Which item is NOT typically included in the Appearance and Behavior assessment?

• A. Gait, dress, grooming, posture, gestures and facial expressions
• B. Nutrition status
• C. Eye contact
• D. Blood pressure measurement

Answer: (D)

Appearance and behavior focuses on what you can observe about how a person presents and acts during the encounter. Gait, dress, grooming, posture, gestures, and facial expressions are classic examples of observable presentation, and eye contact provides insight into engagement and affect. Nutrition status can often be inferred from the overall appearance—weight changes, signs of malnutrition or obesity—that inform how a person presents, so it fits in this domain. Blood pressure measurement, on the other hand, is a vital sign that reflects physiological state and is part of a general medical/physical exam rather than the way a person presents or behaves. Therefore, the item not typically included is blood pressure measurement.