CRRN CERTIFICATION EXAM–COMPLETE STUDY GUIDE |
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS-RATIONALES |
EXAM PREP | DOWNLOAD INSTANT PDF | GUARANTEED
PASS || LATEST EXAM 2026-2027
1. A rehabilitation nurse is evaluating a client with a C5 spinal cord injury who exhibits
sudden severe throbbing headache, diaphoresis above the level of the injury, and nasal
congestion. What is the priority nursing intervention?
A. Administer a sublingual antihypertensive medication immediately as prescribed
B. Assess for bladder distension and check the indwelling urinary catheter for kinks
C. Place the client flat in bed to optimize cerebral perfusion pressure
D. Perform passive range-of-motion exercises to lower systemic blood pressure
Answer: B
Autonomic dysreflexia is a medical emergency typically triggered by a noxious stimulus below
the level of injury, with bladder distension being the most common cause. Immediate relief of
the trigger is vital before administering medications.
2. A client post-stroke with left-sided hemiparesis is preparing for discharge. During an
interdisciplinary team meeting, the physical therapist notes that the client consistently
ignores items placed on the left side of a meal tray. What term best describes this clinical
phenomenon?
A. Apraxia
B. Agnosia
C. Unilateral spatial neglect
D. Expressive aphasia
Answer: C
Unilateral spatial neglect, most commonly associated with right-hemisphere brain injury, is a
neuropsychological deficit where the individual fails to attend to stimuli presented on the
contralateral side of the lesion.
,3. A rehabilitation nurse is designing an educational program for a client newly diagnosed
with multiple sclerosis (MS). Which environmental factor should the nurse emphasize as a
potential trigger for exacerbating MS symptoms?
A. Exposure to high ambient temperatures or hot baths (Uhthoff's phenomenon)
B. Consuming a diet rich in complex carbohydrates and lean proteins
C. Participating in low-impact aquatic therapy in temperature-neutral water
D. Engaging in morning cognitive rehabilitation exercises
Answer: A
Elevated body temperature temporarily worsens conduction block in demyelinated nerve
fibers, a classic MS trigger known as Uhthoff's phenomenon. Clients must be taught energy
conservation and temperature regulation.
4. When conducting a functional independence measure (FIM) assessment on a client
admitted for traumatic brain injury, the rehabilitation team rates the client as requiring
complete assistance from two persons for all transfers. Which numeric score corresponds
to this level of independence?
A. 1
B. 3
C. 5
D. 7
Answer: A
The FIM scale ranges from 1 (total dependence/complete assistance) to 7 (complete
independence). A score of 1 indicates that the client exerts less than 25 percent of the effort
during the task.
5. A rehabilitation nurse is caring for a client with Parkinson's disease who exhibits severe
bradykinesia and freezing gait episodes. Which nursing strategy is most effective for
improving gait mechanics during ambulation?
A. Instructing the client to look down continuously at their feet while walking
B. Using external rhythmic auditory cues or a laser-line walking device
C. Encouraging rapid, hurried walking to finish transitions quickly
,D. Eliminating the use of all assistive devices to build natural balance
Answer: B
External sensory cues, such as a metronome, rhythmic counting, or visual floor lines, bypass
damaged basal ganglia circuits in Parkinson's disease, helping to overcome freezing episodes.
6. A client with a T10 spinal cord injury is participating in a bowel bladder retraining
program. Which physiological mechanism is the primary target of an established bowel
management routine?
A. Stimulating voluntary cerebral cortex control over the internal anal sphincter
B. Utilizing gastrocolic reflexes and scheduled digital stimulation or suppositories to establish
predictability
C. Eliminating the need for high-fiber dietary intake and fluid management
D. Achieving permanent total independence from all nursing assistance
Answer: B
In neurogenic bowel management, establishing a predictable routine takes advantage of the
natural gastrocolic reflex, combined with chemical or mechanical stimulants, to prevent
autonomic dysreflexia and fecal impaction.
