MED SURG/NEURO TEST BANK
QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE ANSWERS
1. A patient is brought to the ER following a motor vehicle accident in which he sustained head
trauma. Preliminary assessment reveals a vision deficit in the patient's left eye. The nurse
should associate this abnormal finding with trauma to which of the following cerebral lobes?
A) Temporal
B) Occipital
C) Parietal
D) Frontal - ANSWER-B) Occipital
.A patient scheduled for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the radiology department. The
nurse who prepares the patient for the MRI should prioritize which of the following actions?
A) Withholding stimulants 24 to 48 hours prior to exam
B) Removing all metal-containing objects
C) Instructing the patient to void prior to the MRI
D) Initiating an IV line for administration of contrast - ANSWER-B) Removing all metal-
containing objects
A gerontologic nurse planning the neurologic assessment of an older adult is considering
normal, age-related changes. Of what phenomenon should the nurse be aware?
A) Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes
B) Reduction in cerebral blood flow
C) Increased cerebral metabolism
D) Hypersensitivity to painful stimuli - ANSWER-B) Reduction in cerebral blood flow
The nurse has admitted a new patient to the unit. One of the patient's admitting orders is for an
adrenergic medication. The nurse knows that this medication will have what effect on the
circulatory system?
,A) Thin, watery saliva
B) Increased heart rate
C) Decreased BP
D) Constricted bronchioles - ANSWER-B) Increased heart rate
A nurse is assessing reflexes in a patient with hyperactive reflexes. When the patient's foot is
abruptly dorsiflexed, it continues to "beat" two times before settling into a resting position. How
would the nurse document this finding?
A) Rigidity
B) Flaccidity
C) Clonus
D) Ataxia - ANSWER-C) Clonus
he nurse is doing an initial assessment on a patient newly admitted to the unit with a diagnosis
of cerebrovascular accident (CVA). The patient has difficulty copying a figure that the nurse has
drawn and is diagnosed with visual-receptive aphasia. What brain region is primarily involved in
this deficit?
A) Temporal lobe
B) Parietal-occipital area
C) Inferior posterior frontal areas
D) Posterior frontal area - ANSWER-B) Parietal-occipital area
The nurse is admitting a patient to the unit who is diagnosed with lower motor neuron lesion.
What entry in the patient's electronic record is most consistent with this diagnosis?
A) "Patient exhibits increased muscle tone."
B) "Patient demonstrates normal muscle structure with no evidence of atrophy."
C) "Patient demonstrates hyperactive deep tendon reflexes."
,D) "Patient demonstrates an absence of deep tendon reflexes." - ANSWER-D) "Patient
demonstrates an absence of deep tendon reflexes."
8. An elderly patient is being discharged home. The patient lives alone and has atrophy of his
olfactory organs. The nurse tells the patient's family its essential that the patient have what
installed in the home?
A) Grab bars
B) Nonslip mats
C) Baseboard heaters
D) A smoke detector - ANSWER-D) A smoke detector
A nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with Ménière's disease. While completing a neurologic
examination on the patient, the nurse assesses cranial nerve VIII. The nurse would be correct in
identifying the function of this nerve as what?
A) Movement of the tongue
B) Visual acuity
C) Sense of smell
D) Hearing and equilibrium - ANSWER-D) Hearing and equilibrium
. A patient exhibiting an uncoordinated gait has presented at the clinic. Which of the following is
the most plausible cause of this patient's health problems?
A) Cerebellar dysfunction
B) A lesion in the pons
C) Dysfunction of the medulla
D) A hemorrhage in the midbrain - ANSWER-A
The nursing students are learning how to assess function of cranial nerve VIII. To assess the
function of cranial nerve VIII the students would be correct in completing which of the following
assessment techniques?
, A) Have the patient identify familiar odors with the eyes closed
B) Assess papillary reflex.
C) Utilize the Snellen chart.
D) Test for air and bone conduction (Rinne test). - ANSWER-D
A patient is being given a medication that stimulates her parasympathetic system. Following
administration of this medication, the nurse should anticipate what effect?
A) Constricted pupils
B) Dilated bronchioles
C) Decreased peristaltic movement
D) Relaxed muscular walls of the urinary bladder - ANSWER-A) Constricted pupils
A patient is having a "fight or flight response" after receiving news about his prognosis. What
affect will this have on the patient's sympathetic nervous system?
A) Constriction of blood vessels in the heart muscle
B) Constriction of bronchioles
C) Increase in the secretion of sweat
D) Constriction of pupils - ANSWER-C
The nurse is planning the care of a patient with Parkinson's Disease The nurse should be aware
that treatment will focus on what pathophysiological phenomenon?
