Neurology CCRN UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Which of the following is a false statement?
a. head injuries in infants are associated with increased mortality secondary to open fontanels.
b. if an infant is not restrained and is propelled during a MVA, the head usually leads.
Resulting in critical injury
c. The infant has less myelinated nerves that are easily injured.
d. the cranial bones are thin and offer inadequate protection - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔A,
open fontanels allow for a certain decree of expansion reducing the mortality associated with
head injuries. When an infant is propelled, the head usually leads. The infant has thin cranial
bones and less myelinated nerves.
The nurse is caring for Jacob, an infant with a closed head injury. His vital signs at 0200 are
as follows. BP 90/60 HR 130 RR 22, At 0230 the nruse notes that Jacob is not responding to
stimuli and his vital signs are as follows: BP 110/42
HR 54 RR . In addition to attending to his airway which of the following should the nurse
anticipate as a top priority.
a. administer a 10ml/kg bolus of an isotonic solution
b. administer PRN morphine
c. administer mannitol
c. administer glucose - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔c. the scenario describes a child with
Cushing's reflex. an emergency where increased ICP may lead to herniation. In Cushing's
reflex, the systolic BP increases greater than the diastolic pressure, creating a widened pulse
pressure. Bradycardia and apnea accompany the widened pulse pressure. Increased ICP is
usually managed with an osmotic diuretic such as Mannitol.
The nurse is caring for Samantha, a 5 year old with a closed head injury. When the nurse
stimulated Samantha, the child flexed her arms, clenches her fists and extends her legs.
Which of the following is accurate?
a. Samantha is demonstrating decorticate posturing which indicates cerebral damage
b. Samantha is demonstrating decorticate posturing which indicates damage to the midbrain.
c. Samantha is demonstrating decerebrate posturing which indicates cerebral damage
, b. Samantha is demonstrating decerebrate posturing which indicates damage to the midbrain.
- CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔A. Decorticate posturing which indicates cerebral damage
occurs when the response to stimuli includes, clenched fists, flexed arms and extended legs.
Tyrone is in the PICU after haing a brain tumor resected. His ICP is 15 and his MAP is 80.
What is his CPP?
a. 95mmHG
b. 45mmHg
c. 65mmHg
d.33mmHg - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔C. CPP is calculated by subtracting the ICP from the
MAP.
Which of the following is an acceptable CPP for an adolescent?
a. 35mmHg
b. 45mmHg
c. 55mmHg
d. 65mmHg - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔D. An adolescent should have a CPP of 65mmHg or
greater
Which of the following is true regarding diagnosing brain death?
a. the body temperature must be greater than 33 degrees centrigrade.
b. a diagnosis of brain death can still be made if the child is receiving CNS depressants and
paralytic agents
c. spinal reflexes may still be present
d. no solid criteria exist for diagnosis brain death in children. - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔c.
Spinal reflexes may still be present despite brain death. Criteria does exist for the diagnosis of
brain death in children. The body temperature must be greater than 32C. A diagnosis of
braing death cannot be made if the child has received any CNS depressants.
The neurologist is assessing Josie for brain death. When Josie's head is turned from side to
side the nurse notes that she has a dolls eyes response. What response should be noted in the
neurologically intact child when the head is rapidly turned from side to side.
a. the eyes should deviate to the opposite side that the head is turned to
b. the eyes should deviate to the same side that the head is turned to
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Which of the following is a false statement?
a. head injuries in infants are associated with increased mortality secondary to open fontanels.
b. if an infant is not restrained and is propelled during a MVA, the head usually leads.
Resulting in critical injury
c. The infant has less myelinated nerves that are easily injured.
d. the cranial bones are thin and offer inadequate protection - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔A,
open fontanels allow for a certain decree of expansion reducing the mortality associated with
head injuries. When an infant is propelled, the head usually leads. The infant has thin cranial
bones and less myelinated nerves.
The nurse is caring for Jacob, an infant with a closed head injury. His vital signs at 0200 are
as follows. BP 90/60 HR 130 RR 22, At 0230 the nruse notes that Jacob is not responding to
stimuli and his vital signs are as follows: BP 110/42
HR 54 RR . In addition to attending to his airway which of the following should the nurse
anticipate as a top priority.
a. administer a 10ml/kg bolus of an isotonic solution
b. administer PRN morphine
c. administer mannitol
c. administer glucose - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔c. the scenario describes a child with
Cushing's reflex. an emergency where increased ICP may lead to herniation. In Cushing's
reflex, the systolic BP increases greater than the diastolic pressure, creating a widened pulse
pressure. Bradycardia and apnea accompany the widened pulse pressure. Increased ICP is
usually managed with an osmotic diuretic such as Mannitol.
The nurse is caring for Samantha, a 5 year old with a closed head injury. When the nurse
stimulated Samantha, the child flexed her arms, clenches her fists and extends her legs.
Which of the following is accurate?
a. Samantha is demonstrating decorticate posturing which indicates cerebral damage
b. Samantha is demonstrating decorticate posturing which indicates damage to the midbrain.
c. Samantha is demonstrating decerebrate posturing which indicates cerebral damage
, b. Samantha is demonstrating decerebrate posturing which indicates damage to the midbrain.
- CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔A. Decorticate posturing which indicates cerebral damage
occurs when the response to stimuli includes, clenched fists, flexed arms and extended legs.
Tyrone is in the PICU after haing a brain tumor resected. His ICP is 15 and his MAP is 80.
What is his CPP?
a. 95mmHG
b. 45mmHg
c. 65mmHg
d.33mmHg - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔C. CPP is calculated by subtracting the ICP from the
MAP.
Which of the following is an acceptable CPP for an adolescent?
a. 35mmHg
b. 45mmHg
c. 55mmHg
d. 65mmHg - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔D. An adolescent should have a CPP of 65mmHg or
greater
Which of the following is true regarding diagnosing brain death?
a. the body temperature must be greater than 33 degrees centrigrade.
b. a diagnosis of brain death can still be made if the child is receiving CNS depressants and
paralytic agents
c. spinal reflexes may still be present
d. no solid criteria exist for diagnosis brain death in children. - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔c.
Spinal reflexes may still be present despite brain death. Criteria does exist for the diagnosis of
brain death in children. The body temperature must be greater than 32C. A diagnosis of
braing death cannot be made if the child has received any CNS depressants.
The neurologist is assessing Josie for brain death. When Josie's head is turned from side to
side the nurse notes that she has a dolls eyes response. What response should be noted in the
neurologically intact child when the head is rapidly turned from side to side.
a. the eyes should deviate to the opposite side that the head is turned to
b. the eyes should deviate to the same side that the head is turned to
