Med surg II exam 2; Stroke questions
with answers
A patient presents with sudden right-sided weakness and facial droop. What should the nurse
assess first?
A. Visual changes
B. Grip strength
C. Onset of symptoms
D. Medical history - correct answer ✔✔ C. Onset of symptoms
Time of symptom onset is critical in stroke management, as it determines eligibility for
treatments like tissue plasminogen activator (tPA).
During a stroke assessment, the nurse notices the patient has slurred speech and cannot form
coherent sentences. What is the likely type of aphasia?
A. Receptive aphasia
B. Expressive aphasia
C. Global aphasia
D. Dysarthria - correct answer ✔✔ B. Expressive aphasia
Expressive aphasia is characterized by difficulty speaking or forming words, commonly seen in
strokes affecting the left hemisphere
A nurse is assessing a stroke patient's Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The patient opens their eyes
to verbal stimuli and is confused. What is the next assessment?
A. Motor response
, B. Pupillary response
C. Vital signs
D. Pain assessment - correct answer ✔✔ A. Motor response
GCS includes eye, verbal, and motor responses
Which symptom would indicate a hemorrhagic stroke rather than an ischemic stroke?
A. Right-sided weakness
B. Slurred speech
C. Sudden "thunderclap" headache
D. Vision changes - correct answer ✔✔ C. Sudden "thunderclap" headache
A stroke patient shows decerebrate posturing. What does this indicate?
A. Damage to the motor cortex
B. Brainstem injury
C. Normal response
D. Frontal lobe injury - correct answer ✔✔ B. Brainstem injury
Decerebrate posturing, where the arms are extended away from the body, indicates severe
brainstem damage.
Decorticate posturing where arms flexed inward toward the body, indicates damage to the
cerebral cortex, typically MORE severe than other types of posturing.
What is the priority diagnostic test for a patient with stroke symptoms?
A. MRI
B. CT Scan
with answers
A patient presents with sudden right-sided weakness and facial droop. What should the nurse
assess first?
A. Visual changes
B. Grip strength
C. Onset of symptoms
D. Medical history - correct answer ✔✔ C. Onset of symptoms
Time of symptom onset is critical in stroke management, as it determines eligibility for
treatments like tissue plasminogen activator (tPA).
During a stroke assessment, the nurse notices the patient has slurred speech and cannot form
coherent sentences. What is the likely type of aphasia?
A. Receptive aphasia
B. Expressive aphasia
C. Global aphasia
D. Dysarthria - correct answer ✔✔ B. Expressive aphasia
Expressive aphasia is characterized by difficulty speaking or forming words, commonly seen in
strokes affecting the left hemisphere
A nurse is assessing a stroke patient's Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The patient opens their eyes
to verbal stimuli and is confused. What is the next assessment?
A. Motor response
, B. Pupillary response
C. Vital signs
D. Pain assessment - correct answer ✔✔ A. Motor response
GCS includes eye, verbal, and motor responses
Which symptom would indicate a hemorrhagic stroke rather than an ischemic stroke?
A. Right-sided weakness
B. Slurred speech
C. Sudden "thunderclap" headache
D. Vision changes - correct answer ✔✔ C. Sudden "thunderclap" headache
A stroke patient shows decerebrate posturing. What does this indicate?
A. Damage to the motor cortex
B. Brainstem injury
C. Normal response
D. Frontal lobe injury - correct answer ✔✔ B. Brainstem injury
Decerebrate posturing, where the arms are extended away from the body, indicates severe
brainstem damage.
Decorticate posturing where arms flexed inward toward the body, indicates damage to the
cerebral cortex, typically MORE severe than other types of posturing.
What is the priority diagnostic test for a patient with stroke symptoms?
A. MRI
B. CT Scan