7. A rehabilitation nurse is assessing an older adult client for potential rehabilitation
potential following a hip arthroplasty. Which psychological screening tool is most
appropriate to evaluate for concurrent clinical depression?
A. Glasgow Coma Scale
B. Braden Scale for Pressure Risk
C. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
D. Functional Independence Measure
Answer: C
The Geriatric Depression Scale is a validated, specialized screening tool designed to evaluate
depressive symptoms in older adult populations undergoing rehabilitative care.
, 8. A client with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is experiencing progressive bulbar
weakness. Which nutritional intervention is most critical to include in the comprehensive
care plan?
A. Immediate transition to high-sodium liquid supplements only
B. Collaborative speech-language pathology swallow evaluation and discussion of advanced
directives regarding feeding tubes
C. Strict total parenteral nutrition initiated on day one of admission
D. Encouraging raw, fibrous foods to strengthen jaw muscle tone
Answer: B
Bulbar involvement impairs swallowing safety, increasing aspiration risks. Early assessment
by a speech therapist and proactive discussion of nutritional options respect client autonomy
before respiratory decline occurs.
9. A client recovering from a traumatic brain injury demonstrates impulsive behaviors,
poor safety awareness, and confabulation. Which cognitive rehabilitation approach is most
appropriate?
A. Confronting the client aggressively with reality every time confabulation occurs
B. Implementing structured routines, environmental modifications, and direct supervision
C. Allowing unsupervised community outings to test real-world judgment
D. Relying exclusively on unassisted complex problem-solving worksheets
Answer: B
Clients with frontal lobe injury often lack insight and impulse control. Environmental
structuring, consistent routines, and supervision protect the client from harm while safety
awareness is slowly re-established.
10. A rehabilitation nurse is developing a pressure injury prevention protocol for a client
with quadriplegia. How frequently should weight shifts be performed while the client is
seated in a wheelchair?
A. Every 15 to 30 minutes for at least 1 to 2 minutes
B. Once every 4 hours during the morning shift
C. Only when the client complains of localized ischial discomfort
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS-RATIONALES |
EXAM PREP | DOWNLOAD INSTANT PDF | GUARANTEED
PASS || LATEST EXAM 2026-2027
1. A rehabilitation nurse is evaluating a client with a C5 spinal cord injury who exhibits
sudden severe throbbing headache, diaphoresis above the level of the injury, and nasal
congestion. What is the priority nursing intervention?
A. Administer a sublingual antihypertensive medication immediately as prescribed
B. Assess for bladder distension and check the indwelling urinary catheter for kinks
C. Place the client flat in bed to optimize cerebral perfusion pressure
D. Perform passive range-of-motion exercises to lower systemic blood pressure
Answer: B
Autonomic dysreflexia is a medical emergency typically triggered by a noxious stimulus below
the level of injury, with bladder distension being the most common cause. Immediate relief of
the trigger is vital before administering medications.
2. A client post-stroke with left-sided hemiparesis is preparing for discharge. During an
interdisciplinary team meeting, the physical therapist notes that the client consistently
ignores items placed on the left side of a meal tray. What term best describes this clinical
phenomenon?
A. Apraxia
B. Agnosia
C. Unilateral spatial neglect
D. Expressive aphasia
Answer: C
Unilateral spatial neglect, most commonly associated with right-hemisphere brain injury, is a
neuropsychological deficit where the individual fails to attend to stimuli presented on the
contralateral side of the lesion.
,3. A rehabilitation nurse is designing an educational program for a client newly diagnosed
with multiple sclerosis (MS). Which environmental factor should the nurse emphasize as a
potential trigger for exacerbating MS symptoms?
A. Exposure to high ambient temperatures or hot baths (Uhthoff's phenomenon)
B. Consuming a diet rich in complex carbohydrates and lean proteins
C. Participating in low-impact aquatic therapy in temperature-neutral water
D. Engaging in morning cognitive rehabilitation exercises
Answer: A
Elevated body temperature temporarily worsens conduction block in demyelinated nerve
fibers, a classic MS trigger known as Uhthoff's phenomenon. Clients must be taught energy
conservation and temperature regulation.
