NURS 3280
NURS 3280 Pathophysiology NCLEX
Latest Review Exam 3 2026
The physiologic change most likely to lead to an increase in intracranial pressure is
a. cerebral vasodilation.
b. hypernatremia.
c. respiratory hyperventilation.
d. REM sleep. - Correct Ans-a. cerebral vasodilation
Manifestations of acute brain ischemia (Cushing reflex) are due primarily to
a. parasympathetic nervous system activation.
b. sympathetic nervous system activation.
c. autoregulation of body systems.
d. loss of brainstem reflexes. - Correct Ans-b. sympathetic nervous system activation.
Which group of clinical findings indicates the poorest neurologic functioning?
a. Spontaneous eye opening, movement to command, oriented to self only.
b. Eyes open to light touch on shoulder, pupils briskly reactive to light bilaterally.
c. Assumes decorticate posture with light touch, no verbal response.
d. No eye opening, responds to painful stimulus by withdrawing. - Correct Ans-c.
Assumes decorticate posture with light touch, no verbal response.
Acceleration-deceleration movements of the head often result in polar injuries in which:
a. injury is localized to the site of initial impact.
b. widespread neuronal damage is incurred.
c. bleeding from venules fills the subdural space.
d. focal injuries occur in two places at opposite poles. - Correct Ans-d. focal injuries
occur in two places at opposite poles.
Secondary injury after head trauma refers to:
a. brain injury resulting from the initial trauma.
b. focal areas of bleeding.
c. brain injury resulting from the body's response to tissue damage.
d. injury as a result of medical therapy. - Correct Ans-c. brain injury resulting from the
body's response to tissue damage.
An example of inappropriate treatment for head trauma would be:
NURS 3280
,NURS 3280
a. head elevation.
b. free water restriction.
c. hypoventilation.
d. bed rest. - Correct Ans-C. Hypoventilation
Risk factors for hemorrhagic stroke include:
a. atherosclerosis.
b. dysrhythmias.
c. acute hypertension.
d. sedentary lifestyle. - Correct Ans-c. acute hypertension.
The stroke etiology with the highest morbidity and mortality is:
a. intracranial hemorrhage.
b. intracranial thrombosis.
c. intracranial embolization.
d. cardiac arrest. - Correct Ans-a. intracranial hemorrhage
Clinical manifestations of a stroke within the right cerebral hemisphere include:
a. cortical blindness.
b. right visual field blindness.
c. expressive and receptive aphasia.
d. left-sided muscle weakness and neglect. - Correct Ans-d. left-sided muscle weakness
and neglect.
The most important preventive measure for hemorrhagic stroke is:
a. anticoagulation.
b. blood pressure control.
c. thrombolytics.
d. management of dysrhythmias. - Correct Ans-B. blood pressure control.
In the acute phase of stroke, treatment is focused on:
a. stabilization of respiratory and cardiovascular function.
b. risk factor modification.
c. prevention of and contractures spasticity.
d. neurologic rehabilitation. - Correct Ans-a. stabilization of respiratory and
cardiovascular function.
Cerebral aneurysm is most frequently the result of:
a. embolic stroke.
b. subarachnoid hemorrhage.
NURS 3280
, NURS 3280
c. subdural hemorrhage.
d. meningitis. - Correct Ans-B. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Leakage of CS from the nose or ears is commonly associated with:
a. epidural hematoma.
b. temporal skull fracture.
c. basilar skull fracture.
d. cerebral aneurysm. - Correct Ans-c. basilar skull fracture.
Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm should be suspected if the patient reports:
a. ringing in the ears.
b. transient episodes of numbness.
c. transient episodes of vertigo.
d. sudden, severe headache. - Correct Ans-D. sudden, severe headache
Subarachnoid hemorrhage is usually managed with volume expansion and blood
pressure support to enhance cerebral perfusion. This is necessary because
subarachnoid hemorrhage predisposes to:
a. cerebral vasospasm.
b. hypotension.
c. excessive volume loss.
d. decreased intracranial pressure. - Correct Ans-a. cerebral vasospasm.
A college student living in a dormitory reports a stiff neck and headache and is found to
have a fever of 102°F. This information is most consistent with:
a. encephalitis.
b. meningitis.
c. skull fracture.
d. cerebral ischemia. - Correct Ans-b. meningitis
It is true that encephalitis is usually:
a. because of a bacterial infection in the CNS.
b. fatal.
c. because of a viral infection in brain cells.
d. asymptomatic. - Correct Ans-c. because of a viral infection in brain cells.
It is true that epidural bleeding is:
a. associated with widespread vascular disruption.
b. located between the arachnoid and the dura mater.
c. usually because of venous leakage.
