CRRN Comprehensive QUESTION Bank | Latest Practice
QUESTIONs, Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales
(2026/2027)
QUESTION 1
What is the primary nursing intervention to prevent shoulder
subluxation in a patient with hemiplegia following an acute stroke?
A. Allowing the affected arm to dangle freely at the side when sitting
B. Providing proper arm support using a lap board, arm trough, or slings
during mobilization, and avoiding pulling on the affected arm during
transfers
C. Applying heavy weights directly to the wrist of the affected arm
D. Keeping the affected arm tightly wrapped behind the back
Correct Answer: B. Providing proper arm support using a lap board, arm
trough, or slings during mobilization, and avoiding pulling on the
affected arm during transfers
Detailed Rationale: Flaccidity of the shoulder girdle muscles after a
stroke leaves the humeral head vulnerable to gravitational pull and
subluxation. Proper support and careful handling prevent trauma to the
joint capsule and stretching of periarticular nerves.
QUESTION 2
What clinical picture characterizes Anterior Cord Syndrome following a
flexion injury of the spine?
,A. Complete preservation of motor function with loss of all sensation
B. Complete motor paralysis and loss of pain and temperature sensation
below the lesion, with preserved proprioception and vibration sense
C. Paralysis limited strictly to one upper extremity
D. Bilateral loss of fine touch and vibration with completely normal
motor strength
Correct Answer: B. Complete motor paralysis and loss of pain and
temperature sensation below the lesion, with preserved proprioception
and vibration sense
Detailed Rationale: Anterior cord syndrome damages the anterior two-
thirds of the spinal cord (affecting corticospinal and spinothalamic
tracts), sparing the dorsal columns, which preserves posterior column
modalities like proprioception and deep touch.
QUESTION 3
According to the Rancho Los Amigos Scale of Cognitive Functioning,
which behavior is typical of Level V (Confused-Inappropriate, Non-
Agitated)?
A. Deep unresponsiveness to all environmental stimuli
B. Alert and able to respond to simple commands fairly consistently, but
highly distractible, prone to inappropriate verbalizations when
structured cues are absent, and unable to learn new information
reliably
C. Fully independent, oriented, and capable of multi-tasking executive
employment
,D. Combative, aggressive, and aggressive in response to internal
confusion
Correct Answer: B. Alert and able to respond to simple commands fairly
consistently, but highly distractible, prone to inappropriate
verbalizations when structured cues are absent, and unable to learn
new information reliably
Detailed Rationale: Rancho Level V patients appear alert and can
perform structured tasks, but their attention wanders quickly, and they
lack the ability to process unstructured environments, often
confabulating or responding inappropriately.
QUESTION 4
What distinction separates phantom limb sensation from phantom limb
pain in amputees?
A. Phantom limb sensation is painful and throbbing, while phantom
limb pain is painless warmth.
B. Phantom limb sensation is the non-painful awareness that the
missing limb is still present (e.g., itching, tingling), whereas phantom
limb pain involves distressing, painful sensations localized to the absent
body part.
C. Phantom limb pain only occurs in individuals with upper extremity
amputations.
D. There is no clinical difference between the two terms.
Correct Answer: B. Phantom limb sensation is the non-painful
awareness that the missing limb is still present (e.g., itching, tingling),
, whereas phantom limb pain involves distressing, painful sensations
localized to the absent body part.
Detailed Rationale: Most amputees experience non-painful phantom
sensations as cortical maps continue to represent the missing limb,
whereas phantom limb pain is a neuropathic pain state requiring
targeted multimodal management.
QUESTION 5
What posture or spinal complication is most commonly associated with
advanced Ankylosing Spondylitis if left unmanaged?
A. Extreme lumbar lordosis ("swayback")
B. Fixed forward flexion of the spine (hyperkyphosis / "humpback") with
loss of lumbar lordosis and restricted chest expansion
C. Severe lateral scoliosis with pelvic tilt
D. Permanent cervical hyperextension
Correct Answer: B. Fixed forward flexion of the spine (hyperkyphosis /
"humpback") with loss of lumbar lordosis and restricted chest
expansion
Detailed Rationale: Ankylosing spondylitis causes chronic inflammation
and fusion of spinal joints and ligaments (bamboo spine), classically
leading to progressive forward stooping posture and reduced thoracic
expansion.
