STROKE- NCLEX QUESTIONS AND
PROVEN ANSWERS
A physician orders several drugs for a client with hemorrhagic stroke. Which drug order should the
nurse question?
a) Phenytoin (Dilantin)
b) Methyldopa (Aldomet)
c) Heparin sodium
d) Dexamethasone (Decadron) ANSW✅✅Heparin sodium
Administering heparin, an anticoagulant, could increase the bleeding associated with hemorrhagic
stroke. Therefore, the nurse should question this order to prevent additional hemorrhage in the
brain. In a client with hemorrhagic stroke, the physician may use dexamethasone to decrease
cerebral edema and pressure; methyldopa, to reduce blood pressure; and phenytoin, to prevent
seizures.
A patient presents to the emergency room with complaints of having an "exploding headache" for
the last 2 hours. The patient is immediately seen by a triage nurse who suspects the patient is
experiencing a stroke. Which of the following is a possible cause based on the characteristic
symptom?
a) Cerebral aneurysm
b) Cardiogenic emboli
c) Large artery thrombosis
,d) Small artery thrombosis ANSW✅✅Cerebral aneurysm
A cerebral aneurysm is a type of hemorrhagic stroke that is characterized by an exploding headache.
Which of the following is accurate regarding a hemorrhagic stroke?
a) It is caused by a large-artery thrombosis.
b) One of the main presenting symptoms is numbness or weakness of the face.
c) Main presenting symptom is an "exploding headache."
d) Functional recovery usually plateaus at 6 months. ANSW✅✅Main presenting symptom is an
"exploding headache."
One of hemorrhagic stroke's main presenting symptom is an "exploding headache." In ischemic
stroke, functional recovery usually plateaus at 6 months; it may be caused by a large artery
thrombosis and may have a presenting symptoms of numbness or weakness of the face
A 73-year-old client is visiting the neurologist. The client reports light-headedness, speech
disturbance, and left-sided weakness that have lasted for several hours. In the examination, an
abnormal sound is auscultated in an artery leading to the brain. What is the term for the auscultated
discovery?
a) Atherosclerotic plaque
b) TIA
c) Diplopia
d) Bruit ANSW✅✅Bruit
,A neurologic examination during an attack reveals neurologic deficits. Auscultation of the artery may
reveal a bruit (abnormal sound caused by blood flowing over a rough surface within one or both
carotid arteries). The term for the auscultated discovery is bruit.
Which of the following statements reflect nursing management of the patient with expressive
aphasia?
a) Frequently reorient the patient to time, place, and situation
b) Speak clearly to the patient in simple sentences, use gestures or pictures when able
c) Speak slowly and clearly to assist the patient in forming the sounds
d) Encourage the patient to repeat sounds of the alphabet ANSW✅✅Encourage the patient to
repeat sounds of the alphabet
Nursing management of the patient with expressive aphasia includes encouraging the patient to
repeat sounds of the alphabet. Nursing management of the patient with global aphasia includes
speaking clearly to the patient in simple sentences and using gestures or pictures when able. Nursing
management of the patient with receptive aphasia includes speaking slowing and clearly to assist
the patient in forming the sounds. Nursing management of the patient with cognitive deficits, such
as memory loss, includes frequently reorienting the patient to time, place, and situation. (less)
Which of the following is the initial diagnostic test for a stroke?
a) Noncontrast CT scan
b) Transcranial Doppler studies
c) ECG
, d) Carotid Doppler ANSW✅✅Noncontrast CT scan
The initial diagnostic test for a stroke is a nonconstrast CT scan performed emergently to determine
if the event is ischemic or hemorrhagic. Further diagnostics include a carotid Doppler, ECG, and a
transcranial Doppler. (less)
A patient has been diagnosed as having global aphasia. The nurse recognizes that the patient will be
unable to do which of the following actions?
a) Form words that are understandable
b) Speak at all
c) Form words that are understandable or comprehend the spoken word
d) Comprehend the spoken word ANSW✅✅Form words that are understandable or comprehend
the spoken word
Global aphasia is a combination of expressive and receptive aphasia and presents tremendous
challenge to the nurse to effectively communicate with the patient. In receptive aphasia, the patient
is unable to form words that are understandable. In expressive aphasia, the patient is unable to form
words that are understandable. The patient who is unable to speak at all is referred to as mute.
A patient is admitted via ambulance to the emergency room of a stroke center at 1:30 p.m. with
symptoms that the patient said began at 1:00 p.m. Within 1 hour, an ischemic stroke had been
confirmed and the doctor ordered tPA. The nurse knows to give this drug no later than what time?
a) 5:30 p.m.
b) 3:00 p.m.
c) 4:00 p.m.