NURS 3280
NURS 3280 Pathophysiology NCLEX
Latest Review Exam 3 2026
The physiologic change most likely to lead to an increase in intracranial pressure is
a. cerebral vasodilation.
b. hypernatremia.
c. respiratory hyperventilation.
d. REM sleep. - Correct Ans-a. cerebral vasodilation
Manifestations of acute brain ischemia (Cushing reflex) are due primarily to
a. parasympathetic nervous system activation.
b. sympathetic nervous system activation.
c. autoregulation of body systems.
d. loss of brainstem reflexes. - Correct Ans-b. sympathetic nervous system activation.
Which group of clinical findings indicates the poorest neurologic functioning?
a. Spontaneous eye opening, movement to command, oriented to self only.
b. Eyes open to light touch on shoulder, pupils briskly reactive to light bilaterally.
c. Assumes decorticate posture with light touch, no verbal response.
d. No eye opening, responds to painful stimulus by withdrawing. - Correct Ans-c.
Assumes decorticate posture with light touch, no verbal response.
Acceleration-deceleration movements of the head often result in polar injuries in which:
a. injury is localized to the site of initial impact.
b. widespread neuronal damage is incurred.
c. bleeding from venules fills the subdural space.
d. focal injuries occur in two places at opposite poles. - Correct Ans-d. focal injuries
occur in two places at opposite poles.
Secondary injury after head trauma refers to:
a. brain injury resulting from the initial trauma.
b. focal areas of bleeding.
c. brain injury resulting from the body's response to tissue damage.
d. injury as a result of medical therapy. - Correct Ans-c. brain injury resulting from the
body's response to tissue damage.
An example of inappropriate treatment for head trauma would be:
NURS 3280
,NURS 3280
a. head elevation.
b. free water restriction.
c. hypoventilation.
d. bed rest. - Correct Ans-C. Hypoventilation
Risk factors for hemorrhagic stroke include:
a. atherosclerosis.
b. dysrhythmias.
c. acute hypertension.
d. sedentary lifestyle. - Correct Ans-c. acute hypertension.
The stroke etiology with the highest morbidity and mortality is:
a. intracranial hemorrhage.
b. intracranial thrombosis.
c. intracranial embolization.
d. cardiac arrest. - Correct Ans-a. intracranial hemorrhage
Clinical manifestations of a stroke within the right cerebral hemisphere include:
a. cortical blindness.
b. right visual field blindness.
c. expressive and receptive aphasia.
d. left-sided muscle weakness and neglect. - Correct Ans-d. left-sided muscle weakness
and neglect.
The most important preventive measure for hemorrhagic stroke is:
a. anticoagulation.
b. blood pressure control.
c. thrombolytics.
d. management of dysrhythmias. - Correct Ans-B. blood pressure control.
In the acute phase of stroke, treatment is focused on:
a. stabilization of respiratory and cardiovascular function.
b. risk factor modification.
c. prevention of and contractures spasticity.
d. neurologic rehabilitation. - Correct Ans-a. stabilization of respiratory and
cardiovascular function.
Cerebral aneurysm is most frequently the result of:
a. embolic stroke.
b. subarachnoid hemorrhage.
NURS 3280
, NURS 3280
c. subdural hemorrhage.
d. meningitis. - Correct Ans-B. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Leakage of CS from the nose or ears is commonly associated with:
a. epidural hematoma.
b. temporal skull fracture.
c. basilar skull fracture.
d. cerebral aneurysm. - Correct Ans-c. basilar skull fracture.
Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm should be suspected if the patient reports:
a. ringing in the ears.
b. transient episodes of numbness.
c. transient episodes of vertigo.
d. sudden, severe headache. - Correct Ans-D. sudden, severe headache
Subarachnoid hemorrhage is usually managed with volume expansion and blood
pressure support to enhance cerebral perfusion. This is necessary because
subarachnoid hemorrhage predisposes to:
a. cerebral vasospasm.
b. hypotension.
c. excessive volume loss.
d. decreased intracranial pressure. - Correct Ans-a. cerebral vasospasm.
A college student living in a dormitory reports a stiff neck and headache and is found to
have a fever of 102°F. This information is most consistent with:
a. encephalitis.
b. meningitis.
c. skull fracture.
d. cerebral ischemia. - Correct Ans-b. meningitis
It is true that encephalitis is usually:
a. because of a bacterial infection in the CNS.
b. fatal.
c. because of a viral infection in brain cells.
d. asymptomatic. - Correct Ans-c. because of a viral infection in brain cells.
It is true that epidural bleeding is:
a. associated with widespread vascular disruption.
b. located between the arachnoid and the dura mater.
c. usually because of venous leakage.
NURS 3280
