Deck 35: Assessment of Neurological Function

Question 1

A patient has been experiencing numbness of the right hand. Which diagnostic test is indicated to determine the cause of this neurological change?
1)Myelogram
2)Evoked potentials
3)Electroencephalography
4)Magnetic resonance angiography

Answer 1

2

Question 2

The nurse assesses a patient who is sleepy, with slowed responses to stimuli. Which term does the nurse use when documenting this patient's level of consciousness (LOC)?
1)Coma
2)Stupor
3)Lethargic
4)Conscious

Answer 2

3

Question 3

A patient is unable to feel light touch down the anterior left leg and top of the left foot. How does the nurse document this finding?
1)Anesthesia
2)Paresthesia
3)Hypoesthesia
4)Hyperesthesia

Answer 3

1

Question 4

The nurse conducts a neurological assessment for a patient. Which finding correlates to a parasympathetic stimulation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?
1)Pupils that are constricted
2)Blood glucose is increased
3)A heart rate that is increased
4)A decrease in saliva production

Question 5

A patient is experiencing changes in eye movements. Which part of the central nervous system is most likely causing these changes?
1)Pons
2)Midbrain
3)Medulla oblongata
4)Reticular formation

Question 6

The nurse assesses a patient who is admitted after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) to the frontal lobe. The nurse correlates which clinical manifestations to damage to this area of the brain?
1)Sensation difficulty
2)Expressive speech difficulty
3)Color perception impairment
4)Long-term memory impairment

Question 7

The nurse correlates that a positron emission tomography (PET) scan is indicated to confirm which diagnosis?
1)Brain tumor
2)Cerebral bleed
3)Cranial fracture
4)Cerebral blood clot

Question 8

A patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus is scheduled for a computed tomography (CT) scan with contrast. What specific instructions does the nurse provide to the patient to prepare for this test?
1)Restrict fluids for 12 hours before the scan.
2)Drink 2 L of fluid the day before the scan.
3)Limit the intake of meat and dairy products before the scan.
4)Do not take metformin for 48 hours before and after the scan.

Question 9

The nurse correlates the clinical finding of aphasia to damage to which cerebral artery?
1)Anterior cerebral artery
2)Basilar artery
3)Middle cerebral artery
4)Posterior cerebral artery

Question 10

The nurse prepares to assess a patient's cranial nerves. Which tool is needed to assess cranial nerve (CN) II?
1)Otoscope
2)Pen light
3)Lavender
4)Cotton ball

Question 11

A patient is scheduled for an electroencephalogram. What preprocedure information does the nurse emphasize with this patient?
1)Avoid washing hair for 2 days before the test.
2)Avoid caffeine for 8 to 12 hours before the test.
3)Restrict the intake of fluids for 6 hours after the test.
4)Apply minimal products to the hair the morning of the test.

Question 12

The nurse correlates a change in the taste of food to which cranial nerve (CN)?
1)CN V Trigeminal
2)CN VII Facial
3)CN XI Accessory
4)CN XII Hypoglossal

Question 13

A patient's blood pressure increases after hearing that diagnostic tests for a health problem have to be repeated. Which receptor of the sympathetic nervous system is responsible for this blood pressure change?
1)Beta
2)Alpha
3)Nicotinic
4)Muscarinic

Question 14

Which technique should the nurse use to assess a patient's cranial nerve (CN) IX?
1)Apply a tongue depressor to the back of the throat.
2)Ask the patient to read from a book or a newspaper.
3)Ask the patient to smile, frown, puff cheeks, and raise eyebrows.
4)Ask the patient to follow the examiner's finger as it is moved toward the patient's nose.

