A common technique to detect behaviors associated with neurocognitive disorders is to use a screening tool. One of the most commonly implemented screening tools is the Mini-Cog test. This assignment consists of three parts to give you hands-on learning about neurocognitive functioning and reflect on this experience. Please note this assignment is intended for learning purposes only and is not a clinical exercise.
STEP 1: Watch the following short video of a nurse (Minutes 0:00-10:50) administering the Mini-Cog test to an actual elderly patient who fell and is in the hospital.
STEP 2: Go to the Mini-Cog website and click “Get the test” download the Mini-Cog form which includes directions and a template for recording the test results. Please administer the Mini-Cog to two people (at least one person above the age of 50), record their results, and attempt to score the results. Write a short summary (2-5 sentences) for each person including demographic information, their score, and your informal and non-clinical conclusion about their cognitive functioning.
STEP 3: Write a brief reflection on your experience and what you learned about neurocognitive decline.
- Please identify and describe one major concept of neurocognitive disorders covered in the module and how the Mini-Cog improved your understanding of this concept.
- Reflect on your experience – What surprised you? How did it feel to administer the test? How could the test be improved?
- What did you learn about the difference between delirium and dementia?
Grading Rubric
| Criteria | Excellent | Proficient | Needs Improvement | Points |
| APA Formatting (7th edition) | Completed correctly formatted APA in-text citations and references. All in-text citations had matching references. | Attempted, but did not use correct APA formatting. In-text Citations and references included information to track where the student got information and to confirm the student had matching in-text and references | Attempted, but did not use correct APA formatting. In-text Citations and references were missing significant information or did not match. | __/5 |
| Quality of Content | Student answered all questions in full by identifying and describing concepts and gave examples to support their answer. | Student answered all questions in full by identifying and describing concepts, but did not give examples to support their answer. | Student answered all questions partially. The student identified the concepts but did not describe nor give examples to support their answer. | __/5 |
| Content Sources | The student used open sources as defined in the assignment. The student also used relevant material with both specific examples (e.g., primary and secondary) to demonstrate their understanding. | The student used open sources as defined in the assignment. The student also used relevant material (e.g., secondary and primary sources) but did not include examples or data to demonstrate their understanding | The student did not use open sources as defined in the assignment.
OR The student used relevant material from only secondary sources and did not include examples or data to demonstrate their understanding |
__/5 |
| Screening Tool: Test Administration and Summary | The student both administered the test and provided a summary of the results | The student administered the test and but did not provide a results summary | The student did not administer the screening tool and did not provide a summary of results. | __/5 |
| Total: | __/20 |
