NURS 1014 Health Assessment:
Neurological Assessment
what are the four concepts of the neurological assessment - 1. cognition
2. sensory perception
3. mobility
4. pain
is the neurologic system completely developed at birth - no
is the neurological system the first system that develops in utero - yes
where is motor activity of the spine controlled in - the medulla
are neurons fully myelinated in an infant - no
what do movements occur primarily by in infants - by primitive reflexes (sucking: being
able to feed)
what proceeds as myelin is developed - sensory and motor development
what order does the process of myelination follow - a cephalocaudal (head to toe) and
promixodistal order
what order should babies be able to do things - hold head up, use their shoulders, able
to sit up, then being able to crawl. this is because myelination moves from head to toe
is sensation well developed in infants - no
what does the velocity of nerve conduction decrease by in the aging adult - 5-10%. they
have a slowed reaction time, making things like driving unsafe
what sensations 5 diminish in the aging adult - 1. hearing
2. taste
3. touch
4. smell
5. appetite (cannot smell if food has gone bad so more food poisoning)
what are older adults for prone to because of their decreased sense of touch - hot
surfaces. may end up with burns
what three other things decrease in the aging adult - 1. muscle strength
2. bulk
3. tone
, 4. fine coordination and agility
what does the progressive decrease in cerebral blood flow and oxygen cause in the
aging adult - it causes them to get dizzy much easier, leading to falls
are neurons lost in the brain and spinal cord as a person ages - yes
tremors are considered _________, but a slight tremor in the hands, head, and jaw can
be considered normal to a degree - abnormal
what are the first three subjective data questions of the neurological assessment - 1.
headaches/pain?
2. head injury? did LOC decrease then a head injury or reverse
3. dizziness and vertigo?
what is the medical term for fainting - syncope
what may dizziness lead to - fainting
what is vertigo the sensation of - spinning. it is different from dizziness
what is subjective vertigo - the client feels as if they are spinning
what is objective vertigo - client gets the spins, the room is spinning
what are the (4 and 5) subjective questions of the neurological assessment - 4. any
seizures?
5. tremors and weakness?
what is the aura of a seizure - it is a subjective sensation that some people experience
prior to a seizure. may be smelling "burnt toast" before a seizure. it can also be auditory,
visual, or motor. it can prevent a lot of injury
what are associated signs of a seizure - cyanotic lips and incontinence during or after
seizure
people will say they feel ________ after a seizure - tired and confused. may have
muscle aches
what are two precipitating factors of a seizure - 1. stress
2. not getting sleep
you must be seizure free for _________ before being allowed to drive again - 6 months
what is paresis - partial weakness
Neurological Assessment
what are the four concepts of the neurological assessment - 1. cognition
2. sensory perception
3. mobility
4. pain
is the neurologic system completely developed at birth - no
is the neurological system the first system that develops in utero - yes
where is motor activity of the spine controlled in - the medulla
are neurons fully myelinated in an infant - no
what do movements occur primarily by in infants - by primitive reflexes (sucking: being
able to feed)
what proceeds as myelin is developed - sensory and motor development
what order does the process of myelination follow - a cephalocaudal (head to toe) and
promixodistal order
what order should babies be able to do things - hold head up, use their shoulders, able
to sit up, then being able to crawl. this is because myelination moves from head to toe
is sensation well developed in infants - no
what does the velocity of nerve conduction decrease by in the aging adult - 5-10%. they
have a slowed reaction time, making things like driving unsafe
what sensations 5 diminish in the aging adult - 1. hearing
2. taste
3. touch
4. smell
5. appetite (cannot smell if food has gone bad so more food poisoning)
what are older adults for prone to because of their decreased sense of touch - hot
surfaces. may end up with burns
what three other things decrease in the aging adult - 1. muscle strength
2. bulk
3. tone
, 4. fine coordination and agility
what does the progressive decrease in cerebral blood flow and oxygen cause in the
aging adult - it causes them to get dizzy much easier, leading to falls
are neurons lost in the brain and spinal cord as a person ages - yes
tremors are considered _________, but a slight tremor in the hands, head, and jaw can
be considered normal to a degree - abnormal
what are the first three subjective data questions of the neurological assessment - 1.
headaches/pain?
2. head injury? did LOC decrease then a head injury or reverse
3. dizziness and vertigo?
what is the medical term for fainting - syncope
what may dizziness lead to - fainting
what is vertigo the sensation of - spinning. it is different from dizziness
what is subjective vertigo - the client feels as if they are spinning
what is objective vertigo - client gets the spins, the room is spinning
what are the (4 and 5) subjective questions of the neurological assessment - 4. any
seizures?
5. tremors and weakness?
what is the aura of a seizure - it is a subjective sensation that some people experience
prior to a seizure. may be smelling "burnt toast" before a seizure. it can also be auditory,
visual, or motor. it can prevent a lot of injury
what are associated signs of a seizure - cyanotic lips and incontinence during or after
seizure
people will say they feel ________ after a seizure - tired and confused. may have
muscle aches
what are two precipitating factors of a seizure - 1. stress
2. not getting sleep
you must be seizure free for _________ before being allowed to drive again - 6 months
what is paresis - partial weakness
