NSG 3280 (Pathophysiology) NCLEX Reviews for Exam 3 – Study Guide, Notes & Practice
Questions (2026 Updated)
The physiologic change most likely to lead to an increase in intracranial pressure is
a. cerebral vasodilation.
b. hypernatremia.
c. respiratory hyperventilation.
d. REM sleep. - correct answer ✔✔a. cerebral vasodilation
Manifestations of acute brain ischemia (Cushing reflex) are due primarily to
a. parasympathetic nervous system activation.
b. sympathetic nervous system activation.
c. autoregulation of body systems.
d. loss of brainstem reflexes. - correct answer ✔✔b. sympathetic nervous system activation.
Which group of clinical findings indicates the poorest neurologic functioning?
a. Spontaneous eye opening, movement to command, oriented to self only.
b. Eyes open to light touch on shoulder, pupils briskly reactive to light bilaterally.
c. Assumes decorticate posture with light touch, no verbal response.
d. No eye opening, responds to painful stimulus by withdrawing. - correct answer ✔✔c.
Assumes decorticate posture with light touch, no verbal response.
Acceleration-deceleration movements of the head often result in polar injuries in which:
,a. injury is localized to the site of initial impact.
b. widespread neuronal damage is incurred.
c. bleeding from venules fills the subdural space.
d. focal injuries occur in two places at opposite poles. - correct answer ✔✔d. focal injuries occur
in two places at opposite poles.
Secondary injury after head trauma refers to:
a. brain injury resulting from the initial trauma.
b. focal areas of bleeding.
c. brain injury resulting from the body's response to tissue damage.
d. injury as a result of medical therapy. - correct answer ✔✔c. brain injury resulting from the
body's response to tissue damage.
An example of inappropriate treatment for head trauma would be:
a. head elevation.
b. free water restriction.
c. hypoventilation.
d. bed rest. - correct answer ✔✔C. Hypoventilation
Risk factors for hemorrhagic stroke include:
a. atherosclerosis.
b. dysrhythmias.
c. acute hypertension.
d. sedentary lifestyle. - correct answer ✔✔c. acute hypertension.
,The stroke etiology with the highest morbidity and mortality is:
a. intracranial hemorrhage.
b. intracranial thrombosis.
c. intracranial embolization.
d. cardiac arrest. - correct answer ✔✔a. intracranial hemorrhage
Clinical manifestations of a stroke within the right cerebral hemisphere include:
a. cortical blindness.
b. right visual field blindness.
c. expressive and receptive aphasia.
d. left-sided muscle weakness and neglect. - correct answer ✔✔d. left-sided muscle weakness
and neglect.
The most important preventive measure for hemorrhagic stroke is:
a. anticoagulation.
b. blood pressure control.
c. thrombolytics.
d. management of dysrhythmias. - correct answer ✔✔B. blood pressure control.
In the acute phase of stroke, treatment is focused on:
a. stabilization of respiratory and cardiovascular function.
, b. risk factor modification.
c. prevention of and contractures spasticity.
d. neurologic rehabilitation. - correct answer ✔✔a. stabilization of respiratory and
cardiovascular function.
Cerebral aneurysm is most frequently the result of:
a. embolic stroke.
b. subarachnoid hemorrhage.
c. subdural hemorrhage.
d. meningitis. - correct answer ✔✔B. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Leakage of CS from the nose or ears is commonly associated with:
a. epidural hematoma.
b. temporal skull fracture.
c. basilar skull fracture.
d. cerebral aneurysm. - correct answer ✔✔c. basilar skull fracture.
Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm should be suspected if the patient reports:
a. ringing in the ears.
b. transient episodes of numbness.
c. transient episodes of vertigo.
d. sudden, severe headache. - correct answer ✔✔D. sudden, severe headache
Questions (2026 Updated)
The physiologic change most likely to lead to an increase in intracranial pressure is
a. cerebral vasodilation.
b. hypernatremia.
c. respiratory hyperventilation.
d. REM sleep. - correct answer ✔✔a. cerebral vasodilation
Manifestations of acute brain ischemia (Cushing reflex) are due primarily to
a. parasympathetic nervous system activation.
b. sympathetic nervous system activation.
c. autoregulation of body systems.
d. loss of brainstem reflexes. - correct answer ✔✔b. sympathetic nervous system activation.
Which group of clinical findings indicates the poorest neurologic functioning?
a. Spontaneous eye opening, movement to command, oriented to self only.
b. Eyes open to light touch on shoulder, pupils briskly reactive to light bilaterally.
c. Assumes decorticate posture with light touch, no verbal response.
d. No eye opening, responds to painful stimulus by withdrawing. - correct answer ✔✔c.
Assumes decorticate posture with light touch, no verbal response.
Acceleration-deceleration movements of the head often result in polar injuries in which:
,a. injury is localized to the site of initial impact.
b. widespread neuronal damage is incurred.
c. bleeding from venules fills the subdural space.
d. focal injuries occur in two places at opposite poles. - correct answer ✔✔d. focal injuries occur
in two places at opposite poles.
Secondary injury after head trauma refers to:
a. brain injury resulting from the initial trauma.
b. focal areas of bleeding.
c. brain injury resulting from the body's response to tissue damage.
d. injury as a result of medical therapy. - correct answer ✔✔c. brain injury resulting from the
body's response to tissue damage.
An example of inappropriate treatment for head trauma would be:
a. head elevation.
b. free water restriction.
c. hypoventilation.
d. bed rest. - correct answer ✔✔C. Hypoventilation
Risk factors for hemorrhagic stroke include:
a. atherosclerosis.
b. dysrhythmias.
c. acute hypertension.
d. sedentary lifestyle. - correct answer ✔✔c. acute hypertension.
,The stroke etiology with the highest morbidity and mortality is:
a. intracranial hemorrhage.
b. intracranial thrombosis.
c. intracranial embolization.
d. cardiac arrest. - correct answer ✔✔a. intracranial hemorrhage
Clinical manifestations of a stroke within the right cerebral hemisphere include:
a. cortical blindness.
b. right visual field blindness.
c. expressive and receptive aphasia.
d. left-sided muscle weakness and neglect. - correct answer ✔✔d. left-sided muscle weakness
and neglect.
The most important preventive measure for hemorrhagic stroke is:
a. anticoagulation.
b. blood pressure control.
c. thrombolytics.
d. management of dysrhythmias. - correct answer ✔✔B. blood pressure control.
In the acute phase of stroke, treatment is focused on:
a. stabilization of respiratory and cardiovascular function.
, b. risk factor modification.
c. prevention of and contractures spasticity.
d. neurologic rehabilitation. - correct answer ✔✔a. stabilization of respiratory and
cardiovascular function.
Cerebral aneurysm is most frequently the result of:
a. embolic stroke.
b. subarachnoid hemorrhage.
c. subdural hemorrhage.
d. meningitis. - correct answer ✔✔B. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Leakage of CS from the nose or ears is commonly associated with:
a. epidural hematoma.
b. temporal skull fracture.
c. basilar skull fracture.
d. cerebral aneurysm. - correct answer ✔✔c. basilar skull fracture.
Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm should be suspected if the patient reports:
a. ringing in the ears.
b. transient episodes of numbness.
c. transient episodes of vertigo.
d. sudden, severe headache. - correct answer ✔✔D. sudden, severe headache