4. When conducting a functional independence measure (FIM) assessment on a client
admitted for traumatic brain injury, the rehabilitation team rates the client as requiring
complete assistance from two persons for all transfers. Which numeric score corresponds
to this level of independence?
A. 1
B. 3
C. 5
D. 7
Answer: A
The FIM scale ranges from 1 (total dependence/complete assistance) to 7 (complete
independence). A score of 1 indicates that the client exerts less than 25 percent of the effort
during the task.
5. A rehabilitation nurse is caring for a client with Parkinson's disease who exhibits severe
bradykinesia and freezing gait episodes. Which nursing strategy is most effective for
improving gait mechanics during ambulation?
A. Instructing the client to look down continuously at their feet while walking
B. Using external rhythmic auditory cues or a laser-line walking device
C. Encouraging rapid, hurried walking to finish transitions quickly
,D. Eliminating the use of all assistive devices to build natural balance
Answer: B
External sensory cues, such as a metronome, rhythmic counting, or visual floor lines, bypass
damaged basal ganglia circuits in Parkinson's disease, helping to overcome freezing episodes.
6. A client with a T10 spinal cord injury is participating in a bowel bladder retraining
program. Which physiological mechanism is the primary target of an established bowel
management routine?
A. Stimulating voluntary cerebral cortex control over the internal anal sphincter
B. Utilizing gastrocolic reflexes and scheduled digital stimulation or suppositories to establish
predictability
C. Eliminating the need for high-fiber dietary intake and fluid management
D. Achieving permanent total independence from all nursing assistance
Answer: B
In neurogenic bowel management, establishing a predictable routine takes advantage of the
natural gastrocolic reflex, combined with chemical or mechanical stimulants, to prevent
autonomic dysreflexia and fecal impaction.
7. A rehabilitation nurse is assessing an older adult client for potential rehabilitation
potential following a hip arthroplasty. Which psychological screening tool is most
appropriate to evaluate for concurrent clinical depression?
A. Glasgow Coma Scale
B. Braden Scale for Pressure Risk
C. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
D. Functional Independence Measure
Answer: C
The Geriatric Depression Scale is a validated, specialized screening tool designed to evaluate
depressive symptoms in older adult populations undergoing rehabilitative care.
, 8. A client with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is experiencing progressive bulbar
weakness. Which nutritional intervention is most critical to include in the comprehensive
care plan?
A. Immediate transition to high-sodium liquid supplements only
B. Collaborative speech-language pathology swallow evaluation and discussion of advanced
directives regarding feeding tubes
C. Strict total parenteral nutrition initiated on day one of admission
D. Encouraging raw, fibrous foods to strengthen jaw muscle tone
Answer: B
Bulbar involvement impairs swallowing safety, increasing aspiration risks. Early assessment
by a speech therapist and proactive discussion of nutritional options respect client autonomy
before respiratory decline occurs.
9. A client recovering from a traumatic brain injury demonstrates impulsive behaviors,
poor safety awareness, and confabulation. Which cognitive rehabilitation approach is most
appropriate?
A. Confronting the client aggressively with reality every time confabulation occurs
B. Implementing structured routines, environmental modifications, and direct supervision
C. Allowing unsupervised community outings to test real-world judgment
D. Relying exclusively on unassisted complex problem-solving worksheets
Answer: B
Clients with frontal lobe injury often lack insight and impulse control. Environmental
structuring, consistent routines, and supervision protect the client from harm while safety
awareness is slowly re-established.
10. A rehabilitation nurse is developing a pressure injury prevention protocol for a client
with quadriplegia. How frequently should weight shifts be performed while the client is
seated in a wheelchair?
A. Every 15 to 30 minutes for at least 1 to 2 minutes
B. Once every 4 hours during the morning shift
C. Only when the client complains of localized ischial discomfort
