NURS 610A EXAM 2 2026 STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ The administration of narcotics to a patient with a traumatic brain
injury may have which effect?
A. It will make the pain worse
B. In may mask neurological changes in the patient
C. It allows the injury to heal quicker
D. In may increase intracranial pressre. Answer: B. In may mask
neurological changes in the patient
◉ Acceleration/deceleration injuries are the result of what type of
impact?
A. Cranial loading force
B. Penetrating trauma
C. Linear striking of head by a moving blunt object
D. Rotational movement of the brain in the skull. Answer: C. Linear
striking of head by a moving blunt object
◉ Which condition is NOT associated with increased intracranial
volume?
,A. Subdural hematoma
B. Hypotension
C. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
D. Meningioma. Answer: B. Hypotension
◉ Accumulation of CSF results in what condition?
A. Herniation
B. Cerebral dilation
C. Hydrocephalus
D. Seizures. Answer: C. Hydrocephalus
◉ A brief loss of consciousness followed by a period of being alert
and oriented and then a loss of consciousness again is typical
presentation for which condition?
A. Subdural hematoma
B. Epidural hematoma
C. Intracranial hematoma
D. Subarachnoid hemorrhage. Answer: B. Epidural hematoma
◉ Management of intracerebral hematoma may include which
intervention?
A. Anticoagulation
,B. Maintaining mean arterial pressure of 70 mm/Hg or less
C. Emergent surgical evacuation
D. Maximizing cerebral perfusion presure (CPP). Answer: D.
Maximizing cerebral perfusion presure (CPP)
◉ Presence of dizziness, headache, and confusion for long periods of
time after concussion is
A. Always expected
B. Known as postconcussive syndrome
C. Caused by taking too much pain medication
D. The result of something other than the concussion. Answer: B.
Known as postconcussive syndrome
◉ A 42 year old patient with a severe acute traumatic brain injury
has developed a fever. The nurse is aware that the fever should be
reversed quickly for which reason?
A. It decreases venous return from the brain
B. It often causes seizure activity
C. It increases the brain's metabolic needs
D. It may be caused by an infection. Answer: C. It increases the
brain's metabolic needs
, ◉ Level four interventions have been initiated to decrease the ICP in
a patient with severe traumatic brain injury. The nurse would
anticipate which possible level four actions?
A. Increasing the head of the bed to 30 degrees
B. Administering high-dose barbituates
C. Initiating saline therapy
D. Administering intravenous mannitol. Answer: B. Administering
high-dose barbituates
◉ Which complications is a patient with an ICP monitoring device at
risk for developing? (select all that apply)
A. New onset seizures
B. Overdrainage of CSF
C. Collapsed ventricles
D. Bleeding
E. Infection. Answer: B. Overdrainage of CSF
D. Bleeding
E. Infection
◉ Which intervention should the nurse perform to reduce the ICP in
a patient with an acute TBI?
A Flatten the head of the bed
B. Maintain the head and neck in neutral alignment
COMPLETE ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
AND PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ The administration of narcotics to a patient with a traumatic brain
injury may have which effect?
A. It will make the pain worse
B. In may mask neurological changes in the patient
C. It allows the injury to heal quicker
D. In may increase intracranial pressre. Answer: B. In may mask
neurological changes in the patient
◉ Acceleration/deceleration injuries are the result of what type of
impact?
A. Cranial loading force
B. Penetrating trauma
C. Linear striking of head by a moving blunt object
D. Rotational movement of the brain in the skull. Answer: C. Linear
striking of head by a moving blunt object
◉ Which condition is NOT associated with increased intracranial
volume?
,A. Subdural hematoma
B. Hypotension
C. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
D. Meningioma. Answer: B. Hypotension
◉ Accumulation of CSF results in what condition?
A. Herniation
B. Cerebral dilation
C. Hydrocephalus
D. Seizures. Answer: C. Hydrocephalus
◉ A brief loss of consciousness followed by a period of being alert
and oriented and then a loss of consciousness again is typical
presentation for which condition?
A. Subdural hematoma
B. Epidural hematoma
C. Intracranial hematoma
D. Subarachnoid hemorrhage. Answer: B. Epidural hematoma
◉ Management of intracerebral hematoma may include which
intervention?
A. Anticoagulation
,B. Maintaining mean arterial pressure of 70 mm/Hg or less
C. Emergent surgical evacuation
D. Maximizing cerebral perfusion presure (CPP). Answer: D.
Maximizing cerebral perfusion presure (CPP)
◉ Presence of dizziness, headache, and confusion for long periods of
time after concussion is
A. Always expected
B. Known as postconcussive syndrome
C. Caused by taking too much pain medication
D. The result of something other than the concussion. Answer: B.
Known as postconcussive syndrome
◉ A 42 year old patient with a severe acute traumatic brain injury
has developed a fever. The nurse is aware that the fever should be
reversed quickly for which reason?
A. It decreases venous return from the brain
B. It often causes seizure activity
C. It increases the brain's metabolic needs
D. It may be caused by an infection. Answer: C. It increases the
brain's metabolic needs
, ◉ Level four interventions have been initiated to decrease the ICP in
a patient with severe traumatic brain injury. The nurse would
anticipate which possible level four actions?
A. Increasing the head of the bed to 30 degrees
B. Administering high-dose barbituates
C. Initiating saline therapy
D. Administering intravenous mannitol. Answer: B. Administering
high-dose barbituates
◉ Which complications is a patient with an ICP monitoring device at
risk for developing? (select all that apply)
A. New onset seizures
B. Overdrainage of CSF
C. Collapsed ventricles
D. Bleeding
E. Infection. Answer: B. Overdrainage of CSF
D. Bleeding
E. Infection
◉ Which intervention should the nurse perform to reduce the ICP in
a patient with an acute TBI?
A Flatten the head of the bed
B. Maintain the head and neck in neutral alignment