A) Premature degradation of acetylcholine
B) Decreased availability of dopamine
C) Insufficient synthesis of epinephrine
D) Delayed reuptake of serotonin - ANSWER-B) Decreased availability of dopamine
QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE ANSWERS
1. A patient is brought to the ER following a motor vehicle accident in which he sustained head
trauma. Preliminary assessment reveals a vision deficit in the patient's left eye. The nurse
should associate this abnormal finding with trauma to which of the following cerebral lobes?
A) Temporal
B) Occipital
C) Parietal
D) Frontal - ANSWER-B) Occipital
.A patient scheduled for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the radiology department. The
nurse who prepares the patient for the MRI should prioritize which of the following actions?
A) Withholding stimulants 24 to 48 hours prior to exam
B) Removing all metal-containing objects
C) Instructing the patient to void prior to the MRI
D) Initiating an IV line for administration of contrast - ANSWER-B) Removing all metal-
containing objects
A gerontologic nurse planning the neurologic assessment of an older adult is considering
normal, age-related changes. Of what phenomenon should the nurse be aware?
A) Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes
B) Reduction in cerebral blood flow
C) Increased cerebral metabolism
D) Hypersensitivity to painful stimuli - ANSWER-B) Reduction in cerebral blood flow
The nurse has admitted a new patient to the unit. One of the patient's admitting orders is for an
adrenergic medication. The nurse knows that this medication will have what effect on the
circulatory system?
,A) Thin, watery saliva
B) Increased heart rate
C) Decreased BP
D) Constricted bronchioles - ANSWER-B) Increased heart rate
A nurse is assessing reflexes in a patient with hyperactive reflexes. When the patient's foot is
abruptly dorsiflexed, it continues to "beat" two times before settling into a resting position. How
would the nurse document this finding?
A) Rigidity
B) Flaccidity
C) Clonus
D) Ataxia - ANSWER-C) Clonus
he nurse is doing an initial assessment on a patient newly admitted to the unit with a diagnosis
of cerebrovascular accident (CVA). The patient has difficulty copying a figure that the nurse has
drawn and is diagnosed with visual-receptive aphasia. What brain region is primarily involved in
this deficit?
A) Temporal lobe
B) Parietal-occipital area
C) Inferior posterior frontal areas
D) Posterior frontal area - ANSWER-B) Parietal-occipital area
The nurse is admitting a patient to the unit who is diagnosed with lower motor neuron lesion.
What entry in the patient's electronic record is most consistent with this diagnosis?
A) "Patient exhibits increased muscle tone."
B) "Patient demonstrates normal muscle structure with no evidence of atrophy."
C) "Patient demonstrates hyperactive deep tendon reflexes."
,D) "Patient demonstrates an absence of deep tendon reflexes." - ANSWER-D) "Patient
demonstrates an absence of deep tendon reflexes."
8. An elderly patient is being discharged home. The patient lives alone and has atrophy of his
olfactory organs. The nurse tells the patient's family its essential that the patient have what
installed in the home?
A) Grab bars
B) Nonslip mats
C) Baseboard heaters
D) A smoke detector - ANSWER-D) A smoke detector
A nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with Ménière's disease. While completing a neurologic
examination on the patient, the nurse assesses cranial nerve VIII. The nurse would be correct in
identifying the function of this nerve as what?
A) Movement of the tongue
B) Visual acuity
C) Sense of smell
D) Hearing and equilibrium - ANSWER-D) Hearing and equilibrium
. A patient exhibiting an uncoordinated gait has presented at the clinic. Which of the following is
the most plausible cause of this patient's health problems?
A) Cerebellar dysfunction
B) A lesion in the pons
C) Dysfunction of the medulla
D) A hemorrhage in the midbrain - ANSWER-A
The nursing students are learning how to assess function of cranial nerve VIII. To assess the
function of cranial nerve VIII the students would be correct in completing which of the following
assessment techniques?
, A) Have the patient identify familiar odors with the eyes closed
B) Assess papillary reflex.
C) Utilize the Snellen chart.
D) Test for air and bone conduction (Rinne test). - ANSWER-D
A patient is being given a medication that stimulates her parasympathetic system. Following
administration of this medication, the nurse should anticipate what effect?
A) Constricted pupils
B) Dilated bronchioles
C) Decreased peristaltic movement
D) Relaxed muscular walls of the urinary bladder - ANSWER-A) Constricted pupils
A patient is having a "fight or flight response" after receiving news about his prognosis. What
affect will this have on the patient's sympathetic nervous system?
A) Constriction of blood vessels in the heart muscle
B) Constriction of bronchioles
C) Increase in the secretion of sweat
D) Constriction of pupils - ANSWER-C
The nurse is planning the care of a patient with Parkinson's Disease The nurse should be aware
that treatment will focus on what pathophysiological phenomenon?
A) Premature degradation of acetylcholine
B) Decreased availability of dopamine
C) Insufficient synthesis of epinephrine
D) Delayed reuptake of serotonin - ANSWER-B) Decreased availability of dopamine
