NIH STROKE SCALE ALL TEST GROUPS A F
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SCRIPT 2026
ANSWERS VERIFIED
◉ The NIH scale creates a common currency so that everybody
understands the patient's level of.... Answer: deficit, by giving a
number that communicates to other professionals how sick the
patient is
◉ how much time to budget to perorm NIH scale. Answer: 7-10 mins
◉ What effort should be recorded? Do not do what?. Answer: The
patient's first effort. Don't go back and change scores.
◉ IMPORTANT CONVENTIONS IN ADMINISTRATION:
Administer scale items in their exact ______
-Avoid ______ing patient
-Accept patient's _______ effort
-Score only what the patient _______
-Be consistent
-Include all _________s into scoring, including those that may be from
_________s ______s. Answer: -order
,-coaching
-first
-does
-Be consistent
-previous strokes
◉ ITEM 1a and how to get it. Answer: -examiner's overall
impression of patient alertness
-ask 2-3 questions about circumstances of admission, stimuate
patient by patting or tapping, occasionally pinching
◉ NIH Item 1a Scoring:
0
1
2
3. Answer: -Alert
-Not alert, aroused w/ minor verbal stim
-Not alert, requires strong or painful stim
-Only reflexive movements or totally unresponsive
◉ ITEM 1a - patient w/ 3 on this item is generally considered to be
in...
, 3 is scored ONLY if patient makes no movement other than.....
Answer: a coma
reflexive posturing in response to noxious stimulation
◉ If difficult to determine 1 vs 2 in item 1a, continue with.... Answer:
medical hx qs until confident in assigning a score - THIS IS ONLY
TIME IN NIH scale where you can go back
◉ EVEN IF PRESENTED WITH OBSTACLES OR BARRIERS, YOU
MUST CHOOSE A. Answer: SCORE
◉ NIH Item 1B
based on responses to two items:
When?
-What about patient. Answer: -month of year
-patient's age
◉ ITEM 1B SCORING
0
1
2. Answer: -answers both qs correctly
COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT SCRIPT 2026
ANSWERS VERIFIED
◉ The NIH scale creates a common currency so that everybody
understands the patient's level of.... Answer: deficit, by giving a
number that communicates to other professionals how sick the
patient is
◉ how much time to budget to perorm NIH scale. Answer: 7-10 mins
◉ What effort should be recorded? Do not do what?. Answer: The
patient's first effort. Don't go back and change scores.
◉ IMPORTANT CONVENTIONS IN ADMINISTRATION:
Administer scale items in their exact ______
-Avoid ______ing patient
-Accept patient's _______ effort
-Score only what the patient _______
-Be consistent
-Include all _________s into scoring, including those that may be from
_________s ______s. Answer: -order
,-coaching
-first
-does
-Be consistent
-previous strokes
◉ ITEM 1a and how to get it. Answer: -examiner's overall
impression of patient alertness
-ask 2-3 questions about circumstances of admission, stimuate
patient by patting or tapping, occasionally pinching
◉ NIH Item 1a Scoring:
0
1
2
3. Answer: -Alert
-Not alert, aroused w/ minor verbal stim
-Not alert, requires strong or painful stim
-Only reflexive movements or totally unresponsive
◉ ITEM 1a - patient w/ 3 on this item is generally considered to be
in...
, 3 is scored ONLY if patient makes no movement other than.....
Answer: a coma
reflexive posturing in response to noxious stimulation
◉ If difficult to determine 1 vs 2 in item 1a, continue with.... Answer:
medical hx qs until confident in assigning a score - THIS IS ONLY
TIME IN NIH scale where you can go back
◉ EVEN IF PRESENTED WITH OBSTACLES OR BARRIERS, YOU
MUST CHOOSE A. Answer: SCORE
◉ NIH Item 1B
based on responses to two items:
When?
-What about patient. Answer: -month of year
-patient's age
◉ ITEM 1B SCORING
0
1
2. Answer: -answers both qs correctly
