CRRN Board Review | High-Yield Practice
QUESTIONs, Correct Answers & Comprehensive
Study Guide 2026/2027
QUESTION 1
What is the primary philosophical focus of rehabilitation nursing
practice across the continuum of care?
A. To provide indefinite custodial nursing care in institutional hospital
settings
B. To assist individuals with chronic illness or disability to achieve and
maintain maximum functional independence, adaptation, and quality of
life
C. To focus exclusively on acute surgical wound closure and medication
administration
D. To replace physical and occupational therapy disciplines entirely
Correct Answer: B. To assist individuals with chronic illness or disability
to achieve and maintain maximum functional independence,
adaptation, and quality of life
Detailed Rationale: Rehabilitation nursing centers on a holistic,
interprofessional approach empowering patients and families to adapt
to life-altering conditions, prevent secondary complications, and
maximize functional independence.
QUESTION 2
,What is the immediate priority nursing action when a patient with a T6
spinal cord injury experiences a sudden onset of severe throbbing
headache, paroxysmal hypertension, and profuse diaphoresis above the
lesion?
A. Immediately elevate the head of the bed to 45 degrees or higher to
lower intracranial and blood pressure.
B. Force the patient to stand up and walk around the room.
C. Administer a high-dose oral laxative immediately.
D. Turn off all lights and ignore the symptoms.
Correct Answer: A. Immediately elevate the head of the bed to 45
degrees or higher to lower intracranial and blood pressure.
Detailed Rationale: Elevating the head of the bed utilizes orthostatic
mechanisms to help reduce blood pressure during an episode of
autonomic dysreflexia, followed immediately by searching for and
removing the noxious trigger (e.g., distended bladder).
QUESTION 3
Which nursing intervention is most effective when managing a stroke
survivor who exhibits unilateral spatial neglect of the left side?
A. Placing all food, water, and care items exclusively on the right
(unaffected) side indefinitely
B. Structuring the environment and care activities to encourage
scanning toward the neglected side, initially placing items within the
intact field and gradually moving them across midline
C. Forcing the patient to close both eyes during all meals
,D. Ignoring the left side of the body entirely during hygiene care
Correct Answer: B. Structuring the environment and care activities to
encourage scanning toward the neglected side, initially placing items
within the intact field and gradually moving them across midline
Detailed Rationale: Rehabilitation of neglect utilizes graded
multisensory cueing and anchoring techniques to retrain the patient to
consciously explore and attend to the neglected contralateral
hemispace.
QUESTION 4
According to the Rancho Los Amigos Scale of Cognitive Functioning,
which behavioral presentation typifies Level IV (Confused-Agitated)?
A. Deep coma with zero response to painful stimuli
B. Alert, oriented, and capable of independent executive multitasking
C. Heightened state of activity with bizarre, non-purposeful behavior,
acute confusion, aggressive outbursts, and an inability to cooperate
directly with treatment
D. Fully cooperative and able to learn new information reliably without
cues
Correct Answer: C. Heightened state of activity with bizarre, non-
purposeful behavior, acute confusion, aggressive outbursts, and an
inability to cooperate directly with treatment
Detailed Rationale: Rancho Level IV represents acute post-traumatic
confusion where patients are hyper-reactive to internal and external
stimuli, often acting aggressively or combatively due to profound
disorientation.
, QUESTION 5
What is the primary purpose of applying a stump shrinker (elastic
compression bandage or shrinker sock) following a lower extremity
amputation?
A. To shape the residual limb into a tapered conical form, control post-
operative edema, and mature scar tissue for prosthetic fitting
B. To cut off all arterial blood flow to the limb permanently
C. To keep the stump warm in cold weather environments
D. To prevent the patient from ever wearing a prosthesis
Correct Answer: A. To shape the residual limb into a tapered conical
form, control post-operative edema, and mature scar tissue for
prosthetic fitting
Detailed Rationale: Post-operative compression reduces swelling and
molds soft tissues into a firm, tapered contour essential for successful
prosthetic socket accommodation and comfort.
QUESTION 6
How is a Stage 3 pressure injury clinically distinguished from a Stage 4
pressure injury?
A. Stage 3 involves full-thickness skin and tissue loss with visible
subcutaneous fat, but bone, tendon, or muscle are not exposed; Stage 4
involves full-thickness tissue loss with directly palpable or exposed
bone, tendon, or muscle.
