NUR631 Exam 3 - Neuro, Musculoskeletal, Mental Health (150
Questions with Correct Answers)
1. A patient with Parkinson’s disease presents with a shuffling gait. What is the primary
cause of this manifestation?
A. Muscle weakness
B. Dopamine deficiency in the basal ganglia
C. Increased acetylcholine production
D. Cerebral edema
Answer: B
Rationale: Parkinson’s results from dopamine depletion in the basal ganglia, affecting
movement coordination.
2. A client with a fracture develops sudden shortness of breath and confusion. The
nurse suspects:
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Fat embolism
C. Pneumothorax
D. Hypovolemic shock
Answer: B
Rationale: Fat embolism occurs when fat globules enter the bloodstream after fractures,
especially of long bones.
3. Which neurotransmitter imbalance is most associated with schizophrenia?
A. Dopamine excess
B. Serotonin deficiency
C. GABA excess
D. Norepinephrine deficiency
Answer: A
,Rationale: Schizophrenia is linked to increased dopamine activity in the brain.
4. The Glasgow Coma Scale assesses which three major responses?
A. Reflex, sensory, and motor
B. Eye opening, verbal, and motor response
C. Orientation, speech, and balance
D. Vision, hearing, and coordination
Answer: B
Rationale: The GCS evaluates eye opening, verbal, and motor responses to determine
consciousness level.
5. A nurse caring for a patient with multiple sclerosis expects which common finding?
A. Continuous seizures
B. Progressive muscle weakness and spasticity
C. Flaccid paralysis
D. Loss of hearing
Answer: B
Rationale: MS causes demyelination of CNS neurons, leading to weakness, spasticity,
and fatigue.
6. Which diagnostic test confirms myasthenia gravis?
A. Lumbar puncture
B. CT scan
C. Tensilon test
D. EEG
Answer: C
Rationale: The Tensilon test shows temporary muscle strength improvement after
administration of edrophonium.
,7. The priority nursing intervention for a patient having a tonic-clonic seizure is:
A. Restrain the client’s limbs
B. Insert an oral airway
C. Turn the client to the side
D. Record the time after the seizure
Answer: C
Rationale: Turning to the side maintains airway patency and prevents aspiration.
8. A nurse notes a patient with Alzheimer’s disease is wandering. The most appropriate
nursing action is to:
A. Restrain the client
B. Offer a quiet, structured activity
C. Administer a sedative
D. Increase verbal directions
Answer: B
Rationale: Structured activities reduce anxiety and prevent unsafe wandering.
9. A patient with major depression reports having no energy and poor appetite. These
symptoms result from decreased levels of:
A. Dopamine and GABA
B. Serotonin and norepinephrine
C. Epinephrine and glutamate
D. Acetylcholine and serotonin
Answer: B
Rationale: Depression is linked to decreased serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.
10. What is a positive Babinski sign in an adult indicative of?
, A. Normal reflex
B. Spinal cord lesion or CNS disease
C. Peripheral neuropathy
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Dorsiflexion of the big toe in adults indicates upper motor neuron damage.
11. Which medication is commonly prescribed to manage generalized anxiety disorder?
A. Haloperidol
B. Fluoxetine
C. Diazepam
D. Clozapine
Answer: C
Rationale: Diazepam, a benzodiazepine, reduces anxiety through CNS depression.
12. A patient with rheumatoid arthritis reports morning stiffness. The nurse explains that
this is due to:
A. Synovial inflammation
B. Poor sleep
C. Nerve compression
D. Muscle fatigue
Answer: A
Rationale: RA causes joint inflammation leading to stiffness, especially after rest.
13. The nurse observes tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. These symptoms suggest:
A. Multiple sclerosis
B. Parkinson’s disease
Questions with Correct Answers)
1. A patient with Parkinson’s disease presents with a shuffling gait. What is the primary
cause of this manifestation?
A. Muscle weakness
B. Dopamine deficiency in the basal ganglia
C. Increased acetylcholine production
D. Cerebral edema
Answer: B
Rationale: Parkinson’s results from dopamine depletion in the basal ganglia, affecting
movement coordination.
2. A client with a fracture develops sudden shortness of breath and confusion. The
nurse suspects:
A. Pulmonary embolism
B. Fat embolism
C. Pneumothorax
D. Hypovolemic shock
Answer: B
Rationale: Fat embolism occurs when fat globules enter the bloodstream after fractures,
especially of long bones.
3. Which neurotransmitter imbalance is most associated with schizophrenia?
A. Dopamine excess
B. Serotonin deficiency
C. GABA excess
D. Norepinephrine deficiency
Answer: A
,Rationale: Schizophrenia is linked to increased dopamine activity in the brain.
4. The Glasgow Coma Scale assesses which three major responses?
A. Reflex, sensory, and motor
B. Eye opening, verbal, and motor response
C. Orientation, speech, and balance
D. Vision, hearing, and coordination
Answer: B
Rationale: The GCS evaluates eye opening, verbal, and motor responses to determine
consciousness level.
5. A nurse caring for a patient with multiple sclerosis expects which common finding?
A. Continuous seizures
B. Progressive muscle weakness and spasticity
C. Flaccid paralysis
D. Loss of hearing
Answer: B
Rationale: MS causes demyelination of CNS neurons, leading to weakness, spasticity,
and fatigue.
6. Which diagnostic test confirms myasthenia gravis?
A. Lumbar puncture
B. CT scan
C. Tensilon test
D. EEG
Answer: C
Rationale: The Tensilon test shows temporary muscle strength improvement after
administration of edrophonium.
,7. The priority nursing intervention for a patient having a tonic-clonic seizure is:
A. Restrain the client’s limbs
B. Insert an oral airway
C. Turn the client to the side
D. Record the time after the seizure
Answer: C
Rationale: Turning to the side maintains airway patency and prevents aspiration.
8. A nurse notes a patient with Alzheimer’s disease is wandering. The most appropriate
nursing action is to:
A. Restrain the client
B. Offer a quiet, structured activity
C. Administer a sedative
D. Increase verbal directions
Answer: B
Rationale: Structured activities reduce anxiety and prevent unsafe wandering.
9. A patient with major depression reports having no energy and poor appetite. These
symptoms result from decreased levels of:
A. Dopamine and GABA
B. Serotonin and norepinephrine
C. Epinephrine and glutamate
D. Acetylcholine and serotonin
Answer: B
Rationale: Depression is linked to decreased serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain.
10. What is a positive Babinski sign in an adult indicative of?
, A. Normal reflex
B. Spinal cord lesion or CNS disease
C. Peripheral neuropathy
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Dorsiflexion of the big toe in adults indicates upper motor neuron damage.
11. Which medication is commonly prescribed to manage generalized anxiety disorder?
A. Haloperidol
B. Fluoxetine
C. Diazepam
D. Clozapine
Answer: C
Rationale: Diazepam, a benzodiazepine, reduces anxiety through CNS depression.
12. A patient with rheumatoid arthritis reports morning stiffness. The nurse explains that
this is due to:
A. Synovial inflammation
B. Poor sleep
C. Nerve compression
D. Muscle fatigue
Answer: A
Rationale: RA causes joint inflammation leading to stiffness, especially after rest.
13. The nurse observes tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia. These symptoms suggest:
A. Multiple sclerosis
B. Parkinson’s disease
