ESTUDYR
NUR176 HONDROS EXAM 1 UPDATED EXAM WITH MOST
TESTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | GRADED A+ | ASSURED
SUCCESS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
1. An embolic stroke is best described as:
A. Brain injury from trauma.
B. Stroke caused by atherosclerosis at the carotid only.
C. Stroke when a blood clot travels through the circulation to the brain. ✅
D. Stroke due to chronic hypoperfusion.
Rationale: An embolic stroke occurs when a clot or debris formed elsewhere (e.g., heart) travels
and occludes a cerebral artery.
2. An ischemic stroke is:
A. Always hemorrhagic.
B. A stroke from deficient blood flow to the brain; can be thrombotic or embolic. ✅
C. Caused by brain tumor.
D. Synonymous with subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Rationale: Ischemic strokes result from reduced cerebral perfusion due to vessel occlusion
(thrombus or embolus).
3. Battle’s sign (post-auricular ecchymosis) indicates:
A. Increased intracranial pressure only.
B. Viral meningitis.
C. Basilar skull fracture on imaging only.
D. Fracture of the lower skull (basilar skull fracture) — bruise behind the ear. ✅
Rationale: Bruising behind the ear suggests basilar skull fracture and requires careful neuro
evaluation.
4. Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is another term for:
A. Seizure disorder.
B. Stroke. ✅
,ESTUDYR
C. Meningitis.
D. Epilepsy.
Rationale: CVA is the medical term for stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic).
5. Decerebrate posturing is characterized by:
A. Flaccid, relaxed limbs.
B. Flexion of arms and wrists.
C. Rigid extension of all four extremities. ✅
D. Isolated leg extension only.
Rationale: Decerebrate (brainstem) posturing shows rigid extension and indicates severe brain
injury.
6. An aneurysm is:
A. Inflammation of an artery.
B. Narrowing of an artery.
C. Pathological bulging/distention of an artery due to wall weakening. ✅
D. A thrombus in a vein.
Rationale: Aneurysms are focal vessel dilatations that can rupture, causing hemorrhagic stroke.
7. When administering corticosteroids (e.g., dexamethasone) long-term, concurrent
medication is often given to prevent:
A. Hypoglycemia.
B. Peptic ulcer (GI irritation/ulceration). ✅
C. Hyperkalemia.
D. Deep vein thrombosis.
Rationale: Corticosteroids increase GI ulcer risk; H2 blockers or PPIs are often co-prescribed.
8. Mannitol is used in neurological management because it:
A. Is a vasoconstrictor.
B. Is a steroid.
,ESTUDYR
C. Is an osmotic diuretic that decreases intracranial pressure (can cross BBB). ✅
D. Promotes clotting.
Rationale: Mannitol reduces cerebral edema by osmotic effect, pulling fluid from brain tissue.
9. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is important because:
A. It always causes permanent deficits.
B. It is not related to stroke risk.
C. It may precede a full CVA (stroke) and signals high stroke risk. ✅
D. It is a form of brain tumor.
Rationale: TIAs are brief neurologic deficits from transient ischemia and predict future stroke
risk.
10. Meningitis is inflammation of:
A. Brain parenchyma only.
B. Lung pleura.
C. The meninges (the lining of the brain and spinal cord). ✅
D. Peripheral nerves.
Rationale: Meningitis involves the protective layers (meninges) and often presents with fever,
neck stiffness.
11. Heparin is an anticoagulant typically given by:
A. Oral tablet only.
B. Subcutaneous or IV routes. ✅
C. Intramuscular injection.
D. Topical paste.
Rationale: Heparin is administered IV or SC for immediate anticoagulation; it’s not given IM due
to bleeding risk.
12. Metformin should be withheld when a patient is scheduled for:
A. MRI without contrast.
B. Routine chest x-ray.
, ESTUDYR
C. Iodine-based contrast studies (e.g., CT with contrast) because of risk of lactic
acidosis. ✅
D. A hearing test.
Rationale: Iodinated contrast can impair renal function; metformin is held to reduce lactic
acidosis risk if renal function worsens.
13. Warfarin primarily affects which lab value?
A. Potassium
B. Hemoglobin
C. INR (prothrombin time) — blood clotting measures. ✅
D. Platelet count
Rationale: Warfarin inhibits vitamin K–dependent clotting factors, prolonging INR/PT.
14. Wernicke’s area is located in the:
A. Occipital lobe.
B. Frontal lobe motor cortex.
C. Temporal lobe — responsible for comprehension of spoken/written language. ✅
D. Cerebellum.
Rationale: Wernicke’s area (dominant hemisphere temporal lobe) processes language
comprehension.
15. Encephalitis is defined as:
A. Inflammation of the heart.
B. A degenerative spinal disease.
C. Inflammation of the brain tissue. ✅
D. A neurodegenerative tumor.
Rationale: Encephalitis is brain parenchymal inflammation, often viral, and may cause altered
LOC and focal deficits.
