Mental Status & Neurologic System Pre-Class Assignment
Chapter 6: Assessing Mental Status including Risk for Substance Abuse
1. Define mental status and mental disorder. Differentiate the two?
2. Name and briefly explain the components of a mental status exam?
3. Explain four factors that may affect a person’s mental status that are not mental disorders?
4. What assessment techniques are used in a mental status assessment?
5. What is dementia? Alzheimer’s disease? What assessment tools can the nurse use to gather
additional assessment data related to dementia?
6. Name four situations that would require the nurse to perform a complete mental status exam?
7. What is substance abuse? What assessment tools can the nurse use to gather additional
assessment data related to substance abuse?
8. List the three areas of assessment on the Glasgow Coma Scale.
Mental Status & Neurologic System Pre-Class Assignment
Chapter 25: Assessing Neurologic System
9. Review the CNS and its’ structures and their functions.
10. Review the PNS and its’ structures and their functions.
11. Review types of headaches. Are there symptoms a client may report that would allow the nurse to
be more concerned about the seriousness of headache symptoms.
12. What is a CVA? Signs of a stroke.
13. List and describe three tests for cerebellar function?
14. Describe the methods for testing for sensory system for pain, temperature, touch, vibration, and
position
15. How is the Babinski reflex assessed, what is the expected response?