NCLEX>STROKE ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS WITH DEEP EXPLANATIONS 2025 LATEST VERSION
GRADED A+ WITH MOST TESTED QUESTIONS
The nurse is caring for a patient with a history of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) and moderate
carotid stenosis who has undergone a carotid endarterectomy. Which of the following
postoperative findings would cause the nurse the most concern?
a) Blood pressure (BP): 128/86 mm Hg
b) Neck pain: 3/10 (0 to 10 pain scale)
c) Mild neck edema
d) Difficulty swallowing - ANSWER****Difficulty swallowing
The patient's inability to swallow without difficulty would cause the nurse the most concern.
Difficulty in swallowing, hoarseness or other signs of cranial nerve dysfunction must be
assessed. The nurse focuses on assessment of the following cranial nerves: facial (VII), vagus (X),
spinal accessory (XI), and hypoglossal (XII). Some edema in the neck after surgery is expected;
however, extensive edema and hematoma formation can obstruct the airway. Emergency airway
supplies, including those needed for a tracheostomy, must be available. The patient's neck pain
and mild BP elevation need addressing but would not cause the nurse the most concern.
Hypotension is avoided to prevent cerebral ischemia and thrombosis. Uncontrolled
hypertension may precipitate cerebral hemorrhage, edema, hemorrhage at the surgical incision,
or disruption of the arterial reconstruction.
An emergency department nurse is interviewing a client with signs of an ischemic stroke that
began 2 hours ago. The client reports that she had a cholecystectomy 6 weeks ago and is taking
digoxin, coumadin, and labetelol. This client is not eligible for thrombolytic therapy for which of
the following reasons?
a) She is not within the treatment time window.
b) She had surgery 6 weeks ago.
c) She is taking digoxin.
d) She is taking coumadin. - ANSWER****She is taking coumadin.
,To be eligible for thrombolytic therapy, the client cannot be taking coumadin. Initiation of
thrombolytic therapy must be within 3 hours in clients with ischemic stroke. The client is not
eligible for thrombolytic therapy if she has had surgery within 14 days. Digoxin and labetelol do
not prohibit thrombolytic therapy.
Which disturbance results in loss of half of the visual field?
a) Anisocoria
b) Homonymous hemianopsia
c) Nystagmus
d) Diplopia - ANSWER****Homonymous hemianopsia
Homonymous hemianopsia (loss of half of the visual field) may occur from stroke and may be
temporary or permanent. Double vision is documented as diplopia. Nystagmus is ocular
bobbing and may be seen in multiple sclerosis. Anisocoria is unequal pupils.
A client with a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is having difficulty with eating food on the plate.
Which is the best nursing action to be taken?
a) Reposition the tray and plate.
b) Perform a vision field assessment.
c) Know this is a normal finding for CVA.
d) Assist the client with feeding. - ANSWER****Perform a vision field assessment.
The nurse should perform a vision field assessment to evaluate the client forhemianopia. This
finding could indicate damage to the visual area of the brain as a result of evolving CVA.
Repositioning the tray and assisting with feeding would not be the best nursing action until new
finding has been evaluated. Hemianopia can be associated with a CVA but, when presenting as a
new finding, should be evaluated and reported immediately. (less)
A client is hospitalized when they present to the Emergency Department with right-sided
weakness. Within 6 hours of being admitted, the neurologic deficits had resolved and the client
,was back to their presymptomatic state. The nurse caring for the client knows that the probable
cause of the neurologic deficit was what?
a) Cerebral aneurysm
b) Transient ischemic attack
c) Left-sided stroke
d) Right-sided stroke - ANSWER****Transient ischemic attack
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a sudden, brief attack of neurologic impairment caused by a
temporary interruption in cerebral blood flow. Symptoms may disappear within 1 hour; some
continue for as long as 1 day. When the symptoms terminate, the client resumes his or her
presymptomatic state. The symptoms do not describe a left- or right-sided stroke or a cerebral
aneurysm.
Which of the following terms refer to the failure to recognize familiar objects perceived by the
senses?
a) Agnosia
b) Perseveration
c) Apraxia
d) Agraphia - ANSWER****Agnosia
Auditory agnosia is failure to recognize significance of sounds. Agraphia refers to disturbances in
writing intelligible words. Apraxia refers to inability to perform previously learned purposeful
motor acts on a voluntary basis. Perseveration is the continued and automatic repetition of an
activity, word, or phrase that is no longer appropriate.
