NR 302 Health Assessment I - Exam 6 Practice Questions 2026
|Chamberlain College
1. A nurse is assessing a patient’s cranial nerves. Which cranial nerve is being
tested when the nurse asks the patient to shrug their shoulders against
resistance?
A. Cranial Nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal)
B. Cranial Nerve X (Vagus)
C. Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory)
D. Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal)
Answer: C
Rationale: Cranial Nerve XI, the Spinal Accessory nerve, controls the trapezius and
sternocleidomastoid muscles used for shoulder shrugging and head turning.
2. When assessing the Deep Tendon Reflexes (DTRs), what score would the
nurse document for a normal, average response?
A. 1+
B. 2+
C. 3+
D. 4+
Answer: B
Rationale: A score of 2+ indicates a normal or average reflex response. 1+ is diminished,
3+ is brisker than average, and 4+ is very brisk or hyperactive.
,3. The nurse performs the Romberg test. Which instruction should the nurse
give to the patient?
A. Hop on one foot for 10 seconds.
B. Walk in a straight line placing one foot directly in front of the other.
C. Touch the nose with the index finger and then touch the nurse’s finger.
D. Stand with feet together and eyes open, then close eyes for 20 seconds.
Answer: D
Rationale: The Romberg test assesses balance by having the patient stand with feet
together and arms at sides, first with eyes open and then with eyes closed for about 20
seconds.
4. A patient’s Snellen chart result is 20/40. How should the nurse interpret this
finding?
A. The patient can see at 20 feet what a normal person sees at 40 feet.
B. The patient has 20% vision in both eyes.
C. The patient can see at 40 feet what a normal person sees at 20 feet.
D. The patient needs glasses for reading only.
Answer: A
Rationale: In 20/40 vision, the top number is the distance from the chart (20 feet) and the
bottom number is the distance at which a normal eye could read that line.
5. During an otoscopic exam on an adult, in which direction should the nurse
pull the pinna?
A. Up and back
B. Straight back
C. Down and back
D. Up and forward
Answer: A
, Rationale: For adults, the pinna is pulled up and back to straighten the S-shape of the ear
canal for better visualization of the tympanic membrane.
6. Which of the following describes a normal appearance of the tympanic
membrane?
A. Amber or yellow with air bubbles
B. White and opaque
C. Bright red and bulging
D. Pearly gray and translucent
Answer: D
Rationale: A healthy tympanic membrane is pearly gray, translucent, and reflects a cone of
light.
7. The nurse asks the patient to identify a common object (like a key or coin) in
their hand with their eyes closed. What is this test called?
A. Graphesthesia
B. Extinction
C. Two-point discrimination
D. Stereognosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Stereognosis is the ability to recognize objects by feeling their form, size, and
weight while the eyes are closed.
8. What is the correct technique for assessing the thyroid gland using a posterior
approach?
A. Have the patient lie supine and tilt the head back.
B. Stand in front of the patient and push the trachea to the side.
C. Stand behind the patient and ask them to take a sip of water.
D. Palpate the thyroid using only the thumbs.
Answer: C
|Chamberlain College
1. A nurse is assessing a patient’s cranial nerves. Which cranial nerve is being
tested when the nurse asks the patient to shrug their shoulders against
resistance?
A. Cranial Nerve IX (Glossopharyngeal)
B. Cranial Nerve X (Vagus)
C. Cranial Nerve XI (Spinal Accessory)
D. Cranial Nerve XII (Hypoglossal)
Answer: C
Rationale: Cranial Nerve XI, the Spinal Accessory nerve, controls the trapezius and
sternocleidomastoid muscles used for shoulder shrugging and head turning.
2. When assessing the Deep Tendon Reflexes (DTRs), what score would the
nurse document for a normal, average response?
A. 1+
B. 2+
C. 3+
D. 4+
Answer: B
Rationale: A score of 2+ indicates a normal or average reflex response. 1+ is diminished,
3+ is brisker than average, and 4+ is very brisk or hyperactive.
,3. The nurse performs the Romberg test. Which instruction should the nurse
give to the patient?
A. Hop on one foot for 10 seconds.
B. Walk in a straight line placing one foot directly in front of the other.
C. Touch the nose with the index finger and then touch the nurse’s finger.
D. Stand with feet together and eyes open, then close eyes for 20 seconds.
Answer: D
Rationale: The Romberg test assesses balance by having the patient stand with feet
together and arms at sides, first with eyes open and then with eyes closed for about 20
seconds.
4. A patient’s Snellen chart result is 20/40. How should the nurse interpret this
finding?
A. The patient can see at 20 feet what a normal person sees at 40 feet.
B. The patient has 20% vision in both eyes.
C. The patient can see at 40 feet what a normal person sees at 20 feet.
D. The patient needs glasses for reading only.
Answer: A
Rationale: In 20/40 vision, the top number is the distance from the chart (20 feet) and the
bottom number is the distance at which a normal eye could read that line.
5. During an otoscopic exam on an adult, in which direction should the nurse
pull the pinna?
A. Up and back
B. Straight back
C. Down and back
D. Up and forward
Answer: A
, Rationale: For adults, the pinna is pulled up and back to straighten the S-shape of the ear
canal for better visualization of the tympanic membrane.
6. Which of the following describes a normal appearance of the tympanic
membrane?
A. Amber or yellow with air bubbles
B. White and opaque
C. Bright red and bulging
D. Pearly gray and translucent
Answer: D
Rationale: A healthy tympanic membrane is pearly gray, translucent, and reflects a cone of
light.
7. The nurse asks the patient to identify a common object (like a key or coin) in
their hand with their eyes closed. What is this test called?
A. Graphesthesia
B. Extinction
C. Two-point discrimination
D. Stereognosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Stereognosis is the ability to recognize objects by feeling their form, size, and
weight while the eyes are closed.
8. What is the correct technique for assessing the thyroid gland using a posterior
approach?
A. Have the patient lie supine and tilt the head back.
B. Stand in front of the patient and push the trachea to the side.
C. Stand behind the patient and ask them to take a sip of water.
D. Palpate the thyroid using only the thumbs.
Answer: C
