HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM 2
PRACTICE QUESTIONS NSG3160
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
ANSWER -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 ANSWER -B "I never did too good in school."
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 ANSWER -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 ANSWER -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?
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 ANSWER -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 ANSWER -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 ANSWER -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?
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 ANSWER -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
ANSWER -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?
A State, "You are drinking more than is medically safe. I strongly recommend that you quit
drinking, and I'm willing to help you."
B Give the patient information about a local rehabilitation clinic.
C Record the results of the assessment, and notify the physician on call.
D State, "It appears that you may have a drinking problem. Here is the telephone number of
our local Alcoholics Anonymous chapter." - CORRECT ANSWER -A State, "You are drinking
more than is medically safe. I strongly recommend that you quit drinking, and I'm willing to
help you."
During a mental status examination, the nurse wants to assess a patient's affect. Which
question the nurse should ask?
PRACTICE QUESTIONS NSG3160
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
ANSWER -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 ANSWER -B "I never did too good in school."
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 ANSWER -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 ANSWER -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?
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 ANSWER -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 ANSWER -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 ANSWER -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?
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 ANSWER -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
ANSWER -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?
A State, "You are drinking more than is medically safe. I strongly recommend that you quit
drinking, and I'm willing to help you."
B Give the patient information about a local rehabilitation clinic.
C Record the results of the assessment, and notify the physician on call.
D State, "It appears that you may have a drinking problem. Here is the telephone number of
our local Alcoholics Anonymous chapter." - CORRECT ANSWER -A State, "You are drinking
more than is medically safe. I strongly recommend that you quit drinking, and I'm willing to
help you."
During a mental status examination, the nurse wants to assess a patient's affect. Which
question the nurse should ask?
