NURS 332 FINAL EXAM | PRACTICE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS | COMPREHENSIVE NCLEX
NURSING STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
What does the blood-brain barrier do? - ANS ✔✔Keeps some substances in the bloodstream
out of the cerebrospinal circulation and out of the brain tissue, substances that can pass barrier:
O2, glucose, CO2, alcohol, agnostics and H2O
What are the 2 main components of the CNS - ANS ✔✔1)Brain (controls all bodily functions-
interprets all stimuli) 2)Spinal cord (primary pathways for nerve impulses travelling between
peripheral areas of the body and brain)
Describe th function of each part of the brain: Thalmus, Hypothalmus, Epithalmus and the
Cerebrum - ANS ✔✔-Thalmus; Major relay station of the CNS
-Hypothalms; Major role in ANS control (controls temp) and cognition
-Epithalmus; Connects the pathways to regulate emotions and contributes to smooth voluntary
motor function
-Cerebrum; Largest part controls intelligence, creativity and memory
What is the role of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) - ANS ✔✔-Protection and homeostatic function-
CSF pressure and volume should remain constant (otherwise can disturb intracranial pressure)
Define Cerebral blood flow - ANS ✔✔*autoregulation → brain attempts to meet metabolic
demands by ↑ or ↓ cerebral blood flow as required = constant supply of blood to brain
regardless of systemic BP fluctuations
Define Cerebral Perfusion Pressure - ANS ✔✔Pressure associated with cerebral blood flow (CBF)
that is necessary to supply adequate amounts of blood to the brain 70-100 mmHg (N) however,
*50-60 mm Hg to ensure ADEQUATE cerebral perfusion
,Define cerebral blood flow and cerebral blood oxygenation - ANS ✔✔-Cerebral blood flow;
Amount of blood in the intracranial vault at any given time
-Cerebral blood oxygenation; Measurement of cerebral oxygenation and cerebral perfusion
What factors make up intracranial pressre? - ANS ✔✔Brain volme + cerebral blood volume +
cerebrospinal fluid
(normal ICP is 10-15 mmHg)
What are some changes that affect ICP - ANS ✔✔-BP, cardiac function, intra- abdominal and
intra-thoracic pressure, body position, temp and blood gases
What is the peripheral nervous system composed of? - ANS ✔✔-Spinal (31 pairs) and cranial
nerves
What is the difference between the sympathetic and the parasympathetic sytem in the ANS? -
ANS ✔✔-Sympathetic nervous system- stimulates the functions of the body necessary for "fight
or flight" (vasoconstriction, ↑ BP, ↑ HR, ↑ RR) & inhibits functions not needed in stressful
situations Stimulates smooth muscle contraction & gland secretion
-Parasympathetic nervous system- ability to slow body functions as necessary & contributes to
digestion & reproduction Inhibits smooth muscle contraction & gland secretion
What are some assessments when performing a neurological assessment on a patient? - ANS
✔✔-Physical assessment; compare with baseline btw right and left sides btw lower and upper
extremities, history/evaluation of mental status, glascow coma scale
What are the 2 components of consciousness? - ANS ✔✔1)Arousal; Ability to respond to
environmental stimuli- use GCS to determine LOC
2)Content; Awareness- patient's orientation to time, place and person
, Glascow Coma Scale; what does it focus on? - ANS ✔✔1)Eye opening 2)Motor response
3)Verbal response
(highest score is 15)
What is cerebral angiography? - ANS ✔✔Visualize cerebral circulation to identify blockages in
arteries or veins in the brain, head or neck that impact perfusion
What factors determine the symptoms of a brain injury? - ANS ✔✔-Symptoms will depend on
location of injury and extent of brain tissue damage
When do most deaths occur after a head injury? - ANS ✔✔-most deaths occur immediately
after post head injury, deaths occurs a few hours after injury or a few weeks following the head
injury
Define the mechanism of injury; acceleration, deceleration and acceleration-deceleration - ANS
✔✔-Acceleration; External force contacting the head & suddenly placing it in motion
-Deceleration; Head strikes an immoveable object & as the skull ceases movement, the brain
continues to move until it hits the skull & the force of rapid deceleration causes brain injury
-Acceleration-Deceleration; A coup injury occurs as the brain strikes the skull (primary impact) &
the contrecoup injury (secondary impact) occurs when the brain strikes the skull surface
opposite to the site of the original impact
Define a Primary Brain Injury - ANS ✔✔Occurs at the intial time of injury and results from the
force within the tissue caused by blunt or penetrating force.
