientation and confusion, especially in older adults
or when levels are elevated. Responses to questions regarding medication use are
important for evaluating present illness. The acute onset of confusion in a patient on
digoxin warrants checking the digoxin level.
4. Anger or rage reactions, impulsive behavior, and hyperarousal persisting for more
than a month are characteristic signs of which problem?
A) Schizophrenia
B) Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
C) Posttraumatic stress disorder
D) Vascular dementia
Correct Answer: Posttraumatic stress disorder
, Rationale: Anger or rage reactions, impulsive behavior, and hyperarousal persisting
for more than 4 weeks are objective data of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
These symptoms reflect the hyperarousal and reactivity criteria for PTSD.
5. Mrs. Gerrard is a 72-year-old patient who presents to your office. After your
examination, you suspect she is depressed. Which of the following findings could
indicate depression in an adult patient?
A) Unable to demonstrate abstract reasoning
B) Unable to correctly write his or her name
C) Unable to comb his or her hair
D) Demonstrates impaired math skills
Correct Answer: Demonstrates impaired math skills
Rationale: Impairment of arithmetic skills may be associated with depression and
diffuse brain disease. The patient's inability to demonstrate abstract reasoning,
correctly write their name, or comb their hair are associated with other impaired
cognitive abilities, such as aphasia or motor impairment.
6. Mrs. Bates is a 56-year-old patient who presents to your office with her son. He
states she has had a change in mental status. On examination, you note that her
judgment is poor. With which problem is poor judgment most closely associated?
A) Drug toxicity
B) Dementia
C) Temporal lobe injury
D) Limbic system dysfunction
Correct Answer: Dementia
(2026) Q&A
1. The examiner asks the patient to complete this statement: "A bird is to air as a fish
is to ______." This is an example of what type of testing?
A) Calculation
B) Analogies
C) Judgment
D) Mood and feelings
Correct Answer: Analogies
Rationale: An analogy is a comparison of two things based on their being alike in
some way. Analogies are used to investigate cognitive abilities. This type of testing
assesses abstract reasoning and the ability to identify relationships between
concepts.
2. An inability to describe similarities or differences between common objects such as
carrots and green beans is suggestive of which problem?
A) A left cerebral hemisphere lesion
B) Depression
C) An eating disorder
D) Aphasia
Correct Answer: A left cerebral hemisphere lesion
Rationale: Patients with average intelligence should be able to describe the
similarities and differences between common objects. An inability to do so may
,indicate a lesion of the left or dominant cerebral hemisphere, which is responsible for
language and analytical reasoning.
3. A 65-year-old woman is brought to the clinic by her family, who report a change in
her mental abilities over the past 2 weeks. Normally she is independent, intelligent,
and socially oriented. Her medical history is unremarkable except for congestive
heart failure, which is controlled with digoxin. What question would be the most
important for the examiner to ask the family?
A) "Is there a family history of Alzheimer's disease?"
B) "How much alcohol does she drink in an average week?"
C) "When was her digoxin blood level last checked?"
D) "Did you know that mental function begins to decline after the age of 60?"
Correct Answer: "When was her digoxin blood level last checked?"
Rationale: Digoxin may cause disorientation and confusion, especially in older adults
or when levels are elevated. Responses to questions regarding medication use are
important for evaluating present illness. The acute onset of confusion in a patient on
digoxin warrants checking the digoxin level.
4. Anger or rage reactions, impulsive behavior, and hyperarousal persisting for more
than a month are characteristic signs of which problem?
A) Schizophrenia
B) Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
C) Posttraumatic stress disorder
D) Vascular dementia
Correct Answer: Posttraumatic stress disorder
, Rationale: Anger or rage reactions, impulsive behavior, and hyperarousal persisting
for more than 4 weeks are objective data of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
These symptoms reflect the hyperarousal and reactivity criteria for PTSD.
5. Mrs. Gerrard is a 72-year-old patient who presents to your office. After your
examination, you suspect she is depressed. Which of the following findings could
indicate depression in an adult patient?
A) Unable to demonstrate abstract reasoning
B) Unable to correctly write his or her name
C) Unable to comb his or her hair
D) Demonstrates impaired math skills
Correct Answer: Demonstrates impaired math skills
Rationale: Impairment of arithmetic skills may be associated with depression and
diffuse brain disease. The patient's inability to demonstrate abstract reasoning,
correctly write their name, or comb their hair are associated with other impaired
cognitive abilities, such as aphasia or motor impairment.
6. Mrs. Bates is a 56-year-old patient who presents to your office with her son. He
states she has had a change in mental status. On examination, you note that her
judgment is poor. With which problem is poor judgment most closely associated?
A) Drug toxicity
B) Dementia
C) Temporal lobe injury
D) Limbic system dysfunction
Correct Answer: Dementia
