NR 302 Health Assessment I - Exam 8 Comprehensive Review 2026
|Chamberlain College
1. When performing a neurological assessment, which tool is most commonly
used to objective quantify a patient’s level of consciousness?
A. Snellen Chart
B. Norton Scale
C. Glasgow Coma Scale
D. Braden Scale
Answer: C
Rationale: The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is the gold standard for assessing level of
consciousness by evaluating eye opening, verbal response, and motor response.
2. A patient is unable to shrug their shoulders against resistance. Which cranial
nerve is likely affected?
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, innervates the trapezius and
sternocleidomastoid muscles, which are responsible for shoulder shrugging and head
turning.
,3. During a musculoskeletal assessment, the nurse asks the patient to move
their arm away from the midline of the body. This movement is called:
A. Abduction
B. Adduction
C. Flexion
D. Extension
Answer: A
Rationale: Abduction is the movement of a limb away from the midline of the body.
4. Which assessment technique is prioritized when evaluating a patient’s
abdomen?
A. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
B. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
C. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: A
Rationale: In abdominal assessment, auscultation is performed before percussion and
palpation to avoid altering bowel sounds.
5. A nurse observes a patient’s spine and notes an exaggerated lumbar curve.
This condition is known as:
A. Kyphosis
B. Scoliosis
C. Lordosis
D. Spondylosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Lordosis, often seen in pregnancy or obesity, is an exaggerated inward
curvature of the lumbar spine.
, 6. What does the ‘A’ in the ABCT mnemonic for mental status assessment stand
for?
A. Appearance
B. Affect
C. Association
D. Abstract reasoning
Answer: A
Rationale: The ABCT mnemonic stands for Appearance, Behavior, Cognition, and Thought
processes.
7. When testing Cranial Nerve II (Optic), the nurse is primarily assessing:
A. Visual acuity
B. Pupillary constriction
C. Extraocular movements
D. Corneal reflex
Answer: A
Rationale: Cranial Nerve II (Optic) is responsible for vision, often tested using the Snellen
chart for distance acuity.
8. The nurse performs the Romberg test. A ‘positive’ result is indicated by:
A. The patient maintaining balance with eyes closed
B. Nystagmus during lateral gaze
C. The patient swaying or falling when eyes are closed
D. Inability to touch the nose with eyes closed
Answer: C
Rationale: A positive Romberg sign occurs when a patient loses balance after closing their
eyes, indicating a problem with proprioception or vestibular function.
|Chamberlain College
1. When performing a neurological assessment, which tool is most commonly
used to objective quantify a patient’s level of consciousness?
A. Snellen Chart
B. Norton Scale
C. Glasgow Coma Scale
D. Braden Scale
Answer: C
Rationale: The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is the gold standard for assessing level of
consciousness by evaluating eye opening, verbal response, and motor response.
2. A patient is unable to shrug their shoulders against resistance. Which cranial
nerve is likely affected?
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, innervates the trapezius and
sternocleidomastoid muscles, which are responsible for shoulder shrugging and head
turning.
,3. During a musculoskeletal assessment, the nurse asks the patient to move
their arm away from the midline of the body. This movement is called:
A. Abduction
B. Adduction
C. Flexion
D. Extension
Answer: A
Rationale: Abduction is the movement of a limb away from the midline of the body.
4. Which assessment technique is prioritized when evaluating a patient’s
abdomen?
A. Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, Palpation
B. Inspection, Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation
C. Palpation, Percussion, Auscultation, Inspection
D. Auscultation, Inspection, Palpation, Percussion
Answer: A
Rationale: In abdominal assessment, auscultation is performed before percussion and
palpation to avoid altering bowel sounds.
5. A nurse observes a patient’s spine and notes an exaggerated lumbar curve.
This condition is known as:
A. Kyphosis
B. Scoliosis
C. Lordosis
D. Spondylosis
Answer: C
Rationale: Lordosis, often seen in pregnancy or obesity, is an exaggerated inward
curvature of the lumbar spine.
, 6. What does the ‘A’ in the ABCT mnemonic for mental status assessment stand
for?
A. Appearance
B. Affect
C. Association
D. Abstract reasoning
Answer: A
Rationale: The ABCT mnemonic stands for Appearance, Behavior, Cognition, and Thought
processes.
7. When testing Cranial Nerve II (Optic), the nurse is primarily assessing:
A. Visual acuity
B. Pupillary constriction
C. Extraocular movements
D. Corneal reflex
Answer: A
Rationale: Cranial Nerve II (Optic) is responsible for vision, often tested using the Snellen
chart for distance acuity.
8. The nurse performs the Romberg test. A ‘positive’ result is indicated by:
A. The patient maintaining balance with eyes closed
B. Nystagmus during lateral gaze
C. The patient swaying or falling when eyes are closed
D. Inability to touch the nose with eyes closed
Answer: C
Rationale: A positive Romberg sign occurs when a patient loses balance after closing their
eyes, indicating a problem with proprioception or vestibular function.