B. Stage 3 involves intact skin with non-blanchable redness.
C. Stage 4 involves only superficial epidermal blistering.
QUESTIONs, Correct Answers & Comprehensive
Study Guide 2026/2027
QUESTION 1
What is the primary philosophical focus of rehabilitation nursing
practice across the continuum of care?
A. To provide indefinite custodial nursing care in institutional hospital
settings
B. To assist individuals with chronic illness or disability to achieve and
maintain maximum functional independence, adaptation, and quality of
life
C. To focus exclusively on acute surgical wound closure and medication
administration
D. To replace physical and occupational therapy disciplines entirely
Correct Answer: B. To assist individuals with chronic illness or disability
to achieve and maintain maximum functional independence,
adaptation, and quality of life
Detailed Rationale: Rehabilitation nursing centers on a holistic,
interprofessional approach empowering patients and families to adapt
to life-altering conditions, prevent secondary complications, and
maximize functional independence.
QUESTION 2
,What is the immediate priority nursing action when a patient with a T6
spinal cord injury experiences a sudden onset of severe throbbing
headache, paroxysmal hypertension, and profuse diaphoresis above the
lesion?
A. Immediately elevate the head of the bed to 45 degrees or higher to
lower intracranial and blood pressure.
B. Force the patient to stand up and walk around the room.
C. Administer a high-dose oral laxative immediately.
D. Turn off all lights and ignore the symptoms.
Correct Answer: A. Immediately elevate the head of the bed to 45
degrees or higher to lower intracranial and blood pressure.
Detailed Rationale: Elevating the head of the bed utilizes orthostatic
mechanisms to help reduce blood pressure during an episode of
autonomic dysreflexia, followed immediately by searching for and
removing the noxious trigger (e.g., distended bladder).
QUESTION 3
Which nursing intervention is most effective when managing a stroke
survivor who exhibits unilateral spatial neglect of the left side?
A. Placing all food, water, and care items exclusively on the right
(unaffected) side indefinitely
B. Structuring the environment and care activities to encourage
scanning toward the neglected side, initially placing items within the
intact field and gradually moving them across midline
C. Forcing the patient to close both eyes during all meals
,D. Ignoring the left side of the body entirely during hygiene care
Correct Answer: B. Structuring the environment and care activities to
encourage scanning toward the neglected side, initially placing items
within the intact field and gradually moving them across midline
Detailed Rationale: Rehabilitation of neglect utilizes graded
multisensory cueing and anchoring techniques to retrain the patient to
consciously explore and attend to the neglected contralateral
hemispace.
QUESTION 4
According to the Rancho Los Amigos Scale of Cognitive Functioning,
which behavioral presentation typifies Level IV (Confused-Agitated)?
A. Deep coma with zero response to painful stimuli
B. Alert, oriented, and capable of independent executive multitasking
C. Heightened state of activity with bizarre, non-purposeful behavior,
acute confusion, aggressive outbursts, and an inability to cooperate
directly with treatment
D. Fully cooperative and able to learn new information reliably without
cues
Correct Answer: C. Heightened state of activity with bizarre, non-
purposeful behavior, acute confusion, aggressive outbursts, and an
inability to cooperate directly with treatment
Detailed Rationale: Rancho Level IV represents acute post-traumatic
confusion where patients are hyper-reactive to internal and external
stimuli, often acting aggressively or combatively due to profound
disorientation.
, QUESTION 5
What is the primary purpose of applying a stump shrinker (elastic
compression bandage or shrinker sock) following a lower extremity
amputation?
A. To shape the residual limb into a tapered conical form, control post-
operative edema, and mature scar tissue for prosthetic fitting
B. To cut off all arterial blood flow to the limb permanently
C. To keep the stump warm in cold weather environments
D. To prevent the patient from ever wearing a prosthesis
Correct Answer: A. To shape the residual limb into a tapered conical
form, control post-operative edema, and mature scar tissue for
prosthetic fitting
Detailed Rationale: Post-operative compression reduces swelling and
molds soft tissues into a firm, tapered contour essential for successful
prosthetic socket accommodation and comfort.
QUESTION 6
How is a Stage 3 pressure injury clinically distinguished from a Stage 4
pressure injury?
A. Stage 3 involves full-thickness skin and tissue loss with visible
subcutaneous fat, but bone, tendon, or muscle are not exposed; Stage 4
involves full-thickness tissue loss with directly palpable or exposed
bone, tendon, or muscle.
B. Stage 3 involves intact skin with non-blanchable redness.
C. Stage 4 involves only superficial epidermal blistering.