16. Decorticate posturing is characterized by:
A. Rigid extension of limbs.
NUR176 HONDROS EXAM 1 UPDATED EXAM WITH MOST
TESTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | GRADED A+ | ASSURED
SUCCESS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
1. An embolic stroke is best described as:
A. Brain injury from trauma.
B. Stroke caused by atherosclerosis at the carotid only.
C. Stroke when a blood clot travels through the circulation to the brain. ✅
D. Stroke due to chronic hypoperfusion.
Rationale: An embolic stroke occurs when a clot or debris formed elsewhere (e.g., heart) travels
and occludes a cerebral artery.
2. An ischemic stroke is:
A. Always hemorrhagic.
B. A stroke from deficient blood flow to the brain; can be thrombotic or embolic. ✅
C. Caused by brain tumor.
D. Synonymous with subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Rationale: Ischemic strokes result from reduced cerebral perfusion due to vessel occlusion
(thrombus or embolus).
3. Battle’s sign (post-auricular ecchymosis) indicates:
A. Increased intracranial pressure only.
B. Viral meningitis.
C. Basilar skull fracture on imaging only.
D. Fracture of the lower skull (basilar skull fracture) — bruise behind the ear. ✅
Rationale: Bruising behind the ear suggests basilar skull fracture and requires careful neuro
evaluation.
4. Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is another term for:
A. Seizure disorder.
B. Stroke. ✅
,ESTUDYR
C. Meningitis.
D. Epilepsy.
Rationale: CVA is the medical term for stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic).
5. Decerebrate posturing is characterized by:
A. Flaccid, relaxed limbs.
B. Flexion of arms and wrists.
C. Rigid extension of all four extremities. ✅
D. Isolated leg extension only.
Rationale: Decerebrate (brainstem) posturing shows rigid extension and indicates severe brain
injury.
6. An aneurysm is:
A. Inflammation of an artery.
B. Narrowing of an artery.
C. Pathological bulging/distention of an artery due to wall weakening. ✅
D. A thrombus in a vein.
Rationale: Aneurysms are focal vessel dilatations that can rupture, causing hemorrhagic stroke.
7. When administering corticosteroids (e.g., dexamethasone) long-term, concurrent
medication is often given to prevent:
A. Hypoglycemia.
B. Peptic ulcer (GI irritation/ulceration). ✅
C. Hyperkalemia.
D. Deep vein thrombosis.
Rationale: Corticosteroids increase GI ulcer risk; H2 blockers or PPIs are often co-prescribed.
8. Mannitol is used in neurological management because it:
A. Is a vasoconstrictor.
B. Is a steroid.
,ESTUDYR
C. Is an osmotic diuretic that decreases intracranial pressure (can cross BBB). ✅
D. Promotes clotting.
Rationale: Mannitol reduces cerebral edema by osmotic effect, pulling fluid from brain tissue.
9. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is important because:
A. It always causes permanent deficits.
B. It is not related to stroke risk.
C. It may precede a full CVA (stroke) and signals high stroke risk. ✅
D. It is a form of brain tumor.
Rationale: TIAs are brief neurologic deficits from transient ischemia and predict future stroke
risk.
10. Meningitis is inflammation of:
A. Brain parenchyma only.
B. Lung pleura.
C. The meninges (the lining of the brain and spinal cord). ✅
D. Peripheral nerves.
Rationale: Meningitis involves the protective layers (meninges) and often presents with fever,
neck stiffness.
11. Heparin is an anticoagulant typically given by:
A. Oral tablet only.
B. Subcutaneous or IV routes. ✅
C. Intramuscular injection.
D. Topical paste.
Rationale: Heparin is administered IV or SC for immediate anticoagulation; it’s not given IM due
to bleeding risk.
12. Metformin should be withheld when a patient is scheduled for:
A. MRI without contrast.
B. Routine chest x-ray.
, ESTUDYR
C. Iodine-based contrast studies (e.g., CT with contrast) because of risk of lactic
acidosis. ✅
D. A hearing test.
Rationale: Iodinated contrast can impair renal function; metformin is held to reduce lactic
acidosis risk if renal function worsens.
13. Warfarin primarily affects which lab value?
A. Potassium
B. Hemoglobin
C. INR (prothrombin time) — blood clotting measures. ✅
D. Platelet count
Rationale: Warfarin inhibits vitamin K–dependent clotting factors, prolonging INR/PT.
14. Wernicke’s area is located in the:
A. Occipital lobe.
B. Frontal lobe motor cortex.
C. Temporal lobe — responsible for comprehension of spoken/written language. ✅
D. Cerebellum.
Rationale: Wernicke’s area (dominant hemisphere temporal lobe) processes language
comprehension.
15. Encephalitis is defined as:
A. Inflammation of the heart.
B. A degenerative spinal disease.
C. Inflammation of the brain tissue. ✅
D. A neurodegenerative tumor.
Rationale: Encephalitis is brain parenchymal inflammation, often viral, and may cause altered
LOC and focal deficits.
16. Decorticate posturing is characterized by:
A. Rigid extension of limbs.
