MGRADES EXAMS
Nurs 5461 Seizures UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Seizures—An Update - CORRECT ANSWER - Provoked seizures may never recur and may
not need treatment other than treating the underlying medical condition—fever, trauma, low
blood sugar, hyponatremia, hypocalcemia, drug abuse, alcohol withdrawal
Epilepsy - CORRECT ANSWER - 2 or more unprovoked seizures, Seizures can cause
changes in consciousness, sensation, psychological feelings, smell, vision, autonomic function
and/or motor activity
Focal seizures - CORRECT ANSWER - begin in one part of the cerebral hemisphere
Generalized seizures - CORRECT ANSWER - —begin with generalized abnormal electrical
activity
Status Epilepticus - CORRECT ANSWER - a seizure lasting longer than 30" or multiple
seizures without return to baseline in a 30" window
Focal [Partial] Seizures - CORRECT ANSWER - Begin in limited region of one hemisphere
and show focal EEG abnormalities Patient may have varying levels of consciousness [LOC]
Focal without impaired consciousness [Simple partial seizures] - CORRECT ANSWER - No
altered LOC Usually, they are the aura that patient experiences before a larger seizure
Focal with impaired consciousness [Complex partial seizures] - CORRECT ANSWER - If
seizure activity spreads and involves brainstem or both hemispheres, consciousness will be
altered and then seizure is considered complex partial seizure [CPS],Altered LOC and behaviors
such as automatisms are thought of as CPS If seizure spreads bilaterally and involves the motor
cortex, patient may experience a secondarily generalized seizure
, MGRADES EXAMS
Complex Partial Seizures Focal w/LOC - CORRECT ANSWER - Most common type of
seizures in adults with epilepsy
During the seizure, patient appears to be awake, but not in contact with others and does not
respond to instructions or questions The seizure lasts 1-3 minutes and may be preceded by a SPS
After patient enters postictal phase, they are often somnolent, confused and complain of
headache for several hours
Convulsive Generalized Seizures - CORRECT ANSWER - Electrical activity begins in both
cerebral hemispheres Usually seen with idiopathic epilepsy Consciousness is impaired EEG
shows generalized spike and wave patterns Can be difficult to distinguish tonic/clonic seizure
from a CPS that is 2nd generalized Important to do so, as meds are given based on seizure type
Also know as tonic/clonic, grand mal or major motor seizures
Tonic/Clonic Generalized Seizures - CORRECT ANSWER - Begins with abrupt loss of
consciousness All of muscles of arms/legs, as well as chest and back, become stiff Patient may
appear cyanotic during this tonic phase After 1 minute or so, muscles begin to jerk and twitch for
an additional 1-2 minutes Post ictal phase begins once twitching movements end
Nonconvulsive Generalized Seizures Atonic Seizures - CORRECT ANSWER - Sudden loss
of control of muscles, especially in legs that causes collapse to the ground and possible injury
Also known as drop attacks or drop seizures
Nonconvulsive Generalized Seizures absence - CORRECT ANSWER - Brief seizures Patient
may be initially diagnosed as a "daydreamer" Seizures of childhood Last 5-10 seconds Often
occur in clusters and may occur dozenshundreds of times a day
Epilepsy and Epileptic Syndromes - CORRECT ANSWER - Many epilepsies develop in
childhood, 70% of them [especially focal [partial] types], will remit by puberty Generalized
epilepsies usually manifest by age 18 Brain tumors are a prominent cause of seizure in young
adults, whereas strokes are often the cause of seizures in srs.
Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures [PINES] - CORRECT ANSWER - Paroxysmal seizure-
like events that result from psychological disturbances 80% are associated with early sexual
abuse [especially in women] Previously referred to as pseudoseizures They mimic true seizures,
so getting the diagnosis is critical
Nurs 5461 Seizures UPDATED ACTUAL
Exam Questions and CORRECT Answers
Seizures—An Update - CORRECT ANSWER - Provoked seizures may never recur and may
not need treatment other than treating the underlying medical condition—fever, trauma, low
blood sugar, hyponatremia, hypocalcemia, drug abuse, alcohol withdrawal
Epilepsy - CORRECT ANSWER - 2 or more unprovoked seizures, Seizures can cause
changes in consciousness, sensation, psychological feelings, smell, vision, autonomic function
and/or motor activity
Focal seizures - CORRECT ANSWER - begin in one part of the cerebral hemisphere
Generalized seizures - CORRECT ANSWER - —begin with generalized abnormal electrical
activity
Status Epilepticus - CORRECT ANSWER - a seizure lasting longer than 30" or multiple
seizures without return to baseline in a 30" window
Focal [Partial] Seizures - CORRECT ANSWER - Begin in limited region of one hemisphere
and show focal EEG abnormalities Patient may have varying levels of consciousness [LOC]
Focal without impaired consciousness [Simple partial seizures] - CORRECT ANSWER - No
altered LOC Usually, they are the aura that patient experiences before a larger seizure
Focal with impaired consciousness [Complex partial seizures] - CORRECT ANSWER - If
seizure activity spreads and involves brainstem or both hemispheres, consciousness will be
altered and then seizure is considered complex partial seizure [CPS],Altered LOC and behaviors
such as automatisms are thought of as CPS If seizure spreads bilaterally and involves the motor
cortex, patient may experience a secondarily generalized seizure
, MGRADES EXAMS
Complex Partial Seizures Focal w/LOC - CORRECT ANSWER - Most common type of
seizures in adults with epilepsy
During the seizure, patient appears to be awake, but not in contact with others and does not
respond to instructions or questions The seizure lasts 1-3 minutes and may be preceded by a SPS
After patient enters postictal phase, they are often somnolent, confused and complain of
headache for several hours
Convulsive Generalized Seizures - CORRECT ANSWER - Electrical activity begins in both
cerebral hemispheres Usually seen with idiopathic epilepsy Consciousness is impaired EEG
shows generalized spike and wave patterns Can be difficult to distinguish tonic/clonic seizure
from a CPS that is 2nd generalized Important to do so, as meds are given based on seizure type
Also know as tonic/clonic, grand mal or major motor seizures
Tonic/Clonic Generalized Seizures - CORRECT ANSWER - Begins with abrupt loss of
consciousness All of muscles of arms/legs, as well as chest and back, become stiff Patient may
appear cyanotic during this tonic phase After 1 minute or so, muscles begin to jerk and twitch for
an additional 1-2 minutes Post ictal phase begins once twitching movements end
Nonconvulsive Generalized Seizures Atonic Seizures - CORRECT ANSWER - Sudden loss
of control of muscles, especially in legs that causes collapse to the ground and possible injury
Also known as drop attacks or drop seizures
Nonconvulsive Generalized Seizures absence - CORRECT ANSWER - Brief seizures Patient
may be initially diagnosed as a "daydreamer" Seizures of childhood Last 5-10 seconds Often
occur in clusters and may occur dozenshundreds of times a day
Epilepsy and Epileptic Syndromes - CORRECT ANSWER - Many epilepsies develop in
childhood, 70% of them [especially focal [partial] types], will remit by puberty Generalized
epilepsies usually manifest by age 18 Brain tumors are a prominent cause of seizure in young
adults, whereas strokes are often the cause of seizures in srs.
Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures [PINES] - CORRECT ANSWER - Paroxysmal seizure-
like events that result from psychological disturbances 80% are associated with early sexual
abuse [especially in women] Previously referred to as pseudoseizures They mimic true seizures,
so getting the diagnosis is critical
