NR 305 Health Assessment - Week 7: Neurological and Mental Status
Assessment 2026 |Chamberlain College
1. Which component of the Mental Status Examination (MSE) is being assessed
when the nurse asks the patient to explain the meaning of the proverb ‘Don’t
cry over spilled milk’?
A. Orientation
B. Attention span
C. Recent memory
D. Abstract reasoning
Answer: D
Rationale: Abstract reasoning involves the ability to think beyond literal meanings.
Interpreting proverbs is a common way to assess this cognitive function.
2. The nurse is performing a neurological assessment and asks the patient to
shrug their shoulders against resistance. Which cranial nerve is being tested?
A. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
B. CN X (Vagus)
C. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
D. CN XI (Spinal Accessory)
Answer: D
Rationale: Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory) innervates the trapezius and
sternocleidomastoid muscles; shrugging tests its motor function.
,3. When assessing a patient’s level of consciousness, the nurse finds the patient
opens their eyes only to painful stimuli and provides incomprehensible sounds.
What is the priority assessment tool?
A. Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)
B. Snellen Chart
C. PHQ-9 Depression Screen
D. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
Answer: D
Rationale: The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is used to objectively describe the level of
consciousness in patients with altered states based on eye-opening, verbal, and motor
responses.
4. A patient is unable to identify a key placed in their hand while their eyes are
closed. This finding is documented as:
A. Ataxia
B. Agraphesthesia
C. Anosmia
D. Astereognosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Stereognosis is the ability to recognize objects by feel. Failure to do so is called
astereognosis, which may indicate a sensory cortex lesion.
5. Which cranial nerve is responsible for the ‘puffing out cheeks’ and ‘showing
teeth’ part of a physical exam?
A. CN VII (Facial)
B. CN V (Trigeminal)
C. CN VIII (Acoustic)
D. CN VI (Abducens)
Answer: A
, Rationale: CN VII (Facial Nerve) controls facial expressions and symmetry. CN V is for
sensation and mastication.
6. During a Romberg test, the patient sways and loses balance when their eyes
are closed. This is considered a:
A. Positive Romberg sign
B. Negative Romberg sign
C. Normal finding for older adults
D. Sign of CN II damage
Answer: A
Rationale: A positive Romberg sign occurs when a patient loses balance after closing their
eyes, suggesting cerebellar ataxia or vestibular dysfunction.
7. Which finding is considered normal when testing the plantar reflex in an
adult?
A. Dorsiflexion of the big toe
B. Plantar flexion of the toes
C. Fanning of the toes
D. Absence of any movement
Answer: B
Rationale: In adults, the normal response is plantar flexion (toes curling down).
Dorsiflexion (Babinski sign) is abnormal in adults but normal in infants.
8. A nurse asks a patient to repeat four unrelated words after a 5-minute delay.
This assesses:
A. Recent memory
B. Immediate recall
C. Remote memory
D. Cognitive flexibility
Answer: A
Assessment 2026 |Chamberlain College
1. Which component of the Mental Status Examination (MSE) is being assessed
when the nurse asks the patient to explain the meaning of the proverb ‘Don’t
cry over spilled milk’?
A. Orientation
B. Attention span
C. Recent memory
D. Abstract reasoning
Answer: D
Rationale: Abstract reasoning involves the ability to think beyond literal meanings.
Interpreting proverbs is a common way to assess this cognitive function.
2. The nurse is performing a neurological assessment and asks the patient to
shrug their shoulders against resistance. Which cranial nerve is being tested?
A. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
B. CN X (Vagus)
C. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
D. CN XI (Spinal Accessory)
Answer: D
Rationale: Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory) innervates the trapezius and
sternocleidomastoid muscles; shrugging tests its motor function.
,3. When assessing a patient’s level of consciousness, the nurse finds the patient
opens their eyes only to painful stimuli and provides incomprehensible sounds.
What is the priority assessment tool?
A. Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)
B. Snellen Chart
C. PHQ-9 Depression Screen
D. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
Answer: D
Rationale: The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is used to objectively describe the level of
consciousness in patients with altered states based on eye-opening, verbal, and motor
responses.
4. A patient is unable to identify a key placed in their hand while their eyes are
closed. This finding is documented as:
A. Ataxia
B. Agraphesthesia
C. Anosmia
D. Astereognosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Stereognosis is the ability to recognize objects by feel. Failure to do so is called
astereognosis, which may indicate a sensory cortex lesion.
5. Which cranial nerve is responsible for the ‘puffing out cheeks’ and ‘showing
teeth’ part of a physical exam?
A. CN VII (Facial)
B. CN V (Trigeminal)
C. CN VIII (Acoustic)
D. CN VI (Abducens)
Answer: A
, Rationale: CN VII (Facial Nerve) controls facial expressions and symmetry. CN V is for
sensation and mastication.
6. During a Romberg test, the patient sways and loses balance when their eyes
are closed. This is considered a:
A. Positive Romberg sign
B. Negative Romberg sign
C. Normal finding for older adults
D. Sign of CN II damage
Answer: A
Rationale: A positive Romberg sign occurs when a patient loses balance after closing their
eyes, suggesting cerebellar ataxia or vestibular dysfunction.
7. Which finding is considered normal when testing the plantar reflex in an
adult?
A. Dorsiflexion of the big toe
B. Plantar flexion of the toes
C. Fanning of the toes
D. Absence of any movement
Answer: B
Rationale: In adults, the normal response is plantar flexion (toes curling down).
Dorsiflexion (Babinski sign) is abnormal in adults but normal in infants.
8. A nurse asks a patient to repeat four unrelated words after a 5-minute delay.
This assesses:
A. Recent memory
B. Immediate recall
C. Remote memory
D. Cognitive flexibility
Answer: A