During a class on stroke, a junior nursing student asks what the clinical manifestations of stroke
are. What would be the instructor's best ANSWER?
a) "Clinical manifestations of a stroke depend on the area of the cortex, the affected
hemisphere, the degree of blockage, and the availability of collateral circulation."
b) "Clinical manifestations of a stroke generally include aphasia, one-sided flaccidity, and
trouble swallowing."
, c) "Clinical manifestations of a stroke depend on how quickly the clot can be dissolved."
d) "Clinical manifestations of a stroke are highly variable, depending on the cardiovascular
health of the client." - ANSWER****"Clinical manifestations of a stroke depend on the area of
the cortex, the affected hemisphere, the degree of blockage, and the availability of collateral
circulation."
Clinical manifestations following a stroke are highly variable and depend on the area of the
cerebral cortex and the affected hemisphere, the degree of blockage (total, partial), and the
presence or absence of adequate collateral circulation. (Collateral circulation is circulation
formed by smaller blood vessels branching off from or near larger occluded vessels.) Clinical
manifestations of a stroke do not depend on the cardiovascular health of the client or how
quickly the clot can be dissolved. Clinical manifestations of a stroke are not "general" but
individual.
When communicating with a client who has sensory (receptive) aphasia, the nurse should:
a) speak loudly and articulate clearly.
b) allow time for the client to respond.
c) give the client a writing pad.
d) use short, simple sentences. - ANSWER****use short, simple sentences.
Although sensory aphasia allows the client to hear words, it impairs the ability to comprehend
their meaning. The nurse should use short, simple sentences to promote comprehension.
Allowing time for the client to respond might be helpful but is less important than simplifying
the communication. Because the client's hearing isn't affected, speaking loudly isn't necessary.
A writing pad is helpful for clients with expressive, not receptive, aphasia.
The nurse is providing information about strokes to a community group. Which of the following
would the nurse identify as the primary initial symptoms of an ischemic stroke?
a) Footdrop and external hip rotation
b) Vomiting and seizures
c) Severe headache and early change in level of consciousness
ANSWERS WITH DEEP EXPLANATIONS 2025 LATEST VERSION
GRADED A+ WITH MOST TESTED QUESTIONS
The nurse is caring for a patient with a history of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) and moderate
carotid stenosis who has undergone a carotid endarterectomy. Which of the following
postoperative findings would cause the nurse the most concern?
a) Blood pressure (BP): 128/86 mm Hg
b) Neck pain: 3/10 (0 to 10 pain scale)
c) Mild neck edema
d) Difficulty swallowing - ANSWER****Difficulty swallowing
The patient's inability to swallow without difficulty would cause the nurse the most concern.
Difficulty in swallowing, hoarseness or other signs of cranial nerve dysfunction must be
assessed. The nurse focuses on assessment of the following cranial nerves: facial (VII), vagus (X),
spinal accessory (XI), and hypoglossal (XII). Some edema in the neck after surgery is expected;
however, extensive edema and hematoma formation can obstruct the airway. Emergency airway
supplies, including those needed for a tracheostomy, must be available. The patient's neck pain
and mild BP elevation need addressing but would not cause the nurse the most concern.
Hypotension is avoided to prevent cerebral ischemia and thrombosis. Uncontrolled
hypertension may precipitate cerebral hemorrhage, edema, hemorrhage at the surgical incision,
or disruption of the arterial reconstruction.
An emergency department nurse is interviewing a client with signs of an ischemic stroke that
began 2 hours ago. The client reports that she had a cholecystectomy 6 weeks ago and is taking
digoxin, coumadin, and labetelol. This client is not eligible for thrombolytic therapy for which of
the following reasons?
a) She is not within the treatment time window.
b) She had surgery 6 weeks ago.
c) She is taking digoxin.
d) She is taking coumadin. - ANSWER****She is taking coumadin.
,To be eligible for thrombolytic therapy, the client cannot be taking coumadin. Initiation of
thrombolytic therapy must be within 3 hours in clients with ischemic stroke. The client is not
eligible for thrombolytic therapy if she has had surgery within 14 days. Digoxin and labetelol do
not prohibit thrombolytic therapy.
