CARE OF CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS WITH
NEUROLOGIC PROBLEMS EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Which statement about transient ischemic attacks is accurate? - ANSWER - TIA increases the risk of
stroke
The nurse is preparing to discharge a patient with TIA attacks. What treatment areas does the nurse
include in discharge teaching? - ANSWER - -Reduction of high BP
-Drug teaching for aspirin or another anti platelet drug
-Controlling diabetes
-Increased risk for stroke
Which symptoms indicate that a patient's stroke has affected the right hemisphere? - ANSWER - -Loss of
depth perception
-Denies illness
-Cannot recognize faces
-Loss of hearing
The nurse is performing a neurologic assessment on a patient with a suspected stroke. In addition to the
level of consciousness, what is assessed to evaluate cognitive changes that may be occurring? - ANSWER
- -Denial of illness
-Proprioceptive dysfunction
-Impairment of memory
-Decreased ability to concentrate
Following a left hemisphere stroke, the patient has expressive (Boca’s) aphasia. Which intervention is
best to use when communicating with this patient? - ANSWER - Develop a picture board that has objects
and activities
, The nurse is caring for a patient with right hemisphere damage. The patient demonstrates disorientation
to time and place, he has poor depth perception, and demonstrates neglect of the left visual field.
Which task is best delegated to the UAP? - ANSWER - Ensure a safe environment by removing clutter
A patient with a right cerebral hemisphere stroke may have safety issues related to which factor? -
ANSWER - Poor impulse control
A stroke patient is at risk for increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and is receiving oxygen 2 L via nasal
cannula. The nurse is reviewing arterial blood gas (ABG) results. Which ABG value is of greatest concern
for this patient? - ANSWER - PaCO2 of 60 mm Hg
Which statement is true about motor changes in a patient who has had a stroke? - ANSWER - Motor
deficit is contralateral to the hemisphere affected
The preferred administration time for recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tap) is within how long
of stroke symptom onset? - ANSWER - 3 to 4.5 hours
A priority problem for a patient who was admitted for a brain attack is the potential for aspiration.
Which intervention is best to delegate to the UAP? - ANSWER - Elevate HOB as appropriate and slowly
feed small spoonful’s of pudding, passing between each spoonful
A patient is diagnosed with an ischemic stroke. The UAP reports that the patient's vital signs are BP
150/100 mm Hg, pulse 78 beats/min, respiratory rate of 20/min, and temperature of 98.7. The patient's
BP is normally around 120/80. What action does the nurse take first? - ANSWER - Check the physician's
orders to see if the BP is within the acceptable parameters
A patient with an ischemic stroke is placed on a cardiac monitor. Which cardiac dysrhythmia places the
patient at risk for emboli? - ANSWER - A-Fib
The nurse is caring for a patient receiving medication therapy to prevent recurrence of stroke. Which
medication is pharmacologically appropriate for this purpose? - ANSWER - Enteric-coated aspirin
(Escorting)
NEUROLOGIC PROBLEMS EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Which statement about transient ischemic attacks is accurate? - ANSWER - TIA increases the risk of
stroke
The nurse is preparing to discharge a patient with TIA attacks. What treatment areas does the nurse
include in discharge teaching? - ANSWER - -Reduction of high BP
-Drug teaching for aspirin or another anti platelet drug
-Controlling diabetes
-Increased risk for stroke
Which symptoms indicate that a patient's stroke has affected the right hemisphere? - ANSWER - -Loss of
depth perception
-Denies illness
-Cannot recognize faces
-Loss of hearing
The nurse is performing a neurologic assessment on a patient with a suspected stroke. In addition to the
level of consciousness, what is assessed to evaluate cognitive changes that may be occurring? - ANSWER
- -Denial of illness
-Proprioceptive dysfunction
-Impairment of memory
-Decreased ability to concentrate
Following a left hemisphere stroke, the patient has expressive (Boca’s) aphasia. Which intervention is
best to use when communicating with this patient? - ANSWER - Develop a picture board that has objects
and activities
, The nurse is caring for a patient with right hemisphere damage. The patient demonstrates disorientation
to time and place, he has poor depth perception, and demonstrates neglect of the left visual field.
Which task is best delegated to the UAP? - ANSWER - Ensure a safe environment by removing clutter
A patient with a right cerebral hemisphere stroke may have safety issues related to which factor? -
ANSWER - Poor impulse control
A stroke patient is at risk for increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and is receiving oxygen 2 L via nasal
cannula. The nurse is reviewing arterial blood gas (ABG) results. Which ABG value is of greatest concern
for this patient? - ANSWER - PaCO2 of 60 mm Hg
Which statement is true about motor changes in a patient who has had a stroke? - ANSWER - Motor
deficit is contralateral to the hemisphere affected
The preferred administration time for recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tap) is within how long
of stroke symptom onset? - ANSWER - 3 to 4.5 hours
A priority problem for a patient who was admitted for a brain attack is the potential for aspiration.
Which intervention is best to delegate to the UAP? - ANSWER - Elevate HOB as appropriate and slowly
feed small spoonful’s of pudding, passing between each spoonful
A patient is diagnosed with an ischemic stroke. The UAP reports that the patient's vital signs are BP
150/100 mm Hg, pulse 78 beats/min, respiratory rate of 20/min, and temperature of 98.7. The patient's
BP is normally around 120/80. What action does the nurse take first? - ANSWER - Check the physician's
orders to see if the BP is within the acceptable parameters
A patient with an ischemic stroke is placed on a cardiac monitor. Which cardiac dysrhythmia places the
patient at risk for emboli? - ANSWER - A-Fib
The nurse is caring for a patient receiving medication therapy to prevent recurrence of stroke. Which
medication is pharmacologically appropriate for this purpose? - ANSWER - Enteric-coated aspirin
(Escorting)