PROVEN ANSWERS
A physician orders several drugs for a client with hemorrhagic stroke. Which drug order should the
nurse question?
a) Phenytoin (Dilantin)
b) Methyldopa (Aldomet)
c) Heparin sodium
d) Dexamethasone (Decadron) ANSW✅✅Heparin sodium
Administering heparin, an anticoagulant, could increase the bleeding associated with hemorrhagic
stroke. Therefore, the nurse should question this order to prevent additional hemorrhage in the
brain. In a client with hemorrhagic stroke, the physician may use dexamethasone to decrease
cerebral edema and pressure; methyldopa, to reduce blood pressure; and phenytoin, to prevent
seizures.
A patient presents to the emergency room with complaints of having an "exploding headache" for
the last 2 hours. The patient is immediately seen by a triage nurse who suspects the patient is
experiencing a stroke. Which of the following is a possible cause based on the characteristic
symptom?
a) Cerebral aneurysm
b) Cardiogenic emboli
c) Large artery thrombosis
,d) Small artery thrombosis ANSW✅✅Cerebral aneurysm
A cerebral aneurysm is a type of hemorrhagic stroke that is characterized by an exploding headache.
Which of the following is accurate regarding a hemorrhagic stroke?
a) It is caused by a large-artery thrombosis.
b) One of the main presenting symptoms is numbness or weakness of the face.
c) Main presenting symptom is an "exploding headache."
d) Functional recovery usually plateaus at 6 months. ANSW✅✅Main presenting symptom is an
"exploding headache."
One of hemorrhagic stroke's main presenting symptom is an "exploding headache." In ischemic
stroke, functional recovery usually plateaus at 6 months; it may be caused by a large artery
thrombosis and may have a presenting symptoms of numbness or weakness of the face
A 73-year-old client is visiting the neurologist. The client reports light-headedness, speech
disturbance, and left-sided weakness that have lasted for several hours. In the examination, an
abnormal sound is auscultated in an artery leading to the brain. What is the term for the auscultated
discovery?
a) Atherosclerotic plaque
b) TIA
c) Diplopia
d) Bruit ANSW✅✅Bruit
,A neurologic examination during an attack reveals neurologic deficits. Auscultation of the artery may
reveal a bruit (abnormal sound caused by blood flowing over a rough surface within one or both
carotid arteries). The term for the auscultated discovery is bruit.
Which of the following statements reflect nursing management of the patient with expressive
aphasia?
a) Frequently reorient the patient to time, place, and situation
b) Speak clearly to the patient in simple sentences, use gestures or pictures when able
c) Speak slowly and clearly to assist the patient in forming the sounds
d) Encourage the patient to repeat sounds of the alphabet ANSW✅✅Encourage the patient to
repeat sounds of the alphabet
Nursing management of the patient with expressive aphasia includes encouraging the patient to
repeat sounds of the alphabet. Nursing management of the patient with global aphasia includes
speaking clearly to the patient in simple sentences and using gestures or pictures when able. Nursing
management of the patient with receptive aphasia includes speaking slowing and clearly to assist
the patient in forming the sounds. Nursing management of the patient with cognitive deficits, such
as memory loss, includes frequently reorienting the patient to time, place, and situation. (less)
Which of the following is the initial diagnostic test for a stroke?
a) Noncontrast CT scan
b) Transcranial Doppler studies
c) ECG
, d) Carotid Doppler ANSW✅✅Noncontrast CT scan
The initial diagnostic test for a stroke is a nonconstrast CT scan performed emergently to determine
if the event is ischemic or hemorrhagic. Further diagnostics include a carotid Doppler, ECG, and a
transcranial Doppler. (less)
A patient has been diagnosed as having global aphasia. The nurse recognizes that the patient will be
unable to do which of the following actions?
a) Form words that are understandable
b) Speak at all
c) Form words that are understandable or comprehend the spoken word
d) Comprehend the spoken word ANSW✅✅Form words that are understandable or comprehend
the spoken word
Global aphasia is a combination of expressive and receptive aphasia and presents tremendous
challenge to the nurse to effectively communicate with the patient. In receptive aphasia, the patient
is unable to form words that are understandable. In expressive aphasia, the patient is unable to form
words that are understandable. The patient who is unable to speak at all is referred to as mute.
A patient is admitted via ambulance to the emergency room of a stroke center at 1:30 p.m. with
symptoms that the patient said began at 1:00 p.m. Within 1 hour, an ischemic stroke had been
confirmed and the doctor ordered tPA. The nurse knows to give this drug no later than what time?
a) 5:30 p.m.
b) 3:00 p.m.
c) 4:00 p.m.
