Nclex Neuro
Nclex Neuro
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8doeyb
1. Which area of the brain is re- The cerebellum
sponsible for coordinating move-
ment? coordinates movement, balance, posture, and spatial judg-
Temporal lobe ment. The medulla deals with cardiac and respiratory func-
Cerebellum tion. The occipital lobe is responsible for vision. The tem-
Occipital lobe poral lobe deals with hearing.
Medulla
2. The nurse is performing a neuro- Jerky eyes movements
logic exam on an elderly patient.
Which finding is normal? Neurologic changes typical of aging include smaller pupils
Jerky eye movements that respond to light more slowly, and eye movements that
Absent reflexes are jerky rather than smooth. Reflexes are usually intact
Balance problems except for the Achilles tendon jerk, which is often absent.
Dilated pupils Dizziness and problems with balance are not considered
normal age-related changes but may be related to disease
or drug side effects.
3. A patient is experiencing de- Stupor
creased responsiveness and lack
of spontaneous motor activity. Somnolence is unnatural drowsiness or sleepiness. Lethar-
What term would the nurse use gy also is used to describe excessive drowsiness. Stupor
to describe the patient's level of suggests decreased responsiveness accompanied by lack
conscious? of spontaneous motor activity. If a patient is in a stupor
Lethargy (stuporous) but can be aroused, the term semi comatose
Stupor is used. A patient who cannot be aroused even by powerful
Comatose stimuli is said to be in a coma, or comatose.
Somnolence
REF: p. 355
4. Which symptom is the earliest in- Changes in level of consciousness
dication of increased intracranial
pressure (ICP)? Changes in the patient's level of consciousness are the
actualstudy 1
, Nclex Neuro
Nclex Neuro
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8doeyb
Change from normal to dilated earliest indicator of ICP. This is due to oxygen sensitivity
pupil in cerebral blood, which decreases as ICP rises. A dilated
Increasing systolic blood pres- pupil is a later sign of ICP. Altered motor function occurs
sure without change in diastolic as pressure on the frontal lobe increases. Changes in vital
reading signs are later signs of the condition, and the widening
Changes in level of conscious- pulse pressure described is a part of the Cushing triad.
ness
Altered motor function on side REF: p. 365
opposite from mass
5. A patient returned to the nursing Supine
unit after a lumbar puncture. In
which position should the patient The risk of post lumbar puncture headache is reduced by
be placed after the procedure to lying flat, which is the supine position. The prone position is
avoid complications? uncomfortable for many patients and would make it more
difficult to assess vital signs. The mid-Fowler position has
High-Fowler the head of the bed raised to 45 degrees and may con-
Mid-Fowler tribute to a spinal headache. The high-Fowler position has
Prone the head of bed raised and can cause a severe headache.
Supine
REF: p. 361
6. What is the most accurate reli- Level of consciousness
able indicator of neurologic sta-
tus? The most reliable indication of neurologic status is the
Patient blood flow level of consciousness. The caregiver should evaluate the
Vital signs patient's orientation by asking him or her to state names,
Level of consciousness where he or she is, and what time it is. Patient blood flow
Pupillary evaluation is not descriptive enough to indicate neurologic status.
Changes in vital signs and pupils occur later with neuro-
logic disorders.
REF: p. 354
actualstudy 2
, Nclex Neuro
Nclex Neuro
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8doeyb
7. The nurse is evaluating the pa- Coordinate and balance
tient using the Romberg test.
What is the nurse assessing? The Romberg test evaluates coordination and balance. Lev-
el of consciousness is assessed by evaluating patients for
Cranial nerve function orientation to person, place, and time by asking them to
Level of consciousness state their names, where they are, and what time it is,
Muscle strength along with evaluating the degree of stimulation required
Coordination and balance to evoke a response from the patient. Cranial nerves are
assessed individually. Muscle strength is assessed by us-
ing passive range-of-motion exercises and testing strength
against gravity and resistance.
REF: p. 355
8. The patient is suspected to have Cerebral angiography
a cerebral aneurysm. Which diag-
nostic test does the nurse antici- A lumbar puncture is an invasive procedure that is used
pate will be ordered? most often to detect infections and other disorders of the
Myelogram CNS, tumors, and hydrocephalus. The electroencephalo-
Lumbar puncture gram (EEG) is a graphic representation of electrical ac-
Cerebral angiography tivity in brain cells and is commonly used to diagnose
Electroencephalogram (EEG) seizures. A myelogram is obtained to visualize the spinal
cord and vertebrae. Cerebral angiography provides images
of the cerebral, carotid, and vertebral blood vessels. It is the
most definitive diagnostic test in the diagnosis of cerebral
aneurysm or congenital vascular disorders, such as arteri-
ovenous malformation.
