Western Governors University
CCN: NURS 6810
Course Number: D117
Course Title: Advanced Health Assessment for the Advanced
Practice Nurse
Exam: Final Assessment
Date:2026
A patient presents with auditory hallucinations and disorganized thought. Which mental status
exam domain best captures these findings?
- A. Mood
- B. Thought process/content
- C. Cognition
- D. Insight
Answer: B. Thought process/content
Rationale: Hallucinations and disorganized thought are assessed under thought process/content.
During a psychiatric interview, a patient demonstrates flat affect despite reporting happiness.
Which term best describes this?
- A. Mood‑congruent affect
- B. Mood‑incongruent affect
- C. Labile affect
- D. Restricted affect
1
,Answer: B. Mood‑incongruent affect
Rationale: Affect does not match reported mood.
A patient with suspected delirium is assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM).
Which feature is most diagnostic?
- A. Disorganized speech
- B. Acute onset and fluctuating course
- C. Memory impairment
- D. Hallucinations
Answer: B. Acute onset and fluctuating course
Rationale: Delirium is characterized by sudden onset and fluctuating symptoms.
A patient with depression scores 25 on the PHQ‑9. How is this severity classified?
- A. Mild
- B. Moderate
- C. Moderately severe
- D. Severe
Answer: D. Severe
Rationale: PHQ‑9 scores ≥20 indicate severe depression.
A patient with suspected dementia undergoes MMSE testing. Which score suggests cognitive
impairment?
- A. 28
- B. 24
- C. 22
- D. 30
2
,Answer: C. 22
Rationale: Scores <24 suggest cognitive impairment.
---
True/False
The Mini‑Cog combines a three‑item recall test with a clock‑drawing test.
Answer: True
Rationale: Mini‑Cog uses recall and visuospatial skills to screen for dementia.
The GAD‑7 is used to assess severity of depressive symptoms.
Answer: False
Rationale: GAD‑7 assesses anxiety, not depression.
Insight and judgment are assessed during the mental status exam.
Answer: True
Rationale: These domains evaluate awareness and decision‑making.
The CAGE questionnaire is used to screen for psychosis.
Answer: False
Rationale: CAGE screens for alcohol use disorder.
The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C‑SSRS) assesses suicidal ideation and behavior.
Answer: True
3
, Rationale: C‑SSRS is validated for suicide risk assessment.
---
Fill‑in‑the‑Blank
The Glasgow Coma Scale assesses __________, __________, and __________ responses.
Answer: Eye, verbal, motor
Rationale: GCS evaluates these three domains.
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) cutoff score for impairment is __________.
Answer: <26
Rationale: Scores below 26 suggest cognitive impairment.
The screening tool for postpartum depression is the __________.
Answer: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
Rationale: EPDS is validated for postpartum depression.
The acronym SIGECAPS is used to assess symptoms of __________.
Answer: Major depressive disorder
Rationale: SIGECAPS covers sleep, interest, guilt, energy, concentration, appetite, psychomotor,
suicidality.
The screening tool for ADHD in adults is the __________.
Answer: Adult ADHD Self‑Report Scale (ASRS)
Rationale: ASRS is validated for adult ADHD.
4
CCN: NURS 6810
Course Number: D117
Course Title: Advanced Health Assessment for the Advanced
Practice Nurse
Exam: Final Assessment
Date:2026
A patient presents with auditory hallucinations and disorganized thought. Which mental status
exam domain best captures these findings?
- A. Mood
- B. Thought process/content
- C. Cognition
- D. Insight
Answer: B. Thought process/content
Rationale: Hallucinations and disorganized thought are assessed under thought process/content.
During a psychiatric interview, a patient demonstrates flat affect despite reporting happiness.
Which term best describes this?
- A. Mood‑congruent affect
- B. Mood‑incongruent affect
- C. Labile affect
- D. Restricted affect
1
,Answer: B. Mood‑incongruent affect
Rationale: Affect does not match reported mood.
A patient with suspected delirium is assessed using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM).
Which feature is most diagnostic?
- A. Disorganized speech
- B. Acute onset and fluctuating course
- C. Memory impairment
- D. Hallucinations
Answer: B. Acute onset and fluctuating course
Rationale: Delirium is characterized by sudden onset and fluctuating symptoms.
A patient with depression scores 25 on the PHQ‑9. How is this severity classified?
- A. Mild
- B. Moderate
- C. Moderately severe
- D. Severe
Answer: D. Severe
Rationale: PHQ‑9 scores ≥20 indicate severe depression.
A patient with suspected dementia undergoes MMSE testing. Which score suggests cognitive
impairment?
- A. 28
- B. 24
- C. 22
- D. 30
2
,Answer: C. 22
Rationale: Scores <24 suggest cognitive impairment.
---
True/False
The Mini‑Cog combines a three‑item recall test with a clock‑drawing test.
Answer: True
Rationale: Mini‑Cog uses recall and visuospatial skills to screen for dementia.
The GAD‑7 is used to assess severity of depressive symptoms.
Answer: False
Rationale: GAD‑7 assesses anxiety, not depression.
Insight and judgment are assessed during the mental status exam.
Answer: True
Rationale: These domains evaluate awareness and decision‑making.
The CAGE questionnaire is used to screen for psychosis.
Answer: False
Rationale: CAGE screens for alcohol use disorder.
The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C‑SSRS) assesses suicidal ideation and behavior.
Answer: True
3
, Rationale: C‑SSRS is validated for suicide risk assessment.
---
Fill‑in‑the‑Blank
The Glasgow Coma Scale assesses __________, __________, and __________ responses.
Answer: Eye, verbal, motor
Rationale: GCS evaluates these three domains.
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) cutoff score for impairment is __________.
Answer: <26
Rationale: Scores below 26 suggest cognitive impairment.
The screening tool for postpartum depression is the __________.
Answer: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
Rationale: EPDS is validated for postpartum depression.
The acronym SIGECAPS is used to assess symptoms of __________.
Answer: Major depressive disorder
Rationale: SIGECAPS covers sleep, interest, guilt, energy, concentration, appetite, psychomotor,
suicidality.
The screening tool for ADHD in adults is the __________.
Answer: Adult ADHD Self‑Report Scale (ASRS)
Rationale: ASRS is validated for adult ADHD.
4
