NWCA MEDICAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SET A+
✔✔The Cerebellum - ✔✔A small area located at the lower back of the brain that
coordinates brain activities so that they work together in actions such as balance and
posture, ambulation, and other motor skills, such as eating, typing, dressing, riding a
bicycle, etc.
✔✔Brain Stem - ✔✔Located at the base of the brain and connects to the spinal cord
and is formed by the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. It is responsible for the
regulation of the body's vital functions such as heart rate and respiration rate
✔✔Neurological Exam Procedures - ✔✔Interviewing the patient before the physician's
evaluation as well as recording observations or change in behavior. Focus on what the
patient is saying, but how he or she is saying it. Look for attention, fidgeting, eye
contact, nervousness, frustration in understanding or finding the right words to answer
the question, and length of time it takes for
the patient to respond
✔✔Glasgow Coma Scale - ✔✔A standardized system to assess brain activity, level of
consciousness, and brain damage
✔✔three responses - ✔✔eye response, verbal response, or motor response.
✔✔Lumbar Puncture - ✔✔Since this is an invasive procedure, an informed consent
form must be completed with the physician. Verify that this form is signed by the patient
and is in the patient's chart.
Ask the patient to empty his or her bowel and bladder. Provide assistance if needed.
Take the patient's vital signs and record in the patient's chart.
Wash your hands, put on sterile gloves, and set up the procedure tray using sterile
technique. Typically, facilities use prepackaged lumbar puncture sets with most of the
equipment packaged together.
,Use lodine (typically in the lumbar puncture Kit) to disinfect the puncture site at L3 and
L4. This is the area of the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae.
Assist the patient in lying down on his or her left side and instruct the patient to curl up
into the fetal position. Provide drapes appropriately.
Assist the physician as instructed. You may be asked to swab the patient with
antiseptic, place the drape, and assist in aspirating the xylocaine.
This is a painful procedure. Support the patient as needed. You may also need to
support the patient in maintaining the fetal position. Movement during the procedure can
be dangerous. Remind the patient to breathe evenly and to not talk. The physician may
ask the patient to straighten his or her legs during the pressure reading portion of the
procedure. Provide assistance as necessary.
Place a gauze pad with firm pressure over the puncture site to absorb any bleeding.
Tighten the sample tubes of CSF, fill out the lab requisition orders accurately, and label
the samples. Follow the office protocol for transporting the specimens to the lab.
Move the patient to the recovery area and again review the postoperative instructions.
✔✔Preparing a Patient for an EEG - ✔✔Instruct the patient to remain absolutely
motionless during the baseline reading. They should not move any part of their body
including the tongue and eyelids.
Connect the electrodes to the patient's scalp with adhesive tape as directed by the
physician.
Support the patient during the test. Flickering lights will be shown to the patient to
initiate electrical impulses.
Remove the electrodes and help patient to a sitting position. Make sure the patient is
not dizzy before standing.
✔✔cerebrovascular accident (CVA) - ✔✔disruption in the normal blood supply to the
brain; stroke
✔✔Transient Ischemic Attack - ✔✔temporary interruption in the blood supply to the
brain
✔✔Epilepsy - ✔✔chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizure activity
✔✔Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - ✔✔degenerative disorder of motor neurons in the
spinal cord and brainstem
, ✔✔Parkinson's disease - ✔✔A disorder of the central nervous system that affects
movement, often including tremors.
✔✔Multiple Sclerosis - ✔✔A chronic disease of the central nervous system marked by
damage to the myelin sheath. Plaques occur in the brain and spinal cord causing
tremor, weakness, incoordination, paresthesia, and disturbances in vision and speech
✔✔Headache - ✔✔pain in the head
✔✔Encephalitis - ✔✔inflammation of the brain usually caused by a virus
✔✔Brain Abscess - ✔✔a collection of pus localized in an area of the brain.
✔✔Meningitis - ✔✔Inflammation of the meninges that cover the brain and spinal cord. It
is caused by bacterial or viral infection. Symptoms include headache, dizziness, vision
problems, motor problems, and fever. Treatment includes antibiotics or antiviral drug
therapy.
✔✔Brain Tumor - ✔✔intracranial mass, either benign or malignant
✔✔Head Trauma: Hematomas - ✔✔Collections of blood that form above or between the
meninges.
✔✔Extradural Hematoma - ✔✔An epidural or extradural hematoma is above the dura
mater, just under the cranial bone.
✔✔Subdural Hematoma - ✔✔A subdural hematoma lies under the dura mater and
above the arachnoid meninges.
✔✔Head Trauma: Concussion/Contusion - ✔✔Indirect brain injuries
✔✔Concussion - ✔✔Caused by a blow to the head or an injury caused by very fast
acceleration or deceleration, such as in a car accident. The force is transferred through
the skull and then to the brain. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, temporary loss
of consciousness, and temporary amnesia. Most people fully recover.
✔✔Contusion - ✔✔A brain bruise caused by rupture of the blood vessels. Hematomas
can form. Symptoms include loss of consciousness, headache, and change in vital
signs. The blood in the brain can damage brain cells. It is important to monitor vital
signs and perform life-supporting procedures as necessary. In most cases, a surgeon
will attempt to remove the clots in the brain formed from the blood.