REF: p. 363
9. A patient returned to the unit
3 hours after having a lumbar
actualstudy 3
Nclex Neuro
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8doeyb
1. Which area of the brain is re- The cerebellum
sponsible for coordinating move-
ment? coordinates movement, balance, posture, and spatial judg-
Temporal lobe ment. The medulla deals with cardiac and respiratory func-
Cerebellum tion. The occipital lobe is responsible for vision. The tem-
Occipital lobe poral lobe deals with hearing.
Medulla
2. The nurse is performing a neuro- Jerky eyes movements
logic exam on an elderly patient.
Which finding is normal? Neurologic changes typical of aging include smaller pupils
Jerky eye movements that respond to light more slowly, and eye movements that
Absent reflexes are jerky rather than smooth. Reflexes are usually intact
Balance problems except for the Achilles tendon jerk, which is often absent.
Dilated pupils Dizziness and problems with balance are not considered
normal age-related changes but may be related to disease
or drug side effects.
3. A patient is experiencing de- Stupor
creased responsiveness and lack
of spontaneous motor activity. Somnolence is unnatural drowsiness or sleepiness. Lethar-
What term would the nurse use gy also is used to describe excessive drowsiness. Stupor
to describe the patient's level of suggests decreased responsiveness accompanied by lack
conscious? of spontaneous motor activity. If a patient is in a stupor
Lethargy (stuporous) but can be aroused, the term semi comatose
Stupor is used. A patient who cannot be aroused even by powerful
Comatose stimuli is said to be in a coma, or comatose.
Somnolence
REF: p. 355
4. Which symptom is the earliest in- Changes in level of consciousness
dication of increased intracranial
pressure (ICP)? Changes in the patient's level of consciousness are the
actualstudy 1
, Nclex Neuro
Nclex Neuro
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8doeyb
Change from normal to dilated earliest indicator of ICP. This is due to oxygen sensitivity
pupil in cerebral blood, which decreases as ICP rises. A dilated
Increasing systolic blood pres- pupil is a later sign of ICP. Altered motor function occurs
sure without change in diastolic as pressure on the frontal lobe increases. Changes in vital
reading signs are later signs of the condition, and the widening
Changes in level of conscious- pulse pressure described is a part of the Cushing triad.
ness
Altered motor function on side REF: p. 365
opposite from mass
5. A patient returned to the nursing Supine
unit after a lumbar puncture. In
which position should the patient The risk of post lumbar puncture headache is reduced by
be placed after the procedure to lying flat, which is the supine position. The prone position is
avoid complications? uncomfortable for many patients and would make it more
difficult to assess vital signs. The mid-Fowler position has
High-Fowler the head of the bed raised to 45 degrees and may con-
Mid-Fowler tribute to a spinal headache. The high-Fowler position has
Prone the head of bed raised and can cause a severe headache.
Supine
REF: p. 361
6. What is the most accurate reli- Level of consciousness
able indicator of neurologic sta-
tus? The most reliable indication of neurologic status is the
Patient blood flow level of consciousness. The caregiver should evaluate the
Vital signs patient's orientation by asking him or her to state names,
Level of consciousness where he or she is, and what time it is. Patient blood flow
Pupillary evaluation is not descriptive enough to indicate neurologic status.
Changes in vital signs and pupils occur later with neuro-
logic disorders.
REF: p. 354
actualstudy 2
, Nclex Neuro
Nclex Neuro
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_8doeyb
7. The nurse is evaluating the pa- Coordinate and balance
tient using the Romberg test.
What is the nurse assessing? The Romberg test evaluates coordination and balance. Lev-
el of consciousness is assessed by evaluating patients for
Cranial nerve function orientation to person, place, and time by asking them to
Level of consciousness state their names, where they are, and what time it is,
Muscle strength along with evaluating the degree of stimulation required
Coordination and balance to evoke a response from the patient. Cranial nerves are
assessed individually. Muscle strength is assessed by us-
ing passive range-of-motion exercises and testing strength
against gravity and resistance.
REF: p. 355
8. The patient is suspected to have Cerebral angiography
a cerebral aneurysm. Which diag-
nostic test does the nurse antici- A lumbar puncture is an invasive procedure that is used
pate will be ordered? most often to detect infections and other disorders of the
Myelogram CNS, tumors, and hydrocephalus. The electroencephalo-
Lumbar puncture gram (EEG) is a graphic representation of electrical ac-
Cerebral angiography tivity in brain cells and is commonly used to diagnose
Electroencephalogram (EEG) seizures. A myelogram is obtained to visualize the spinal
cord and vertebrae. Cerebral angiography provides images
of the cerebral, carotid, and vertebral blood vessels. It is the
most definitive diagnostic test in the diagnosis of cerebral
aneurysm or congenital vascular disorders, such as arteri-
ovenous malformation.
REF: p. 363
9. A patient returned to the unit
3 hours after having a lumbar
actualstudy 3