Question 15

The nurse needs to provide a strong stimulus to illicit a response; however, the patient drifts back to unresponsiveness. What term should the nurse use to document this patient's level of responsiveness?
1)Coma
2)Stupor
3)Lethargic
4)Conscious

Question 16

A patient is diagnosed with a health problem that causes demyelization of the peripheral nerves. Which cell structure is being affected?
1)Microglia
2)Astrocytes
3)Schwann cells
4)Oligodendrocytes

Question 17

The nurse notes that a patient has ataxia. Which test does the nurse use to gain more information about this patient's gait?
1)Romberg
2)Patellar reflex
3)Plantar flexion
4)Achilles reflex

Question 18

The nurse is completing a Mini Mental Status Examination with a patient. What should the nurse ask to evaluate remote memory?
1)"Where did you park your car?"
2)"Where did you work in the 1970s?"
3)"Remember the colors red, green, blue, and yellow."
4)"What television show was on this morning during breakfast?"

Question 19

What is the rationale for the nurse to maintain a patient's neck in good alignment to decrease intracranial pressure?
1)Decrease pressure on internal carotid artery
2)Decrease pressure on external carotid artery
3)Decrease pressure on internal jugular vein
4)Decrease pressure on external jugular vein

Question 20

During a neurological assessment the nurse asks a patient to close the eyes and asks the patient to identify a paper clip placed in the hand. What is the nurse assessing?
1)Stereognosis
2)Hyperesthesia
3)Graphesthesia
4)Two-point discrimination

Question 21

Family members are concerned because a patient has been confused over the last few days. What is the best response by the nurse?
1)"Confusion is a normal sign of aging."
2)"Older people get confused at the end of the day."
3)"Dizziness is a greater concern than confusion."
4)"Confusion can mean many things that should be evaluated."

Question 22

A patient sustains an injury to the left temporal lobe. Which body functions does the nurse expect to be affected by this injury? Select all that apply.
1)Body position
2)Long-term memory
3)Auditory perception
4)Receptive speech center
5)Expressive speech center

Question 23

The nurse notes that a patient has a positive Babinski response. The nurse correlates this finding to which of the following disorders? Select all that apply.
1)Chronic alcohol use
2)Substance abuse
3)Multiple sclerosis
4)Parkinson's disease
5)Traumatic brain injury

Question 24

Which commands does the nurse use when conducting a neurological assessment for a patient? Select all that apply.
1)"Squeeze my fingers."
2)"Wiggle the toes on your right foot."
3)"Hold up two fingers on your left hand."
4)"Use your right index finger to touch your nose."
5)"Raise your left thumb up and down three times."

Question 25

A patient recovering from a lumbar puncture rates a headache as being 8 on a pain scale of 0 to 10. What action by the nurse is indicated?
1)Raise the head of the bed.
2)Assist to sit out of bed in a chair.
3)Encourage increasing oral fluid intake.
4)Turn patient on the side and massage the lower spine.

Question 26

In monitoring a patient after a cerebral angiogram, which actions by the nurse are indicated? Select all that apply.
1)Monitoring intravenous fluid infusion
2)Elevating the puncture site limb on a pillow
3)Maintaining pressure on arterial puncture site
4)Enforcing bedrest for 6 to 12 hours after the procedure
5)Monitoring vital signs every 15 minutes for the first hour

Question 27

The nurse is preparing a teaching tool about the nervous system. Which type of tissue does the nurse identify as being a part of gray matter? Select all that apply.
1)Dendrites
2)Cell bodies
3)Myelin sheath
4)Axon terminals
5)Nodes of Ranvier

Question 28

A patient is scheduled for a myelogram before having spinal fusion surgery. What instructions does the nurse provide in advance of this test?
1)Shower with antiseptic soap.
2)Take nothing by mouth for 4 hours before the test.
3)Take an over-the-counter analgesic before arriving for the test.
4)Restrict the intake of caffeine products for 24 hours before the test.

Question 29

The nurse recognizes which of the following structures as parts of the brainstem? Select all that apply.
1)Basal ganglia
2)Medulla oblongata
3)Midbrain
4)Pons
5)Thalamus

Question 30

In assessing neurological status on an older patient, the nurse needs to consider which age-related change of the neurological system?
1)Reaction time is slower
2)Flexibility is maintained
3)Pain sensation is heightened
4)Higher basal body temperature.