Stroke NCLEX Exam Questions and answers
After a patient experienced a brief episode of tinnitus, diplopia, and dysarthria with no residual effects,
the nurse anticipates teaching the patient about
a. cerebral aneurysm clipping.
b. heparin intravenous infusion.
c. oral low-dose aspirin therapy.
d. tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). - ✅✅C. The patient's symptoms are consistent with transient
ischemic attack (TIA), and drugs that inhibit platelet aggregation are prescribed after a TIA to prevent
stroke. Continuous heparin infusion is not routinely used after TIA or with acute ischemic stroke. The
patient's symptoms are not consistent with a cerebral aneurysm. tPA is used only for acute ischemic
stroke, not for TIA.
A 68-year-old patient is being admitted with a possible stroke. Which information from the assessment
indicates that the nurse should consult with the health care provider before giving the prescribed
aspirin?
a. The patient has dysphasia.
b. The patient has atrial fibrillation.
c. The patient reports that symptoms began with a severe headache.
d. The patient has a history of brief episodes of right-sided hemiplegia. - ✅✅C. A sudden onset
headache is typical of a subarachnoid hemorrhage, and aspirin is contraindicated. Atrial fibrillation,
dysphasia, and transient ischemic attack (TIA) are not contraindications to aspirin use, so the nurse can
administer the aspirin.
A 73-year-old patient with a stroke experiences facial drooping on the right side and right-sided arm and
leg paralysis. When admitting the patient, which clinical manifestation will the nurse expect to find?
a. Impulsive behavior
b. Right-sided neglect
c. Hyperactive left-sided tendon reflexes
d. Difficulty comprehending instructions - ✅✅D. Right-sided paralysis indicates a left-brain stroke,
which will lead to difficulty with comprehension and use of language. The left-side reflexes are likely to
be intact. Impulsive behavior and neglect are more likely with a right-side stroke.
, During the change of shift report a nurse is told that a patient has an occluded left posterior cerebral
artery. The nurse will anticipate that the patient may have
a. dysphasia.
b. confusion.
c. visual deficits.
d. poor judgment. - ✅✅C. Visual disturbances are expected with posterior cerebral artery occlusion.
Aphasia occurs with middle cerebral artery involvement. Cognitive deficits and changes in judgment are
more typical of anterior cerebral artery occlusion.
When teaching about clopidogrel (Plavix), the nurse will tell the patient with cerebral atherosclerosis
a. to monitor and record the blood pressure daily.
b. that Plavix will dissolve clots in the cerebral arteries.
c. that Plavix will reduce cerebral artery plaque formation.
d. to call the health care provider if stools are bloody or tarry. - ✅✅D. Clopidogrel (Plavix) inhibits
platelet function and increases the risk for gastrointestinal bleeding, so patients should be advised to
notify the health care provider about any signs of bleeding. The medication does not lower blood
pressure, decrease plaque formation, or dissolve clots.
A patient with carotid atherosclerosis asks the nurse to describe a carotid endarterectomy. Which
response by the nurse is accurate?
a. "The obstructing plaque is surgically removed from an artery in the neck."
b. "The diseased portion of the artery in the brain is replaced with a synthetic graft."
c. "A wire is threaded through an artery in the leg to the clots in the carotid artery and the clots are
removed."
d. "A catheter with a deflated balloon is positioned at the narrow area, and the balloon is inflated to
flatten the plaque." - ✅✅A. In a carotid endarterectomy, the carotid artery is incised and the plaque
is removed. The response beginning, "The diseased portion of the artery in the brain is replaced"
describes an arterial graft procedure. The answer beginning, "A catheter with a deflated balloon is
positioned at the narrow area" describes an angioplasty. The final response beginning, "A wire is
threaded through the artery" describes the mechanical embolus removal in cerebral ischemia (MERCI)
procedure.
A patient admitted with possible stroke has been aphasic for 3 hours and his current blood pressure (BP)
is 174/94 mm Hg. Which order by the health care provider should the nurse question?
