CNRN CERTIFICATION QUIZ BANK |ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS|BRAND NEW
2026-2027 UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
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.
Question 2
Which finding would the nurse expect when assessing the legs of a patient who has a
lower motor neuron lesion?
a. Spasticity
b. Flaccidity
c. No sensation
d. Hyperactive reflexes
CORRECT ANSWER
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@THE STUDY VAULT
, b. Flaccidity
Because the cell bodies of lower motor neurons are located in the spinal cord, damage to
the neuron will decrease motor activity of the affected muscles. Spasticity and
hyperactive reflexes are caused by upper motor neuron damage. Sensation is not
impacted by motor neuron lesions.
Question 3
The nurse performing a focused assessment of left posterior temporal lobe functions will
assess the patient for
a. sensation on the left side of the body.
b. voluntary movements on the right side.
c. reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
d. understanding written and oral language.
CORRECT ANSWER
d. understanding written and oral language.
The posterior temporal lobe integrates the visual and auditory input for language
comprehension. Reasoning and problem solving are functions of the anterior frontal
lobe. Sensation on the left side of the body is located in the right postcentral gyrus.
Voluntary movement on the right side is controlled in the left precentral gyrus.
Question 4
Propranolol (Inderal), a b-adrenergic blocker that inhibits sympathetic nervous system
activity, is prescribed for a patient who has extreme anxiety about public speaking. The
nurse monitors the patient for
a. dry mouth.
b. bradycardia.
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@THE STUDY VAULT
,c. constipation.
d. urinary retention.
CORRECT ANSWER
b. bradycardia
Inhibition of the fight or flight response leads to a decreased heart rate. Dry mouth,
constipation, and urinary retention are associated with peripheral nervous system
blockade.
Question 5
To assess the functioning of the trigeminal and facial nerves (CNs V and VII), the nurse
should
a. shine a light into the patients pupil.
b. check for unilateral eyelid drooping.
c. touch a cotton wisp strand to the cornea.
d. have the patient read a magazine or book.
CORRECT ANSWER
a. shine a light into the patients pupil.
The trigeminal and facial nerves are responsible for the corneal reflex. The optic nerve is
tested by having the patient read a Snellen chart or a newspaper. Assessment of pupil
response to light and ptosis are used to check function of the oculomotor nerve.
Question 6
Which action will the nurse include in the plan of care for a patient with impaired
functioning of the left glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) and the vagus nerve (CN X)?
a. Withhold oral fluid or foods.
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@THE STUDY VAULT
, b. Provide highly seasoned foods.
c. Insert an oropharyngeal airway.
d. Apply artificial tears every hour.
CORRECT ANSWER
a. Withhold oral fluid or foods.
The glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves innervate the pharynx and control the gag reflex.
A patient with impaired function of these nerves is at risk for aspiration. An oral airway
may be needed when a patient is unconscious and unable to maintain the airway, but it
will not decrease aspiration risk. Taste and eye blink are controlled by the facial nerve.
Question 7
An unconscious male patient has just arrived in the emergency department after a head
injury caused by a motorcycle crash. Which order should the nurse question?
a. Obtain x-rays of the skull and spine.
b. Prepare the patient for lumbar puncture.
c. Send for computed tomography (CT) scan.
d. Perform neurologic checks every 15 minutes.
CORRECT ANSWER
b. Prepare the patient for lumbar puncture.
After a head injury, the patient may be experiencing intracranial bleeding and increased
intracranial pressure, which could lead to herniation of the brain if a lumbar puncture is
performed. The other orders are appropriate.
Question 8
4
@THE STUDY VAULT
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS|BRAND NEW
2026-2027 UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
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.
Question 2
Which finding would the nurse expect when assessing the legs of a patient who has a
lower motor neuron lesion?
a. Spasticity
b. Flaccidity
c. No sensation
d. Hyperactive reflexes
CORRECT ANSWER
1
@THE STUDY VAULT
, b. Flaccidity
Because the cell bodies of lower motor neurons are located in the spinal cord, damage to
the neuron will decrease motor activity of the affected muscles. Spasticity and
hyperactive reflexes are caused by upper motor neuron damage. Sensation is not
impacted by motor neuron lesions.
Question 3
The nurse performing a focused assessment of left posterior temporal lobe functions will
assess the patient for
a. sensation on the left side of the body.
b. voluntary movements on the right side.
c. reasoning and problem-solving abilities.
d. understanding written and oral language.
CORRECT ANSWER
d. understanding written and oral language.
The posterior temporal lobe integrates the visual and auditory input for language
comprehension. Reasoning and problem solving are functions of the anterior frontal
lobe. Sensation on the left side of the body is located in the right postcentral gyrus.
Voluntary movement on the right side is controlled in the left precentral gyrus.
Question 4
Propranolol (Inderal), a b-adrenergic blocker that inhibits sympathetic nervous system
activity, is prescribed for a patient who has extreme anxiety about public speaking. The
nurse monitors the patient for
a. dry mouth.
b. bradycardia.
2
@THE STUDY VAULT
,c. constipation.
d. urinary retention.
CORRECT ANSWER
b. bradycardia
Inhibition of the fight or flight response leads to a decreased heart rate. Dry mouth,
constipation, and urinary retention are associated with peripheral nervous system
blockade.
Question 5
To assess the functioning of the trigeminal and facial nerves (CNs V and VII), the nurse
should
a. shine a light into the patients pupil.
b. check for unilateral eyelid drooping.
c. touch a cotton wisp strand to the cornea.
d. have the patient read a magazine or book.
CORRECT ANSWER
a. shine a light into the patients pupil.
The trigeminal and facial nerves are responsible for the corneal reflex. The optic nerve is
tested by having the patient read a Snellen chart or a newspaper. Assessment of pupil
response to light and ptosis are used to check function of the oculomotor nerve.
Question 6
Which action will the nurse include in the plan of care for a patient with impaired
functioning of the left glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) and the vagus nerve (CN X)?
a. Withhold oral fluid or foods.
3
@THE STUDY VAULT
, b. Provide highly seasoned foods.
c. Insert an oropharyngeal airway.
d. Apply artificial tears every hour.
CORRECT ANSWER
a. Withhold oral fluid or foods.
The glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves innervate the pharynx and control the gag reflex.
A patient with impaired function of these nerves is at risk for aspiration. An oral airway
may be needed when a patient is unconscious and unable to maintain the airway, but it
will not decrease aspiration risk. Taste and eye blink are controlled by the facial nerve.
Question 7
An unconscious male patient has just arrived in the emergency department after a head
injury caused by a motorcycle crash. Which order should the nurse question?
a. Obtain x-rays of the skull and spine.
b. Prepare the patient for lumbar puncture.
c. Send for computed tomography (CT) scan.
d. Perform neurologic checks every 15 minutes.
CORRECT ANSWER
b. Prepare the patient for lumbar puncture.
After a head injury, the patient may be experiencing intracranial bleeding and increased
intracranial pressure, which could lead to herniation of the brain if a lumbar puncture is
performed. The other orders are appropriate.
Question 8
4
@THE STUDY VAULT
