NR302 HEALTH ASSESSMENT EXAM 3 Actual
Exam | Official Exam – Complete Q&A with
Rationales – Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Total Questions: 50 | Time: 90 min | Pass: 80%
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 | Neurologic Assessment | Q1 – Q10
Section 2 | Cranial Nerves and Motor Function | Q11 – Q20
Section 3 | Sensory and Reflex Testing | Q21 – Q30
Section 4 | Mental Status and Speech | Q31 – Q40
Section 5 | Head, Neck, and Associated Lymphatics | Q41 – Q50
Instructions: Choose the single best answer. Pass: 80% in 90 minutes.
══════════════════════════════════════
SECTION 1: NEUROLOGIC ASSESSMENT Q1 – Q10
══════════════════════════════════════
Question 1 of 50
A 72-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after a fall. The nurse
assesses his level of consciousness. He opens his eyes to verbal command, is
confused and disoriented, and localizes to pain. What is his Glasgow Coma Scale
score?
A. 10
B. 12 ✓ CORRECT
C. 14
D. 9
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Eyes open to verbal command scores 3, confused verbal response scores 4,
and localizes to pain scores 5, giving a total of 12. A score of 14 would require full
,orientation or spontaneous eye opening, which this patient does not demonstrate. GCS
scoring is one of the first things trauma nurses document because it establishes a
neurological baseline.
Question 2 of 50
A 28-year-old college student is seen at the campus health clinic with fever, headache,
and neck stiffness. The nurse attempts to elicit Kernig and Brudzinski signs. During the
Kernig test, the patient reports severe pain and resistance when the knee is extended
with the hip flexed. What does this finding indicate?
A. Cerebellar dysfunction requiring further coordination testing
B. A positive straight leg raise sign suggesting lumbar radiculopathy
C. Meningeal irritation consistent with possible meningitis ✓ CORRECT
D. Increased intracranial pressure from a space-occupying lesion
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Kernig sign is positive when pain and resistance occur during knee extension
with the hip flexed, indicating meningeal irritation from conditions such as meningitis. A
straight leg raise assesses nerve root tension, not meningeal irritation. While increased
intracranial pressure can accompany meningitis, Kernig sign specifically tests for
meningeal inflammation rather than mass effect.
Question 3 of 50
A 45-year-old man is admitted after a motor vehicle accident. The nurse notes his arms
are flexed at the elbows and wrists with adduction toward the chest, while his legs are
extended and internally rotated. What type of posturing is this, and what does it
suggest?
A. Decorticate posturing indicating hemispheric damage above the brainstem ✓
CORRECT
B. Decerebrate posturing indicating brainstem or cerebellar injury
, C. Normal resting posture following traumatic brain injury recovery
D. Voluntary protective positioning due to chest wall pain
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Decorticate posturing presents with flexion of the arms and extension of the
legs, indicating damage to the cerebral hemispheres or internal capsule above the
brainstem. Decerebrate posturing involves extension of all four limbs and indicates
more severe brainstem injury. Nurses must distinguish these quickly because
decerebrate posturing carries a graver prognosis.
Question 4 of 50
A 62-year-old woman with a history of stroke reports difficulty with balance when
standing with her eyes closed. The nurse performs the Romberg test. The patient sways
significantly and nearly falls when her eyes are closed but stands steadily with them
open. What does this result suggest?
A. Cerebellar ataxia affecting coordination regardless of visual input
B. Vestibular dysfunction causing constant vertigo and imbalance
C. Normal age-related proprioceptive decline that requires no follow-up
D. Loss of proprioception in the lower extremities, likely posterior column disease ✓
CORRECT
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A positive Romberg test, indicated by increased sway with eyes closed,
suggests impaired proprioception in the posterior columns of the spinal cord because
the patient compensates using vision when available. Cerebellar ataxia causes sway
regardless of whether the eyes are open or closed. This finding often prompts referral
for vitamin B12 deficiency or diabetes-related neuropathy testing.
