NU650 | NU650 Health Assessment / Nursing Exam
4 Version 3 | Questions with Correct Answers and
Expert Explanation for Each Question | Regis
1. When assessing the cranial nerves, the nurse asks the patient to smile, frown, and
puff out their cheeks. Which cranial nerve is being evaluated?
A. Cranial Nerve VII (Facial)
B. Cranial Nerve V (Trigeminal)
C. Cranial Nerve X (Vagus)
D. Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal)
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Cranial Nerve VII, the facial nerve, is responsible for facial
expressions and symmetry. By asking the patient to perform these actions, the nurse
can observe for weakness or drooping. This assessment is vital for identifying
conditions like Bell’s palsy or stroke symptoms.
2. A patient presents with a positive Romberg test. What does this finding indicate to
the nurse?
A. Loss of proprioception or vestibular dysfunction
B. Cerebellar ataxia during movement
C. Reduced visual acuity
,D. Muscle weakness in the lower extremities
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: The Romberg test assesses the patient’s ability to maintain
balance with eyes closed, relying on proprioception and vestibular function. A
positive result occurs when the patient loses balance or sways significantly. It helps
differentiate between sensory ataxia and motor coordination issues.
3. During a musculoskeletal assessment, the nurse notes Heberden’s nodes on a
patient’s distal interphalangeal joints. This finding is characteristic of:
A. Rheumatoid Arthritis
B. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
C. Osteoarthritis
D. Gouty Arthritis
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Heberden’s nodes are bony overgrowths specifically
associated with osteoarthritis of the distal joints. These findings result from the
degeneration of articular cartilage and the formation of new bone. Rheumatoid
arthritis typically presents with Bouchard’s nodes at the proximal joints or swan-
neck deformities.
,4. The nurse is performing a neurological assessment and asks the patient to identify a
common object placed in their hand with their eyes closed. This test is called:
A. Graphesthesia
B. Two-point discrimination
C. Extinction phenomenon
D. Stereognosis
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Stereognosis is the ability to recognize an object’s shape and
form by touch alone. This test evaluates the integration of sensory input in the
parietal lobe of the brain. A deficit in this area can indicate a lesion in the sensory
cortex or posterior columns.
5. What is the correct technique for assessing the Babinski reflex in an adult?
A. Tapping the patellar tendon with a reflex hammer
B. Applying pressure to the Achilles tendon
C. Stroking the lateral aspect of the sole of the foot from heel to ball
D. Quickly dorsiflexing the foot and checking for rhythmic contractions
Correct Answer: C
, Expert Explanation: To elicit the Babinski reflex, the nurse strokes the lateral sole
of the foot in an upward motion. In a healthy adult, the toes should curl downward
(plantar reflex). An abnormal or positive response, where the big toe dorsiflexes and
others fan out, indicates upper motor neuron disease.
6. Which finding would the nurse expect when assessing a patient with suspected
carpal tunnel syndrome using the Phalen’s test?
A. Pain and swelling in the wrist joint
B. Numbness and tingling in the thumb and first two fingers
C. Inability to flex the wrist against resistance
D. A visible deformity at the base of the palm
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Phalen’s test involves the patient holding their wrists in forced
flexion for 60 seconds. If the median nerve is compressed, this position will trigger
paresthesia in its distribution. This is a common diagnostic maneuver for confirming
carpal tunnel syndrome in clinical settings.
7. A nurse is assessing a patient’s gait and notices the patient lifts the knee high and
then slaps the foot down on the floor. This gait is known as:
A. Spastic gait
B. Scissors gait
4 Version 3 | Questions with Correct Answers and
Expert Explanation for Each Question | Regis
1. When assessing the cranial nerves, the nurse asks the patient to smile, frown, and
puff out their cheeks. Which cranial nerve is being evaluated?
A. Cranial Nerve VII (Facial)
B. Cranial Nerve V (Trigeminal)
C. Cranial Nerve X (Vagus)
D. Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal)
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Cranial Nerve VII, the facial nerve, is responsible for facial
expressions and symmetry. By asking the patient to perform these actions, the nurse
can observe for weakness or drooping. This assessment is vital for identifying
conditions like Bell’s palsy or stroke symptoms.
2. A patient presents with a positive Romberg test. What does this finding indicate to
the nurse?
A. Loss of proprioception or vestibular dysfunction
B. Cerebellar ataxia during movement
C. Reduced visual acuity
,D. Muscle weakness in the lower extremities
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: The Romberg test assesses the patient’s ability to maintain
balance with eyes closed, relying on proprioception and vestibular function. A
positive result occurs when the patient loses balance or sways significantly. It helps
differentiate between sensory ataxia and motor coordination issues.
3. During a musculoskeletal assessment, the nurse notes Heberden’s nodes on a
patient’s distal interphalangeal joints. This finding is characteristic of:
A. Rheumatoid Arthritis
B. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
C. Osteoarthritis
D. Gouty Arthritis
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Heberden’s nodes are bony overgrowths specifically
associated with osteoarthritis of the distal joints. These findings result from the
degeneration of articular cartilage and the formation of new bone. Rheumatoid
arthritis typically presents with Bouchard’s nodes at the proximal joints or swan-
neck deformities.
,4. The nurse is performing a neurological assessment and asks the patient to identify a
common object placed in their hand with their eyes closed. This test is called:
A. Graphesthesia
B. Two-point discrimination
C. Extinction phenomenon
D. Stereognosis
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Stereognosis is the ability to recognize an object’s shape and
form by touch alone. This test evaluates the integration of sensory input in the
parietal lobe of the brain. A deficit in this area can indicate a lesion in the sensory
cortex or posterior columns.
5. What is the correct technique for assessing the Babinski reflex in an adult?
A. Tapping the patellar tendon with a reflex hammer
B. Applying pressure to the Achilles tendon
C. Stroking the lateral aspect of the sole of the foot from heel to ball
D. Quickly dorsiflexing the foot and checking for rhythmic contractions
Correct Answer: C
, Expert Explanation: To elicit the Babinski reflex, the nurse strokes the lateral sole
of the foot in an upward motion. In a healthy adult, the toes should curl downward
(plantar reflex). An abnormal or positive response, where the big toe dorsiflexes and
others fan out, indicates upper motor neuron disease.
6. Which finding would the nurse expect when assessing a patient with suspected
carpal tunnel syndrome using the Phalen’s test?
A. Pain and swelling in the wrist joint
B. Numbness and tingling in the thumb and first two fingers
C. Inability to flex the wrist against resistance
D. A visible deformity at the base of the palm
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Phalen’s test involves the patient holding their wrists in forced
flexion for 60 seconds. If the median nerve is compressed, this position will trigger
paresthesia in its distribution. This is a common diagnostic maneuver for confirming
carpal tunnel syndrome in clinical settings.
7. A nurse is assessing a patient’s gait and notices the patient lifts the knee high and
then slaps the foot down on the floor. This gait is known as:
A. Spastic gait
B. Scissors gait
