Physical Examination and Health Assessment 8th Edition 0323510809
Chapter 05: Mental Status Assessment Jarvis: Physical Examination and Health Assessment, 8th Edition MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. During an examination, the nurse can assess mental status by which activity? a. Examining the patient’s electroencephalogram b. Observing the patient as he or she performs an intelligence quotient (IQ) test c. Observing the patient and inferring health or dysfunction d. Examining the patient’s response to a specific set of questions ANS: C
Mental status cannot be directly scrutinized like the characteristics of skin or heart sounds. Its functioning is inferred through an assessment of an individual’s behaviors, such as consciousness, language, mood and affect, and other aspects. Mental status cannot be directly scrutinized through tests such as an electroencephalogram, intelligence quotient (IQ) test, or responses to questions. Instead, the functioning of mental status is inferred through an assessment of an individual’s behaviors, such as consciousness, language, mood and affect, and other aspects. DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension) MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity 2. The nurse is assessing the mental status of a child. Which statement about children and mental
status is true? a. All aspects of mental status in children are interdependent. b. Children are highly labile and unstable until the age of 2 years. c. A child’s mental status is impossible to assess until the child develops the ability to concentrate. d. Children’s mental status is largely a function of their parents’ level of functioning until the age of 7 years. ANS: A
It is difficult to separate and trace the development of just one aspect of mental status. All aspects are interdependent. For example, consciousness is rudimentary at birth because the cerebral cortex is not yet developed. The infant cannot distinguish the self from the mother’s body. The other statements are not true. Options B, C, and D are all false statements. It is difficult to separate and trace the development of just one aspect of mental status. All aspects are interdependent. For example, consciousness is rudimentary at birth because the cerebral cortex is not yet developed. The infant cannot distinguish the self from the mother’s body. DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension) MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity 3. The nurse is assessing a 75-year-old man. What should the nurse expect when performing the
mental status portion of the assessment? a. Will have no decrease in any of his abilities, including response time. b. Will have difficulty on tests of remote memory because this ability typically decreases with age. c. May take a little longer to respond, but his general knowledge and abilities should
Chapter 5 - Mental Status Assessment
55