After a patient experienced a brief episode of tinnitus, diplopia, and dysarthria with no residual effects,
the nurse anticipates teaching the patient about
a. cerebral aneurysm clipping.
b. heparin intravenous infusion.
c. oral low-dose aspirin therapy.
d. tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). - ✅✅C. The patient's symptoms are consistent with transient
ischemic attack (TIA), and drugs that inhibit platelet aggregation are prescribed after a TIA to prevent
stroke. Continuous heparin infusion is not routinely used after TIA or with acute ischemic stroke. The
patient's symptoms are not consistent with a cerebral aneurysm. tPA is used only for acute ischemic
stroke, not for TIA.
A 68-year-old patient is being admitted with a possible stroke. Which information from the assessment
indicates that the nurse should consult with the health care provider before giving the prescribed
aspirin?
a. The patient has dysphasia.
b. The patient has atrial fibrillation.
c. The patient reports that symptoms began with a severe headache.
d. The patient has a history of brief episodes of right-sided hemiplegia. - ✅✅C. A sudden onset
headache is typical of a subarachnoid hemorrhage, and aspirin is contraindicated. Atrial fibrillation,
dysphasia, and transient ischemic attack (TIA) are not contraindications to aspirin use, so the nurse can
administer the aspirin.
A 73-year-old patient with a stroke experiences facial drooping on the right side and right-sided arm and
leg paralysis. When admitting the patient, which clinical manifestation will the nurse expect to find?
a. Impulsive behavior
b. Right-sided neglect
c. Hyperactive left-sided tendon reflexes
d. Difficulty comprehending instructions - ✅✅D. Right-sided paralysis indicates a left-brain stroke,
which will lead to difficulty with comprehension and use of language. The left-side reflexes are likely to
be intact. Impulsive behavior and neglect are more likely with a right-side stroke.
, During the change of shift report a nurse is told that a patient has an occluded left posterior cerebral
artery. The nurse will anticipate that the patient may have
a. dysphasia.
b. confusion.
c. visual deficits.
d. poor judgment. - ✅✅C. Visual disturbances are expected with posterior cerebral artery occlusion.
Aphasia occurs with middle cerebral artery involvement. Cognitive deficits and changes in judgment are
more typical of anterior cerebral artery occlusion.
When teaching about clopidogrel (Plavix), the nurse will tell the patient with cerebral atherosclerosis
a. to monitor and record the blood pressure daily.
b. that Plavix will dissolve clots in the cerebral arteries.
c. that Plavix will reduce cerebral artery plaque formation.
d. to call the health care provider if stools are bloody or tarry. - ✅✅D. Clopidogrel (Plavix) inhibits
platelet function and increases the risk for gastrointestinal bleeding, so patients should be advised to
notify the health care provider about any signs of bleeding. The medication does not lower blood
pressure, decrease plaque formation, or dissolve clots.
A patient with carotid atherosclerosis asks the nurse to describe a carotid endarterectomy. Which
response by the nurse is accurate?
a. "The obstructing plaque is surgically removed from an artery in the neck."
b. "The diseased portion of the artery in the brain is replaced with a synthetic graft."
c. "A wire is threaded through an artery in the leg to the clots in the carotid artery and the clots are
removed."
d. "A catheter with a deflated balloon is positioned at the narrow area, and the balloon is inflated to
flatten the plaque." - ✅✅A. In a carotid endarterectomy, the carotid artery is incised and the plaque
is removed. The response beginning, "The diseased portion of the artery in the brain is replaced"
describes an arterial graft procedure. The answer beginning, "A catheter with a deflated balloon is
positioned at the narrow area" describes an angioplasty. The final response beginning, "A wire is
threaded through the artery" describes the mechanical embolus removal in cerebral ischemia (MERCI)
procedure.
A patient admitted with possible stroke has been aphasic for 3 hours and his current blood pressure (BP)
is 174/94 mm Hg. Which order by the health care provider should the nurse question?
