Nursing 354 Seizure Disorders Practice
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. Which finding is most characteristic of a generalized tonic-clonic seizure?
A. Brief loss of muscle tone without convulsions
B. Loss of consciousness followed by tonic stiffening and rhythmic jerking
C. Preserved awareness with repetitive hand movements
D. Sudden staring lasting several minutes
Answer: Loss of consciousness followed by tonic stiffening and rhythmic jerking
Rationale: A generalized tonic-clonic seizure typically involves loss of
consciousness, a tonic stiffening phase, and a clonic phase characterized by
rhythmic muscle contractions.
2. Which nursing action is the priority when a patient begins having a seizure?
A. Insert an oral airway
B. Restrain the patient's extremities
C. Protect the patient from injury and maintain airway safety
D. Give oral medication immediately
Answer: Protect the patient from injury and maintain airway safety
,Rationale: During a seizure, the nurse should protect the patient from injury,
maintain a patent airway as safely as possible, and avoid restraining the patient
or placing objects in the mouth.
3. Which intervention should the nurse avoid during an active seizure?
A. Moving nearby objects away
B. Timing the seizure
C. Turning the patient to the side when possible
D. Forcibly restraining the patient's movements
Answer: Forcibly restraining the patient's movements
Rationale: Restraining a patient during a seizure can cause musculoskeletal
injury. The nurse should instead protect the patient from environmental hazards.
4. A patient is experiencing a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Which position is
safest when feasible?
A. Supine with the head flat
B. Prone with the face downward
C. Side-lying with the airway positioned for drainage
D. Sitting upright unsupported
Answer: Side-lying with the airway positioned for drainage
Rationale: Side-lying positioning helps promote airway drainage and reduces
the risk of aspiration after or during seizure activity when positioning can be
performed safely.
5. Which assessment finding is most consistent with an absence seizure?
A. Prolonged postictal confusion
B. Severe muscle rigidity lasting several minutes
,C. Brief staring episodes with impaired awareness
D. Loss of consciousness followed by violent jerking
Answer: Brief staring episodes with impaired awareness
Rationale: Absence seizures commonly present as brief episodes of impaired
awareness, often with staring, and may occur without a prolonged postictal
period.
6. What is the purpose of an electroencephalogram (EEG) in a patient with
suspected seizure disorder?
A. Measure intracranial pressure
B. Identify cerebral tumors directly
C. Detect abnormal electrical activity in the brain
D. Determine serum medication levels
Answer: Detect abnormal electrical activity in the brain
Rationale: An EEG records electrical activity in the brain and can help identify
abnormal patterns associated with different seizure disorders.
7. Which finding is commonly expected during the postictal period following a
generalized tonic-clonic seizure?
A. Increased alertness and energy
B. Confusion and drowsiness
C. Persistent hypertension in every patient
D. Immediate return to baseline neurological function
Answer: Confusion and drowsiness
Rationale: Following a generalized seizure, patients commonly experience a
postictal period characterized by confusion, fatigue, headache, or drowsiness.
, 8. Which medication is commonly used as an emergency treatment for an
ongoing prolonged seizure?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Levothyroxine
C. Lorazepam
D. Furosemide
Answer: Lorazepam
Rationale: Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam are commonly used as first-line
emergency therapy for prolonged seizure activity because they rapidly suppress
abnormal neuronal activity.
9. A patient continues having seizure activity without regaining consciousness.
What condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Syncope
B. Migraine
C. Status epilepticus
D. Transient hypertension
Answer: Status epilepticus
Rationale: Status epilepticus is a neurologic emergency involving prolonged
seizure activity or recurrent seizures without adequate recovery between
episodes.
10. Which assessment is the priority after a seizure has ended?
A. Appetite
B. Skin turgor
C. Airway and respiratory status
D. Bowel sounds
Answer: Airway and respiratory status
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
1. Which finding is most characteristic of a generalized tonic-clonic seizure?
A. Brief loss of muscle tone without convulsions
B. Loss of consciousness followed by tonic stiffening and rhythmic jerking
C. Preserved awareness with repetitive hand movements
D. Sudden staring lasting several minutes
Answer: Loss of consciousness followed by tonic stiffening and rhythmic jerking
Rationale: A generalized tonic-clonic seizure typically involves loss of
consciousness, a tonic stiffening phase, and a clonic phase characterized by
rhythmic muscle contractions.
2. Which nursing action is the priority when a patient begins having a seizure?
A. Insert an oral airway
B. Restrain the patient's extremities
C. Protect the patient from injury and maintain airway safety
D. Give oral medication immediately
Answer: Protect the patient from injury and maintain airway safety
,Rationale: During a seizure, the nurse should protect the patient from injury,
maintain a patent airway as safely as possible, and avoid restraining the patient
or placing objects in the mouth.
3. Which intervention should the nurse avoid during an active seizure?
A. Moving nearby objects away
B. Timing the seizure
C. Turning the patient to the side when possible
D. Forcibly restraining the patient's movements
Answer: Forcibly restraining the patient's movements
Rationale: Restraining a patient during a seizure can cause musculoskeletal
injury. The nurse should instead protect the patient from environmental hazards.
4. A patient is experiencing a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Which position is
safest when feasible?
A. Supine with the head flat
B. Prone with the face downward
C. Side-lying with the airway positioned for drainage
D. Sitting upright unsupported
Answer: Side-lying with the airway positioned for drainage
Rationale: Side-lying positioning helps promote airway drainage and reduces
the risk of aspiration after or during seizure activity when positioning can be
performed safely.
5. Which assessment finding is most consistent with an absence seizure?
A. Prolonged postictal confusion
B. Severe muscle rigidity lasting several minutes
,C. Brief staring episodes with impaired awareness
D. Loss of consciousness followed by violent jerking
Answer: Brief staring episodes with impaired awareness
Rationale: Absence seizures commonly present as brief episodes of impaired
awareness, often with staring, and may occur without a prolonged postictal
period.
6. What is the purpose of an electroencephalogram (EEG) in a patient with
suspected seizure disorder?
A. Measure intracranial pressure
B. Identify cerebral tumors directly
C. Detect abnormal electrical activity in the brain
D. Determine serum medication levels
Answer: Detect abnormal electrical activity in the brain
Rationale: An EEG records electrical activity in the brain and can help identify
abnormal patterns associated with different seizure disorders.
7. Which finding is commonly expected during the postictal period following a
generalized tonic-clonic seizure?
A. Increased alertness and energy
B. Confusion and drowsiness
C. Persistent hypertension in every patient
D. Immediate return to baseline neurological function
Answer: Confusion and drowsiness
Rationale: Following a generalized seizure, patients commonly experience a
postictal period characterized by confusion, fatigue, headache, or drowsiness.
, 8. Which medication is commonly used as an emergency treatment for an
ongoing prolonged seizure?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Levothyroxine
C. Lorazepam
D. Furosemide
Answer: Lorazepam
Rationale: Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam are commonly used as first-line
emergency therapy for prolonged seizure activity because they rapidly suppress
abnormal neuronal activity.
9. A patient continues having seizure activity without regaining consciousness.
What condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Syncope
B. Migraine
C. Status epilepticus
D. Transient hypertension
Answer: Status epilepticus
Rationale: Status epilepticus is a neurologic emergency involving prolonged
seizure activity or recurrent seizures without adequate recovery between
episodes.
10. Which assessment is the priority after a seizure has ended?
A. Appetite
B. Skin turgor
C. Airway and respiratory status
D. Bowel sounds
Answer: Airway and respiratory status