✔✔Paraplegia - ✔✔paralysis of the lower half of the body
✔✔The Cerebellum - ✔✔A small area located at the lower back of the brain that
coordinates brain activities so that they work together in actions such as balance and
posture, ambulation, and other motor skills, such as eating, typing, dressing, riding a
bicycle, etc.
✔✔Brain Stem - ✔✔Located at the base of the brain and connects to the spinal cord
and is formed by the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. It is responsible for the
regulation of the body's vital functions such as heart rate and respiration rate
✔✔Neurological Exam Procedures - ✔✔Interviewing the patient before the physician's
evaluation as well as recording observations or change in behavior. Focus on what the
patient is saying, but how he or she is saying it. Look for attention, fidgeting, eye
contact, nervousness, frustration in understanding or finding the right words to answer
the question, and length of time it takes for
the patient to respond
✔✔Glasgow Coma Scale - ✔✔A standardized system to assess brain activity, level of
consciousness, and brain damage
✔✔three responses - ✔✔eye response, verbal response, or motor response.
✔✔Lumbar Puncture - ✔✔Since this is an invasive procedure, an informed consent
form must be completed with the physician. Verify that this form is signed by the patient
and is in the patient's chart.
Ask the patient to empty his or her bowel and bladder. Provide assistance if needed.
Take the patient's vital signs and record in the patient's chart.
Wash your hands, put on sterile gloves, and set up the procedure tray using sterile
technique. Typically, facilities use prepackaged lumbar puncture sets with most of the
equipment packaged together.
,Use lodine (typically in the lumbar puncture Kit) to disinfect the puncture site at L3 and
L4. This is the area of the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae.
Assist the patient in lying down on his or her left side and instruct the patient to curl up
into the fetal position. Provide drapes appropriately.
Assist the physician as instructed. You may be asked to swab the patient with
antiseptic, place the drape, and assist in aspirating the xylocaine.
This is a painful procedure. Support the patient as needed. You may also need to
support the patient in maintaining the fetal position. Movement during the procedure can
be dangerous. Remind the patient to breathe evenly and to not talk. The physician may
ask the patient to straighten his or her legs during the pressure reading portion of the
procedure. Provide assistance as necessary.
Place a gauze pad with firm pressure over the puncture site to absorb any bleeding.
Tighten the sample tubes of CSF, fill out the lab requisition orders accurately, and label
the samples. Follow the office protocol for transporting the specimens to the lab.
Move the patient to the recovery area and again review the postoperative instructions.
✔✔Preparing a Patient for an EEG - ✔✔Instruct the patient to remain absolutely
motionless during the baseline reading. They should not move any part of their body
including the tongue and eyelids.
Connect the electrodes to the patient's scalp with adhesive tape as directed by the
physician.
Support the patient during the test. Flickering lights will be shown to the patient to
initiate electrical impulses.
Remove the electrodes and help patient to a sitting position. Make sure the patient is
not dizzy before standing.
✔✔cerebrovascular accident (CVA) - ✔✔disruption in the normal blood supply to the
brain; stroke
✔✔Transient Ischemic Attack - ✔✔temporary interruption in the blood supply to the
brain
✔✔Epilepsy - ✔✔chronic brain disorder characterized by recurrent seizure activity
✔✔Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - ✔✔degenerative disorder of motor neurons in the
spinal cord and brainstem
, ✔✔Parkinson's disease - ✔✔A disorder of the central nervous system that affects
movement, often including tremors.
✔✔Multiple Sclerosis - ✔✔A chronic disease of the central nervous system marked by
damage to the myelin sheath. Plaques occur in the brain and spinal cord causing
tremor, weakness, incoordination, paresthesia, and disturbances in vision and speech
✔✔Headache - ✔✔pain in the head
✔✔Encephalitis - ✔✔inflammation of the brain usually caused by a virus
✔✔Brain Abscess - ✔✔a collection of pus localized in an area of the brain.
✔✔Meningitis - ✔✔Inflammation of the meninges that cover the brain and spinal cord. It
is caused by bacterial or viral infection. Symptoms include headache, dizziness, vision
problems, motor problems, and fever. Treatment includes antibiotics or antiviral drug
therapy.
✔✔Brain Tumor - ✔✔intracranial mass, either benign or malignant
✔✔Head Trauma: Hematomas - ✔✔Collections of blood that form above or between the
meninges.
✔✔Extradural Hematoma - ✔✔An epidural or extradural hematoma is above the dura
mater, just under the cranial bone.
✔✔Subdural Hematoma - ✔✔A subdural hematoma lies under the dura mater and
above the arachnoid meninges.
✔✔Head Trauma: Concussion/Contusion - ✔✔Indirect brain injuries
✔✔Concussion - ✔✔Caused by a blow to the head or an injury caused by very fast
acceleration or deceleration, such as in a car accident. The force is transferred through
the skull and then to the brain. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, temporary loss
of consciousness, and temporary amnesia. Most people fully recover.
✔✔Contusion - ✔✔A brain bruise caused by rupture of the blood vessels. Hematomas
can form. Symptoms include loss of consciousness, headache, and change in vital
signs. The blood in the brain can damage brain cells. It is important to monitor vital
signs and perform life-supporting procedures as necessary. In most cases, a surgeon
will attempt to remove the clots in the brain formed from the blood.
✔✔Paraplegia - ✔✔paralysis of the lower half of the body
