NUR 445 Exam 3 Study Guide
Neurological status - answer Assessment of brain function and reflexes
Altered mental status - answer Change in cognitive function or consciousness
Weakness - answer Lack of strength or energy in the body
Numbness/tingling - answer Loss of sensation or abnormal sensation in the body
Abnormal reflexes - answer Unusual responses to stimuli
Slurred speech - answerDifficulty speaking clearly and coherently
Sudden weakness on one side of body - answerRapid loss of strength on one side of
the body
Posturing - answerAbnormal body positioning
Decerebrate - answerArms and legs extended and hands rotated outward
Decorticate - answerArms and legs flexing and turning inward
Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (titrating sedatives) - answerAssessment of
patient's level of sedation or agitation
Brain Tumor - answerAbnormal growth of cells in the brain
Corticosteroids - answerMedications contraindicated for brain tumors
NSAIDS - answerNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs contraindicated for brain tumors
Aspirin - answerMedication contraindicated for brain tumors
Chemo drugs - answerChemotherapy medications used to treat cancer
Headaches - answerPain or discomfort in the head
Seizures - answerSudden, uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain
Cognitive changes - answerAlterations in thinking, memory, or reasoning
Motor deficits - answerImpairment or loss of movement or coordination
, Blurred vision - answerLoss of clear vision or difficulty focusing
N/V - answerNausea and vomiting
Increased Intracranial Pressure - answerElevated pressure inside the skull
Papilledema - answerSwelling of the optic disc
Decreased level of consciousness - answerReduced awareness and responsiveness
Bradycardia - answerAbnormally slow heart rate
Hypertension - answerHigh blood pressure
Abnormal posturing - answerUnusual body positioning
Respiratory distress - answerDifficulty breathing or abnormal breathing patterns
Fixed and dilated pupils - answerEnlarged and unresponsive pupils
Stroke - answerSudden interruption of blood flow to the brain
Hemorrhagic stroke - answerStroke caused by bleeding in the brain
Anticoagulants - answerMedications contraindicated for hemorrhagic stroke
Antiplatelets - answerMedications contraindicated for hemorrhagic stroke
Thrombolytics - answerMedications contraindicated for hemorrhagic stroke
Hemianopia - answerLoss of vision in half of the visual field
Prism glasses - answerGlasses with special lenses to correct vision problems
Electromyography - answerDiagnostic test to assess muscle and nerve activity
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) - answerAutoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral
nervous system
Muscle weakness - answerReduced strength in the muscles
Tingling or numbness - answerAbnormal sensation of pins and needles or loss of
sensation
Loss of reflexes - answerAbsence of normal reflex responses
Neurological status - answer Assessment of brain function and reflexes
Altered mental status - answer Change in cognitive function or consciousness
Weakness - answer Lack of strength or energy in the body
Numbness/tingling - answer Loss of sensation or abnormal sensation in the body
Abnormal reflexes - answer Unusual responses to stimuli
Slurred speech - answerDifficulty speaking clearly and coherently
Sudden weakness on one side of body - answerRapid loss of strength on one side of
the body
Posturing - answerAbnormal body positioning
Decerebrate - answerArms and legs extended and hands rotated outward
Decorticate - answerArms and legs flexing and turning inward
Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale (titrating sedatives) - answerAssessment of
patient's level of sedation or agitation
Brain Tumor - answerAbnormal growth of cells in the brain
Corticosteroids - answerMedications contraindicated for brain tumors
NSAIDS - answerNonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs contraindicated for brain tumors
Aspirin - answerMedication contraindicated for brain tumors
Chemo drugs - answerChemotherapy medications used to treat cancer
Headaches - answerPain or discomfort in the head
Seizures - answerSudden, uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain
Cognitive changes - answerAlterations in thinking, memory, or reasoning
Motor deficits - answerImpairment or loss of movement or coordination
, Blurred vision - answerLoss of clear vision or difficulty focusing
N/V - answerNausea and vomiting
Increased Intracranial Pressure - answerElevated pressure inside the skull
Papilledema - answerSwelling of the optic disc
Decreased level of consciousness - answerReduced awareness and responsiveness
Bradycardia - answerAbnormally slow heart rate
Hypertension - answerHigh blood pressure
Abnormal posturing - answerUnusual body positioning
Respiratory distress - answerDifficulty breathing or abnormal breathing patterns
Fixed and dilated pupils - answerEnlarged and unresponsive pupils
Stroke - answerSudden interruption of blood flow to the brain
Hemorrhagic stroke - answerStroke caused by bleeding in the brain
Anticoagulants - answerMedications contraindicated for hemorrhagic stroke
Antiplatelets - answerMedications contraindicated for hemorrhagic stroke
Thrombolytics - answerMedications contraindicated for hemorrhagic stroke
Hemianopia - answerLoss of vision in half of the visual field
Prism glasses - answerGlasses with special lenses to correct vision problems
Electromyography - answerDiagnostic test to assess muscle and nerve activity
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) - answerAutoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral
nervous system
Muscle weakness - answerReduced strength in the muscles
Tingling or numbness - answerAbnormal sensation of pins and needles or loss of
sensation
Loss of reflexes - answerAbsence of normal reflex responses
