NR 305 Health Assessment Week 8: Neurological and Musculoskeletal
Assessment 2026 |Chamberlain College
1. When assessing the Deep Tendon Reflexes (DTRs) of a patient, the nurse
notes a very brisk response with clonus. How should this be documented?
A. 1+
B. 2+
C. 4+
D. 3+
Answer: C
Rationale: A 4+ reflex is very brisk, hyperactive with clonus, and indicative of disease. 2+ is
normal.
2. A nurse asks a patient to shrug their shoulders against resistance. Which
cranial nerve is being evaluated?
A. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
B. CN XI (Spinal Accessory)
C. CN X (Vagus)
D. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
Answer: B
Rationale: Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory) supplies the trapezius and sternomastoid
muscles; shrugging tests its strength.
,3. The nurse is performing a Romberg test. Which finding would indicate a
‘positive’ Romberg sign?
A. The patient is able to stand with feet together for 20 seconds.
B. The patient sways and loses balance when eyes are closed.
C. The patient can hop on one foot without falling.
D. The patient walks in a straight line heel-to-toe.
Answer: B
Rationale: A positive Romberg sign occurs when the patient loses balance with eyes
closed, suggesting cerebellar ataxia or vestibular dysfunction.
4. Which assessment technique is used to check for the presence of a ‘fluid
wave’ in the knee joint?
A. Phalen test
B. McMurray test
C. Lasegue test
D. Bulge sign
Answer: D
Rationale: The bulge sign is used to assess for small amounts of fluid in the suprapatellar
bursa of the knee.
5. A patient is unable to differentiate between sharp and dull stimuli on the
face. This indicates a problem with which cranial nerve?
A. CN III
B. CN IV
C. CN VII
D. CN V
Answer: D
Rationale: CN V (Trigeminal) has three branches that provide sensory information from
the face.
, 6. In the musculoskeletal assessment, ‘crepitus’ is defined as:
A. A normal sound of joints moving.
B. An audible and palpable crunching or grating that accompanies movement.
C. Swelling caused by excess synovial fluid.
D. The shortening of a muscle leading to limited ROM.
Answer: B
Rationale: Crepitus occurs when articular surfaces in the joints are roughened, as with
rheumatoid arthritis.
7. When assessing the motor system, the nurse asks the patient to walk heel-to-
toe in a straight line. This is called:
A. Stereognosis
B. Tandem walking
C. Graphesthesia
D. The Babinski reflex
Answer: B
Rationale: Tandem walking is a test of cerebellar function and balance.
8. A patient presents with an exaggerated curvature of the thoracic spine, often
seen in elderly women. This is called:
A. Lordosis
B. Scoliosis
C. Kyphosis
D. Ankylosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Kyphosis is the outward or convex curvature of the thoracic spine.
Assessment 2026 |Chamberlain College
1. When assessing the Deep Tendon Reflexes (DTRs) of a patient, the nurse
notes a very brisk response with clonus. How should this be documented?
A. 1+
B. 2+
C. 4+
D. 3+
Answer: C
Rationale: A 4+ reflex is very brisk, hyperactive with clonus, and indicative of disease. 2+ is
normal.
2. A nurse asks a patient to shrug their shoulders against resistance. Which
cranial nerve is being evaluated?
A. CN IX (Glossopharyngeal)
B. CN XI (Spinal Accessory)
C. CN X (Vagus)
D. CN XII (Hypoglossal)
Answer: B
Rationale: Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory) supplies the trapezius and sternomastoid
muscles; shrugging tests its strength.
,3. The nurse is performing a Romberg test. Which finding would indicate a
‘positive’ Romberg sign?
A. The patient is able to stand with feet together for 20 seconds.
B. The patient sways and loses balance when eyes are closed.
C. The patient can hop on one foot without falling.
D. The patient walks in a straight line heel-to-toe.
Answer: B
Rationale: A positive Romberg sign occurs when the patient loses balance with eyes
closed, suggesting cerebellar ataxia or vestibular dysfunction.
4. Which assessment technique is used to check for the presence of a ‘fluid
wave’ in the knee joint?
A. Phalen test
B. McMurray test
C. Lasegue test
D. Bulge sign
Answer: D
Rationale: The bulge sign is used to assess for small amounts of fluid in the suprapatellar
bursa of the knee.
5. A patient is unable to differentiate between sharp and dull stimuli on the
face. This indicates a problem with which cranial nerve?
A. CN III
B. CN IV
C. CN VII
D. CN V
Answer: D
Rationale: CN V (Trigeminal) has three branches that provide sensory information from
the face.
, 6. In the musculoskeletal assessment, ‘crepitus’ is defined as:
A. A normal sound of joints moving.
B. An audible and palpable crunching or grating that accompanies movement.
C. Swelling caused by excess synovial fluid.
D. The shortening of a muscle leading to limited ROM.
Answer: B
Rationale: Crepitus occurs when articular surfaces in the joints are roughened, as with
rheumatoid arthritis.
7. When assessing the motor system, the nurse asks the patient to walk heel-to-
toe in a straight line. This is called:
A. Stereognosis
B. Tandem walking
C. Graphesthesia
D. The Babinski reflex
Answer: B
Rationale: Tandem walking is a test of cerebellar function and balance.
8. A patient presents with an exaggerated curvature of the thoracic spine, often
seen in elderly women. This is called:
A. Lordosis
B. Scoliosis
C. Kyphosis
D. Ankylosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Kyphosis is the outward or convex curvature of the thoracic spine.