Which disturbance results in loss of half of the visual field?
a) Anisocoria
b) Homonymous hemianopsia
c) Nystagmus
d) Diplopia - ANSWER****Homonymous hemianopsia
Homonymous hemianopsia (loss of half of the visual field) may occur from stroke and may be
temporary or permanent. Double vision is documented as diplopia. Nystagmus is ocular
bobbing and may be seen in multiple sclerosis. Anisocoria is unequal pupils.
A client with a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is having difficulty with eating food on the plate.
Which is the best nursing action to be taken?
a) Reposition the tray and plate.
b) Perform a vision field assessment.
c) Know this is a normal finding for CVA.
d) Assist the client with feeding. - ANSWER****Perform a vision field assessment.
The nurse should perform a vision field assessment to evaluate the client forhemianopia. This
finding could indicate damage to the visual area of the brain as a result of evolving CVA.
Repositioning the tray and assisting with feeding would not be the best nursing action until new
finding has been evaluated. Hemianopia can be associated with a CVA but, when presenting as a
new finding, should be evaluated and reported immediately. (less)
A client is hospitalized when they present to the Emergency Department with right-sided
weakness. Within 6 hours of being admitted, the neurologic deficits had resolved and the client
,was back to their presymptomatic state. The nurse caring for the client knows that the probable
cause of the neurologic deficit was what?
a) Cerebral aneurysm
b) Transient ischemic attack
c) Left-sided stroke
d) Right-sided stroke - ANSWER****Transient ischemic attack
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a sudden, brief attack of neurologic impairment caused by a
temporary interruption in cerebral blood flow. Symptoms may disappear within 1 hour; some
continue for as long as 1 day. When the symptoms terminate, the client resumes his or her
presymptomatic state. The symptoms do not describe a left- or right-sided stroke or a cerebral
aneurysm.
Which of the following terms refer to the failure to recognize familiar objects perceived by the
senses?
a) Agnosia
b) Perseveration
c) Apraxia
d) Agraphia - ANSWER****Agnosia
Auditory agnosia is failure to recognize significance of sounds. Agraphia refers to disturbances in
writing intelligible words. Apraxia refers to inability to perform previously learned purposeful
motor acts on a voluntary basis. Perseveration is the continued and automatic repetition of an
activity, word, or phrase that is no longer appropriate.
During a class on stroke, a junior nursing student asks what the clinical manifestations of stroke
are. What would be the instructor's best ANSWER?
a) "Clinical manifestations of a stroke depend on the area of the cortex, the affected
hemisphere, the degree of blockage, and the availability of collateral circulation."
b) "Clinical manifestations of a stroke generally include aphasia, one-sided flaccidity, and
trouble swallowing."
, c) "Clinical manifestations of a stroke depend on how quickly the clot can be dissolved."
d) "Clinical manifestations of a stroke are highly variable, depending on the cardiovascular
health of the client." - ANSWER****"Clinical manifestations of a stroke depend on the area of
the cortex, the affected hemisphere, the degree of blockage, and the availability of collateral
circulation."
Clinical manifestations following a stroke are highly variable and depend on the area of the
cerebral cortex and the affected hemisphere, the degree of blockage (total, partial), and the
presence or absence of adequate collateral circulation. (Collateral circulation is circulation
formed by smaller blood vessels branching off from or near larger occluded vessels.) Clinical
manifestations of a stroke do not depend on the cardiovascular health of the client or how
quickly the clot can be dissolved. Clinical manifestations of a stroke are not "general" but
individual.
When communicating with a client who has sensory (receptive) aphasia, the nurse should:
a) speak loudly and articulate clearly.
b) allow time for the client to respond.
c) give the client a writing pad.
d) use short, simple sentences. - ANSWER****use short, simple sentences.
Although sensory aphasia allows the client to hear words, it impairs the ability to comprehend
their meaning. The nurse should use short, simple sentences to promote comprehension.
Allowing time for the client to respond might be helpful but is less important than simplifying
the communication. Because the client's hearing isn't affected, speaking loudly isn't necessary.
A writing pad is helpful for clients with expressive, not receptive, aphasia.
The nurse is providing information about strokes to a community group. Which of the following
would the nurse identify as the primary initial symptoms of an ischemic stroke?
a) Footdrop and external hip rotation
b) Vomiting and seizures
c) Severe headache and early change in level of consciousness