QUESTION 6
QUESTIONs, Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales
(2026/2027)
QUESTION 1
What is the primary nursing intervention to prevent shoulder
subluxation in a patient with hemiplegia following an acute stroke?
A. Allowing the affected arm to dangle freely at the side when sitting
B. Providing proper arm support using a lap board, arm trough, or slings
during mobilization, and avoiding pulling on the affected arm during
transfers
C. Applying heavy weights directly to the wrist of the affected arm
D. Keeping the affected arm tightly wrapped behind the back
Correct Answer: B. Providing proper arm support using a lap board, arm
trough, or slings during mobilization, and avoiding pulling on the
affected arm during transfers
Detailed Rationale: Flaccidity of the shoulder girdle muscles after a
stroke leaves the humeral head vulnerable to gravitational pull and
subluxation. Proper support and careful handling prevent trauma to the
joint capsule and stretching of periarticular nerves.
QUESTION 2
What clinical picture characterizes Anterior Cord Syndrome following a
flexion injury of the spine?
,A. Complete preservation of motor function with loss of all sensation
B. Complete motor paralysis and loss of pain and temperature sensation
below the lesion, with preserved proprioception and vibration sense
C. Paralysis limited strictly to one upper extremity
D. Bilateral loss of fine touch and vibration with completely normal
motor strength
Correct Answer: B. Complete motor paralysis and loss of pain and
temperature sensation below the lesion, with preserved proprioception
and vibration sense
Detailed Rationale: Anterior cord syndrome damages the anterior two-
thirds of the spinal cord (affecting corticospinal and spinothalamic
tracts), sparing the dorsal columns, which preserves posterior column
modalities like proprioception and deep touch.
QUESTION 3
According to the Rancho Los Amigos Scale of Cognitive Functioning,
which behavior is typical of Level V (Confused-Inappropriate, Non-
Agitated)?
A. Deep unresponsiveness to all environmental stimuli
B. Alert and able to respond to simple commands fairly consistently, but
highly distractible, prone to inappropriate verbalizations when
structured cues are absent, and unable to learn new information
reliably
C. Fully independent, oriented, and capable of multi-tasking executive
employment
,D. Combative, aggressive, and aggressive in response to internal
confusion
Correct Answer: B. Alert and able to respond to simple commands fairly
consistently, but highly distractible, prone to inappropriate
verbalizations when structured cues are absent, and unable to learn
new information reliably
Detailed Rationale: Rancho Level V patients appear alert and can
perform structured tasks, but their attention wanders quickly, and they
lack the ability to process unstructured environments, often
confabulating or responding inappropriately.
QUESTION 4
What distinction separates phantom limb sensation from phantom limb
pain in amputees?
A. Phantom limb sensation is painful and throbbing, while phantom
limb pain is painless warmth.
B. Phantom limb sensation is the non-painful awareness that the
missing limb is still present (e.g., itching, tingling), whereas phantom
limb pain involves distressing, painful sensations localized to the absent
body part.
C. Phantom limb pain only occurs in individuals with upper extremity
amputations.
D. There is no clinical difference between the two terms.
Correct Answer: B. Phantom limb sensation is the non-painful
awareness that the missing limb is still present (e.g., itching, tingling),
, whereas phantom limb pain involves distressing, painful sensations
localized to the absent body part.
Detailed Rationale: Most amputees experience non-painful phantom
sensations as cortical maps continue to represent the missing limb,
whereas phantom limb pain is a neuropathic pain state requiring
targeted multimodal management.
QUESTION 5
What posture or spinal complication is most commonly associated with
advanced Ankylosing Spondylitis if left unmanaged?
A. Extreme lumbar lordosis ("swayback")
B. Fixed forward flexion of the spine (hyperkyphosis / "humpback") with
loss of lumbar lordosis and restricted chest expansion
C. Severe lateral scoliosis with pelvic tilt
D. Permanent cervical hyperextension
Correct Answer: B. Fixed forward flexion of the spine (hyperkyphosis /
"humpback") with loss of lumbar lordosis and restricted chest
expansion
Detailed Rationale: Ankylosing spondylitis causes chronic inflammation
and fusion of spinal joints and ligaments (bamboo spine), classically
leading to progressive forward stooping posture and reduced thoracic
expansion.
QUESTION 6
