NEURO TEST BANK – NEUROLOGY & NEUROSCIENCE PRACTICE 200
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS | CLINICAL & ACADEMIC
REVIEW COVERING THE MOST RECENT TESTED QUESTIONS
THE NEURO TEST BANK COVERS CORE NEUROSCIENCE CONCEPTS AND
CLINICAL APPLICATIONS, FROM ANATOMY AND FUNCTION TO COMMON
PATHOLOGIES AND INTERVENTIONS. THESE QUESTIONS PREPARE STUDENTS
TO ASSESS, INTERPRET, AND RESPOND TO NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN
BOTH ACADEMIC AND HEALTHCARE SETTINGS.
When admitting an acutely confused 20-year-old patient with a head injury, which action should the
nurse take?
a. Ask family members about the patients health history.
b. Ask leading questions to assist in obtaining health data.
c. Wait until the patient is better oriented to ask questions.
d. Obtain only the physiologic neurologic assessment data. - CORRECT ANSWER-a. Ask family
members about the patients health history.
When admitting a patient who is likely to be a poor historian, the nurse should obtain health history
information from others who have knowledge about the patients health. Waiting until the patient is
oriented or obtaining only physiologic data will result in incomplete assessment data, which could
adversely affect decision making about treatment. Asking leading questions may result in inaccurate
or incomplete information.
An unconscious 39-year-old male patient is admitted to the emergency department (ED) with a head
injury. The patients spouse and teenage children stay at the patients side and ask many questions
about the treatment being given. What action is best for the nurse to take?
a. Ask the family to stay in the waiting room until the initial assessment is completed.
b. Allow the family to stay with the patient and briefly explain all procedures to them.
c. Refer the family members to the hospital counseling service to deal with their anxiety.
d. Call the familys pastor or spiritual advisor to take them to the chapel while care is given. -
CORRECT ANSWER-b. Allow the family to stay with the patient and briefly explain all
procedures to them.
,The need for information about the diagnosis and care is very high in family members of acutely ill
patients. The nurse should allow the family to observe care and explain the procedures unless they
interfere with emergent care needs. A pastor or counseling service can offer some support, but
research supports information as being more effective. Asking the family to stay in the waiting room
will increase their anxiety.
A 41-year-old patient who is unconscious has a nursing diagnosis of ineffective cerebral tissue
perfusion related to cerebral tissue swelling. Which nursing intervention will be included in the plan
of care?
a. Encourage coughing and deep breathing.
b. Position the patient with knees and hips flexed.
c. Keep the head of the bed elevated to 30 degrees.
d. Cluster nursing interventions to provide rest periods. - CORRECT ANSWER-c. Keep the head
of the bed elevated to 30 degrees.
The patient with increased intracranial pressure (ICP) should be maintained in the head-up position
to help reduce ICP. Extreme flexion of the hips and knees increases abdominal pressure, which
increases ICP. Because the stimulation associated with nursing interventions increases ICP, clustering
interventions will progressively elevate ICP.
A 20-year-old male patient is admitted with a head injury after a collision while playing football.
After noting that the patient has developed clear nasal drainage, which action should the nurse
take?
a. Have the patient gently blow the nose.
b. Check the drainage for glucose content.
c. Teach the patient that rhinorrhea is expected after a head injury.
d. Obtain a specimen of the fluid to send for culture and sensitivity. - CORRECT ANSWER-b.
Check the drainage for glucose content.
Clear nasal drainage in a patient with a head injury suggests a dural tear and cerebrospinal fluid
(CSF) leakage. If the drainage is CSF, it will test positive for glucose. Fluid leaking from the nose will
have normal nasal flora, so culture and sensitivity will not be useful. Blowing the nose is avoided to
prevent CSF leakage.
Which action will the emergency department nurse anticipate for a patient diagnosed with a
concussion who did not lose consciousness?
a. Coordinate the transfer of the patient to the operating room.
b. Provide discharge instructions about monitoring neurologic status.
c. Transport the patient to radiology for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
,d. Arrange to admit the patient to the neurologic unit for 24 hours of observation. - CORRECT
ANSWER-b. Provide discharge instructions about monitoring neurologic status.
A patient with a minor head trauma is usually discharged with instructions about neurologic
monitoring and the need to return if neurologic status deteriorates. MRI, hospital admission, or
surgery are not usually indicated in a patient with a concussion.
A 23-year-old patient who is suspected of having an epidural hematoma is admitted to the
emergency department. Which action will the nurse plan to take?
a. Administer IV furosemide (Lasix).
b. Prepare the patient for craniotomy.
c. Initiate high-dose barbiturate therapy.
d. Type and crossmatch for blood transfusion. - CORRECT ANSWER-b. Prepare the patient for
craniotomy.
The principal treatment for epidural hematoma is rapid surgery to remove the hematoma and
prevent herniation. If intracranial pressure (ICP) is elevated after surgery, furosemide or high-dose
barbiturate therapy may be needed, but these will not be of benefit unless the hematoma is
removed. Minimal blood loss occurs with head injuries, and transfusion is usually not necessary.