Describe the difference btw a focal and diffuse TBI, open and closed TBI - ANS ✔✔Focal;
localized- confined to a specific part of the brain
Diffuse; Generalized- damage throughout the brain
Open; skull is fractured or pierced by a penetrating object
NURSING STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
What does the blood-brain barrier do? - ANS ✔✔Keeps some substances in the bloodstream
out of the cerebrospinal circulation and out of the brain tissue, substances that can pass barrier:
O2, glucose, CO2, alcohol, agnostics and H2O
What are the 2 main components of the CNS - ANS ✔✔1)Brain (controls all bodily functions-
interprets all stimuli) 2)Spinal cord (primary pathways for nerve impulses travelling between
peripheral areas of the body and brain)
Describe th function of each part of the brain: Thalmus, Hypothalmus, Epithalmus and the
Cerebrum - ANS ✔✔-Thalmus; Major relay station of the CNS
-Hypothalms; Major role in ANS control (controls temp) and cognition
-Epithalmus; Connects the pathways to regulate emotions and contributes to smooth voluntary
motor function
-Cerebrum; Largest part controls intelligence, creativity and memory
What is the role of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) - ANS ✔✔-Protection and homeostatic function-
CSF pressure and volume should remain constant (otherwise can disturb intracranial pressure)
Define Cerebral blood flow - ANS ✔✔*autoregulation → brain attempts to meet metabolic
demands by ↑ or ↓ cerebral blood flow as required = constant supply of blood to brain
regardless of systemic BP fluctuations
Define Cerebral Perfusion Pressure - ANS ✔✔Pressure associated with cerebral blood flow (CBF)
that is necessary to supply adequate amounts of blood to the brain 70-100 mmHg (N) however,
*50-60 mm Hg to ensure ADEQUATE cerebral perfusion
,Define cerebral blood flow and cerebral blood oxygenation - ANS ✔✔-Cerebral blood flow;
Amount of blood in the intracranial vault at any given time
-Cerebral blood oxygenation; Measurement of cerebral oxygenation and cerebral perfusion
What factors make up intracranial pressre? - ANS ✔✔Brain volme + cerebral blood volume +
cerebrospinal fluid
(normal ICP is 10-15 mmHg)
What are some changes that affect ICP - ANS ✔✔-BP, cardiac function, intra- abdominal and
intra-thoracic pressure, body position, temp and blood gases
What is the peripheral nervous system composed of? - ANS ✔✔-Spinal (31 pairs) and cranial
nerves
What is the difference between the sympathetic and the parasympathetic sytem in the ANS? -
ANS ✔✔-Sympathetic nervous system- stimulates the functions of the body necessary for "fight
or flight" (vasoconstriction, ↑ BP, ↑ HR, ↑ RR) & inhibits functions not needed in stressful
situations Stimulates smooth muscle contraction & gland secretion
-Parasympathetic nervous system- ability to slow body functions as necessary & contributes to
digestion & reproduction Inhibits smooth muscle contraction & gland secretion
What are some assessments when performing a neurological assessment on a patient? - ANS
✔✔-Physical assessment; compare with baseline btw right and left sides btw lower and upper
extremities, history/evaluation of mental status, glascow coma scale
What are the 2 components of consciousness? - ANS ✔✔1)Arousal; Ability to respond to
environmental stimuli- use GCS to determine LOC
2)Content; Awareness- patient's orientation to time, place and person
, Glascow Coma Scale; what does it focus on? - ANS ✔✔1)Eye opening 2)Motor response
3)Verbal response
(highest score is 15)
What is cerebral angiography? - ANS ✔✔Visualize cerebral circulation to identify blockages in
arteries or veins in the brain, head or neck that impact perfusion
What factors determine the symptoms of a brain injury? - ANS ✔✔-Symptoms will depend on
location of injury and extent of brain tissue damage
When do most deaths occur after a head injury? - ANS ✔✔-most deaths occur immediately
after post head injury, deaths occurs a few hours after injury or a few weeks following the head
injury
Define the mechanism of injury; acceleration, deceleration and acceleration-deceleration - ANS
✔✔-Acceleration; External force contacting the head & suddenly placing it in motion
-Deceleration; Head strikes an immoveable object & as the skull ceases movement, the brain
continues to move until it hits the skull & the force of rapid deceleration causes brain injury
-Acceleration-Deceleration; A coup injury occurs as the brain strikes the skull (primary impact) &
the contrecoup injury (secondary impact) occurs when the brain strikes the skull surface
opposite to the site of the original impact
Define a Primary Brain Injury - ANS ✔✔Occurs at the intial time of injury and results from the
force within the tissue caused by blunt or penetrating force.
Describe the difference btw a focal and diffuse TBI, open and closed TBI - ANS ✔✔Focal;
localized- confined to a specific part of the brain
Diffuse; Generalized- damage throughout the brain
Open; skull is fractured or pierced by a penetrating object