Question 5 of 50
Exam | Official Exam – Complete Q&A with
Rationales – Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Total Questions: 50 | Time: 90 min | Pass: 80%
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 | Neurologic Assessment | Q1 – Q10
Section 2 | Cranial Nerves and Motor Function | Q11 – Q20
Section 3 | Sensory and Reflex Testing | Q21 – Q30
Section 4 | Mental Status and Speech | Q31 – Q40
Section 5 | Head, Neck, and Associated Lymphatics | Q41 – Q50
Instructions: Choose the single best answer. Pass: 80% in 90 minutes.
══════════════════════════════════════
SECTION 1: NEUROLOGIC ASSESSMENT Q1 – Q10
══════════════════════════════════════
Question 1 of 50
A 72-year-old man is brought to the emergency department after a fall. The nurse
assesses his level of consciousness. He opens his eyes to verbal command, is
confused and disoriented, and localizes to pain. What is his Glasgow Coma Scale
score?
A. 10
B. 12 ✓ CORRECT
C. 14
D. 9
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Eyes open to verbal command scores 3, confused verbal response scores 4,
and localizes to pain scores 5, giving a total of 12. A score of 14 would require full
,orientation or spontaneous eye opening, which this patient does not demonstrate. GCS
scoring is one of the first things trauma nurses document because it establishes a
neurological baseline.
Question 2 of 50
A 28-year-old college student is seen at the campus health clinic with fever, headache,
and neck stiffness. The nurse attempts to elicit Kernig and Brudzinski signs. During the
Kernig test, the patient reports severe pain and resistance when the knee is extended
with the hip flexed. What does this finding indicate?
A. Cerebellar dysfunction requiring further coordination testing
B. A positive straight leg raise sign suggesting lumbar radiculopathy
C. Meningeal irritation consistent with possible meningitis ✓ CORRECT
D. Increased intracranial pressure from a space-occupying lesion
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Kernig sign is positive when pain and resistance occur during knee extension
with the hip flexed, indicating meningeal irritation from conditions such as meningitis. A
straight leg raise assesses nerve root tension, not meningeal irritation. While increased
intracranial pressure can accompany meningitis, Kernig sign specifically tests for
meningeal inflammation rather than mass effect.
Question 3 of 50
A 45-year-old man is admitted after a motor vehicle accident. The nurse notes his arms
are flexed at the elbows and wrists with adduction toward the chest, while his legs are
extended and internally rotated. What type of posturing is this, and what does it
suggest?
A. Decorticate posturing indicating hemispheric damage above the brainstem ✓
CORRECT
B. Decerebrate posturing indicating brainstem or cerebellar injury
, C. Normal resting posture following traumatic brain injury recovery
D. Voluntary protective positioning due to chest wall pain
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Decorticate posturing presents with flexion of the arms and extension of the
legs, indicating damage to the cerebral hemispheres or internal capsule above the
brainstem. Decerebrate posturing involves extension of all four limbs and indicates
more severe brainstem injury. Nurses must distinguish these quickly because
decerebrate posturing carries a graver prognosis.
Question 4 of 50
A 62-year-old woman with a history of stroke reports difficulty with balance when
standing with her eyes closed. The nurse performs the Romberg test. The patient sways
significantly and nearly falls when her eyes are closed but stands steadily with them
open. What does this result suggest?
A. Cerebellar ataxia affecting coordination regardless of visual input
B. Vestibular dysfunction causing constant vertigo and imbalance
C. Normal age-related proprioceptive decline that requires no follow-up
D. Loss of proprioception in the lower extremities, likely posterior column disease ✓
CORRECT
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A positive Romberg test, indicated by increased sway with eyes closed,
suggests impaired proprioception in the posterior columns of the spinal cord because
the patient compensates using vision when available. Cerebellar ataxia causes sway
regardless of whether the eyes are open or closed. This finding often prompts referral
for vitamin B12 deficiency or diabetes-related neuropathy testing.
Question 5 of 50