The nurse is admitting a patient with a basal skull fracture. The nurse notes ecchymoses around both
eyes and clear drainage from the patients nose. Which admission order should the nurse question?
a. Keep the head of bed elevated.
b. Insert nasogastric tube to low suction.
c. Turn patient side to side every 2 hours
d. Apply cold packs intermittently to face. - CORRECT ANSWER-b. Insert nasogastric tube to low
suction.
Rhinorrhea may indicate a dural tear with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. Insertion of a
nasogastric tube will increase the risk for infections such as meningitis. Turning the patient, elevating
the head, and applying cold packs are appropriate orders.
A college athlete is seen in the clinic 6 weeks after a concussion. Which assessment information will
the nurse collect to determine whether a patient is developing postconcussion syndrome?
a. Short-term memory
b. Muscle coordination
c. Glasgow Coma Scale
, d. Pupil reaction to light - CORRECT ANSWER-a. Short-term memory
Decreased short-term memory is one indication of postconcussion syndrome. The other data may be
assessed but are not indications of postconcussion syndrome.
The nurse admitting a patient who has a right frontal lobe tumor would expect the patient may have
a. expressive aphasia.
b. impaired judgment.
c. right-sided weakness.
d. difficulty swallowing. - CORRECT ANSWER-b. impaired judgment.
The frontal lobe controls intellectual activities such as judgment. Speech is controlled in the parietal
lobe. Weakness and hemiplegia occur on the contralateral side from the tumor. Swallowing is
controlled by the brainstem.
Which statement by a 40-year-old patient who is being discharged from the emergency department
(ED) after a concussion indicates a need for intervention by the nurse?
a. I will return if I feel dizzy or nauseated.
b. I am going to drive home and go to bed.
c. I do not even remember being in an accident.
d. I can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for my headache. - CORRECT ANSWER-b. I am going to
drive home and go to bed.
Following a head injury, the patient should avoid driving and operating heavy machinery. Retrograde
amnesia is common after a concussion. The patient can take acetaminophen for headache and
should return if symptoms of increased intracranial pressure such as dizziness or nausea occur.
After having a craniectomy and left anterior fossae incision, a 64-year-old patient has a nursing
diagnosis of impaired physical mobility related to decreased level of consciousness and weakness.
An appropriate nursing intervention is to
a. cluster nursing activities to allow longer rest periods.
b. turn and reposition the patient side to side every 2 hours.
c. position the bed flat and log roll to reposition the patient.
d. perform range-of-motion (ROM) exercises every 4 hours. - CORRECT ANSWER-d. perform
range-of-motion (ROM) exercises every 4 hours.
QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS | CLINICAL & ACADEMIC
REVIEW COVERING THE MOST RECENT TESTED QUESTIONS
THE NEURO TEST BANK COVERS CORE NEUROSCIENCE CONCEPTS AND
CLINICAL APPLICATIONS, FROM ANATOMY AND FUNCTION TO COMMON
PATHOLOGIES AND INTERVENTIONS. THESE QUESTIONS PREPARE STUDENTS
TO ASSESS, INTERPRET, AND RESPOND TO NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN
BOTH ACADEMIC AND HEALTHCARE SETTINGS.
When admitting an acutely confused 20-year-old patient with a head injury, which action should the
nurse take?
a. Ask family members about the patients health history.
b. Ask leading questions to assist in obtaining health data.
c. Wait until the patient is better oriented to ask questions.
d. Obtain only the physiologic neurologic assessment data. - CORRECT ANSWER-a. Ask family
members about the patients health history.
When admitting a patient who is likely to be a poor historian, the nurse should obtain health history
information from others who have knowledge about the patients health. Waiting until the patient is
oriented or obtaining only physiologic data will result in incomplete assessment data, which could
adversely affect decision making about treatment. Asking leading questions may result in inaccurate
or incomplete information.
An unconscious 39-year-old male patient is admitted to the emergency department (ED) with a head
injury. The patients spouse and teenage children stay at the patients side and ask many questions
about the treatment being given. What action is best for the nurse to take?
a. Ask the family to stay in the waiting room until the initial assessment is completed.
b. Allow the family to stay with the patient and briefly explain all procedures to them.
c. Refer the family members to the hospital counseling service to deal with their anxiety.
d. Call the familys pastor or spiritual advisor to take them to the chapel while care is given. -
CORRECT ANSWER-b. Allow the family to stay with the patient and briefly explain all
procedures to them.
,The need for information about the diagnosis and care is very high in family members of acutely ill
patients. The nurse should allow the family to observe care and explain the procedures unless they
interfere with emergent care needs. A pastor or counseling service can offer some support, but
research supports information as being more effective. Asking the family to stay in the waiting room
will increase their anxiety.
A 41-year-old patient who is unconscious has a nursing diagnosis of ineffective cerebral tissue
perfusion related to cerebral tissue swelling. Which nursing intervention will be included in the plan
of care?
a. Encourage coughing and deep breathing.
b. Position the patient with knees and hips flexed.
c. Keep the head of the bed elevated to 30 degrees.
d. Cluster nursing interventions to provide rest periods. - CORRECT ANSWER-c. Keep the head
of the bed elevated to 30 degrees.
