Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) Practice Exam

During the initial interview, the rehab nurse assesses a patient's cognition by:

1. Administering a standardized cognitive test

2. Determining the patient's understanding of gestures and vocal inflections

3. Observing the patient's physical movements

4. Reviewing the patient's medical history

The correct answer is: Determining the patient's understanding of gestures and vocal inflections

Assessing a patient’s cognition during the initial interview often involves evaluating their ability to understand and interpret communication cues. This includes how well they grasp gestures and vocal inflections, which are important aspects of non-verbal communication. This also provides insight into their cognitive processing and ability to engage in social interactions. Understanding gestures and vocal inflections can reveal a patient’s level of cognitive functioning and how well they can interpret subtle cues. This is particularly important in rehabilitation settings, where communication is a key component of therapy and recovery. A patient’s response to these non-verbal signals can indicate their cognitive understanding and social skills, which are critical for effective rehabilitation. The other options, while relevant to different aspects of patient assessment, do not directly measure cognition in the same immediate and interactive way. Administering a standardized cognitive test is a more formal approach that may not happen in the context of an initial interview. Observing physical movements provides insights into physical capability rather than cognitive function. Reviewing the patient's medical history, while important for understanding their background and prior functioning, does not assess cognitive abilities in real-time.