ATI Medical-Surgical: Neurological Disorders Practice Exam 2026
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has a suspected increased intracranial
pressure (ICP). Which of the following is an early clinical manifestation of
increased ICP?
A. Cushing’s triad
B. Altered level of consciousness
C. Decorticate posturing
D. Fixed and dilated pupils
Answer: B
Rationale: Altered level of consciousness is the earliest sign of increased ICP. Cushing’s
triad and posturing are late signs.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who is post-craniotomy. Which of the following
nursing actions is appropriate to prevent increased ICP?
A. Place the client in Trendelenburg position
B. Encourage the client to cough and deep breathe every 2 hours
C. Keep the head of the bed elevated to at least 30 degrees
D. Perform frequent cluster care to allow for rest
Answer: C
Rationale: Elevating the head of the bed promotes venous drainage from the brain.
Coughing and Trendelenburg position increase ICP, and cluster care should be avoided to
prevent spikes in ICP.
,3. A nurse is assessing a client for Brudzinski’s sign. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A. Gently flex the client’s neck toward the chest
B. Stroke the lateral aspect of the foot
C. Flex the client’s hip and knee, then extend the knee
D. Apply pressure to the supraorbital notch
Answer: A
Rationale: Brudzinski’s sign is positive when neck flexion causes involuntary flexion of the
hips and knees, indicating meningeal irritation.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has Myasthenia Gravis. Which of the
following is a priority nursing assessment?
A. Ability to perform fine motor tasks
B. Muscle strength of the lower extremities
C. Frequency of bowel movements
D. Respiratory effort and breath sounds
Answer: D
Rationale: Myasthenic crisis can lead to respiratory failure due to diaphragm and
intercostal muscle weakness, making airway and breathing the priority.
5. A client with Parkinson’s disease is prescribed levodopa/carbidopa. The nurse
should explain that the carbidopa is added to:
A. Prevent the breakdown of levodopa in the periphery
B. Increase the production of acetylcholine
C. Cross the blood-brain barrier directly
D. Decrease the incidence of hallucinations
Answer: A
Rationale: Carbidopa prevents the peripheral metabolism of levodopa, allowing more
levodopa to reach the brain to be converted to dopamine.
, 6. A nurse is assessing a client using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The client
opens their eyes to sound, uses inappropriate words, and withdraws from pain.
What is the GCS score?
A. 10
B. 11
C. 9
D. 8
Answer: A
Rationale: Eyes: 3 (to sound), Verbal: 3 (inappropriate words), Motor: 4 (withdraws from
pain). Total = 10.
7. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of
care for a client with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
A. Schedule rest periods between activities
B. Limit fluid intake to prevent incontinence
C. Encourage hot baths to relax muscles
D. Maintain a low-fiber diet
Answer: A
Rationale: Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom of MS; rest periods are essential.
Heat should be avoided as it exacerbates symptoms.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who had a right-hemispheric stroke. Which of the
following manifestations should the nurse expect?
A. Impulsivity and poor judgment
B. Right-sided neglect
C. Aphasia
D. Slow, cautious behavior
Answer: A
|Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has a suspected increased intracranial
pressure (ICP). Which of the following is an early clinical manifestation of
increased ICP?
A. Cushing’s triad
B. Altered level of consciousness
C. Decorticate posturing
D. Fixed and dilated pupils
Answer: B
Rationale: Altered level of consciousness is the earliest sign of increased ICP. Cushing’s
triad and posturing are late signs.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who is post-craniotomy. Which of the following
nursing actions is appropriate to prevent increased ICP?
A. Place the client in Trendelenburg position
B. Encourage the client to cough and deep breathe every 2 hours
C. Keep the head of the bed elevated to at least 30 degrees
D. Perform frequent cluster care to allow for rest
Answer: C
Rationale: Elevating the head of the bed promotes venous drainage from the brain.
Coughing and Trendelenburg position increase ICP, and cluster care should be avoided to
prevent spikes in ICP.
,3. A nurse is assessing a client for Brudzinski’s sign. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A. Gently flex the client’s neck toward the chest
B. Stroke the lateral aspect of the foot
C. Flex the client’s hip and knee, then extend the knee
D. Apply pressure to the supraorbital notch
Answer: A
Rationale: Brudzinski’s sign is positive when neck flexion causes involuntary flexion of the
hips and knees, indicating meningeal irritation.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has Myasthenia Gravis. Which of the
following is a priority nursing assessment?
A. Ability to perform fine motor tasks
B. Muscle strength of the lower extremities
C. Frequency of bowel movements
D. Respiratory effort and breath sounds
Answer: D
Rationale: Myasthenic crisis can lead to respiratory failure due to diaphragm and
intercostal muscle weakness, making airway and breathing the priority.
5. A client with Parkinson’s disease is prescribed levodopa/carbidopa. The nurse
should explain that the carbidopa is added to:
A. Prevent the breakdown of levodopa in the periphery
B. Increase the production of acetylcholine
C. Cross the blood-brain barrier directly
D. Decrease the incidence of hallucinations
Answer: A
Rationale: Carbidopa prevents the peripheral metabolism of levodopa, allowing more
levodopa to reach the brain to be converted to dopamine.
, 6. A nurse is assessing a client using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). The client
opens their eyes to sound, uses inappropriate words, and withdraws from pain.
What is the GCS score?
A. 10
B. 11
C. 9
D. 8
Answer: A
Rationale: Eyes: 3 (to sound), Verbal: 3 (inappropriate words), Motor: 4 (withdraws from
pain). Total = 10.
7. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of
care for a client with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
A. Schedule rest periods between activities
B. Limit fluid intake to prevent incontinence
C. Encourage hot baths to relax muscles
D. Maintain a low-fiber diet
Answer: A
Rationale: Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom of MS; rest periods are essential.
Heat should be avoided as it exacerbates symptoms.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who had a right-hemispheric stroke. Which of the
following manifestations should the nurse expect?
A. Impulsivity and poor judgment
B. Right-sided neglect
C. Aphasia
D. Slow, cautious behavior
Answer: A
