ATI - RN Mental Health
Nursing Questions with
Detailed Answers A+ Grade
2026/2027
, What do you assess for during a Mental Status Exam 1. level of consciousness
(MSE)? 2. physical appearance
3. behavior
4. cognitive and intellectual abilities
alert able to fully respond by opening eyes, attend to normal tone of voice and speech,
and answer questions spontaneously and appropriately
lethargy able to open eyes and respond, but is drowsy and falls asleep readily
obtundation needs to be lightly shaken to elicit a response; may be confused and slow to
respond
stupor requires painful stimuli (e.g. pinch a tendon, rub sternum) to elicit a brief response;
may not be able to respond verbally
coma no response from repeated painful stimuli
decorticate rigidity flexion and internal rotation of upper extremity joints and legs (arms toward midline)
decerebrate rigidity neck and elbow extension, wrist and finger flexion (arms away from midline)
mood subjective data about emotions that are felt
affect objective data about expression of mood
How do you assess recent memory? Have patient recall a series of number or list of objects.
How do you assess remote memory? Have patient state a verifiable fact (e.g. birthdate).
How do you assess level of knowledge? Ask patient what they know about their illness or hospitalization.
How do you assess ability to calculate? Ask patient to count backward from 100 in serials of 7.
How do you assess ability to think abstractly? See if patient can interpret an idiom/saying.
Nursing Questions with
Detailed Answers A+ Grade
2026/2027
, What do you assess for during a Mental Status Exam 1. level of consciousness
(MSE)? 2. physical appearance
3. behavior
4. cognitive and intellectual abilities
alert able to fully respond by opening eyes, attend to normal tone of voice and speech,
and answer questions spontaneously and appropriately
lethargy able to open eyes and respond, but is drowsy and falls asleep readily
obtundation needs to be lightly shaken to elicit a response; may be confused and slow to
respond
stupor requires painful stimuli (e.g. pinch a tendon, rub sternum) to elicit a brief response;
may not be able to respond verbally
coma no response from repeated painful stimuli
decorticate rigidity flexion and internal rotation of upper extremity joints and legs (arms toward midline)
decerebrate rigidity neck and elbow extension, wrist and finger flexion (arms away from midline)
mood subjective data about emotions that are felt
affect objective data about expression of mood
How do you assess recent memory? Have patient recall a series of number or list of objects.
How do you assess remote memory? Have patient state a verifiable fact (e.g. birthdate).
How do you assess level of knowledge? Ask patient what they know about their illness or hospitalization.
How do you assess ability to calculate? Ask patient to count backward from 100 in serials of 7.
How do you assess ability to think abstractly? See if patient can interpret an idiom/saying.