The patient with increased intracranial pressure (ICP) should be maintained in the head-up position
to help reduce ICP. Extreme flexion of the hips and knees increases abdominal pressure, which
increases ICP. Because the stimulation associated with nursing interventions increases ICP, clustering
interventions will progressively elevate ICP.
A 20-year-old male patient is admitted with a head injury after a collision while playing football.
After noting that the patient has developed clear nasal drainage, which action should the nurse
take?
a. Have the patient gently blow the nose.
b. Check the drainage for glucose content.
c. Teach the patient that rhinorrhea is expected after a head injury.
d. Obtain a specimen of the fluid to send for culture and sensitivity. - CORRECT ANSWER-b.
Check the drainage for glucose content.
Clear nasal drainage in a patient with a head injury suggests a dural tear and cerebrospinal fluid
(CSF) leakage. If the drainage is CSF, it will test positive for glucose. Fluid leaking from the nose will
have normal nasal flora, so culture and sensitivity will not be useful. Blowing the nose is avoided to
prevent CSF leakage.
Which action will the emergency department nurse anticipate for a patient diagnosed with a
concussion who did not lose consciousness?
a. Coordinate the transfer of the patient to the operating room.
b. Provide discharge instructions about monitoring neurologic status.
c. Transport the patient to radiology for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
,d. Arrange to admit the patient to the neurologic unit for 24 hours of observation. - CORRECT
ANSWER-b. Provide discharge instructions about monitoring neurologic status.
A patient with a minor head trauma is usually discharged with instructions about neurologic
monitoring and the need to return if neurologic status deteriorates. MRI, hospital admission, or
surgery are not usually indicated in a patient with a concussion.
A 23-year-old patient who is suspected of having an epidural hematoma is admitted to the
emergency department. Which action will the nurse plan to take?
a. Administer IV furosemide (Lasix).
b. Prepare the patient for craniotomy.
c. Initiate high-dose barbiturate therapy.
d. Type and crossmatch for blood transfusion. - CORRECT ANSWER-b. Prepare the patient for
craniotomy.
The principal treatment for epidural hematoma is rapid surgery to remove the hematoma and
prevent herniation. If intracranial pressure (ICP) is elevated after surgery, furosemide or high-dose
barbiturate therapy may be needed, but these will not be of benefit unless the hematoma is
removed. Minimal blood loss occurs with head injuries, and transfusion is usually not necessary.
The nurse is admitting a patient with a basal skull fracture. The nurse notes ecchymoses around both
eyes and clear drainage from the patients nose. Which admission order should the nurse question?
a. Keep the head of bed elevated.
b. Insert nasogastric tube to low suction.
c. Turn patient side to side every 2 hours
d. Apply cold packs intermittently to face. - CORRECT ANSWER-b. Insert nasogastric tube to low
suction.
Rhinorrhea may indicate a dural tear with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. Insertion of a
nasogastric tube will increase the risk for infections such as meningitis. Turning the patient, elevating
the head, and applying cold packs are appropriate orders.
A college athlete is seen in the clinic 6 weeks after a concussion. Which assessment information will
the nurse collect to determine whether a patient is developing postconcussion syndrome?
a. Short-term memory
b. Muscle coordination
c. Glasgow Coma Scale
, d. Pupil reaction to light - CORRECT ANSWER-a. Short-term memory
Decreased short-term memory is one indication of postconcussion syndrome. The other data may be
assessed but are not indications of postconcussion syndrome.
The nurse admitting a patient who has a right frontal lobe tumor would expect the patient may have
a. expressive aphasia.
b. impaired judgment.
c. right-sided weakness.
d. difficulty swallowing. - CORRECT ANSWER-b. impaired judgment.
The frontal lobe controls intellectual activities such as judgment. Speech is controlled in the parietal
lobe. Weakness and hemiplegia occur on the contralateral side from the tumor. Swallowing is
controlled by the brainstem.
Which statement by a 40-year-old patient who is being discharged from the emergency department
(ED) after a concussion indicates a need for intervention by the nurse?
a. I will return if I feel dizzy or nauseated.
b. I am going to drive home and go to bed.
c. I do not even remember being in an accident.
d. I can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for my headache. - CORRECT ANSWER-b. I am going to
drive home and go to bed.
Following a head injury, the patient should avoid driving and operating heavy machinery. Retrograde
amnesia is common after a concussion. The patient can take acetaminophen for headache and
should return if symptoms of increased intracranial pressure such as dizziness or nausea occur.
After having a craniectomy and left anterior fossae incision, a 64-year-old patient has a nursing
diagnosis of impaired physical mobility related to decreased level of consciousness and weakness.
An appropriate nursing intervention is to
a. cluster nursing activities to allow longer rest periods.
b. turn and reposition the patient side to side every 2 hours.
c. position the bed flat and log roll to reposition the patient.
d. perform range-of-motion (ROM) exercises every 4 hours. - CORRECT ANSWER-d. perform
range-of-motion (ROM) exercises every 4 hours.
