NUR 138 EXAM 3 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | NUR 138 STUDY GUIDE
& PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
Intracranial Regulation - correct answer ✔✔Refers to the process that affect intracranial compensation
and adaptive neurologic function
Central Nervous System (CNS) - correct answer ✔✔Brain and spinal cord. It regulates homeostasis
controlling functions like breathing, allowing problem solving and judgement, forms memories and
emotions, and regulate more functions to allow life and define an individual.
Parts of the brain - correct answer ✔✔Cerebrum- largest part of brain mass. Two hemispheres take up
most of it. It is divided into four lobes.
Cerebellum- made up of white and grey matter that is responsible for controlling muscle movement and
balance. Coordinates stimuli from cerebral cortex and spinal cord, transmitting it to skeletal muscles and
smooth muscles
Diencephalon- thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus, and subthalamus. It takes all incoming nerve
impulses and send the signal to the correct region of the brain.
Brainstem- midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. Controls reflexes and influences all basic life
functions. Also make connections between sensory and motor pathways.
Spinal cord- extension of the brainstem. Transmits impulses to and from the brain.
Lobes of the brain - correct answer ✔✔Frontal- speech, though, learning, emotions, and voluntary
movement
Prefrontal cortex- complex cognative process like judgement, reasoning, and caring for others
Parietal- processes sensory information, including shapes, temperature, pain, and two point
discrimination.
Occipital- visual cortex located here. processes vision
Temporal- stores memory, and interprets audio stimuli
Broca's area- production of speech. Located in left temporal lobe.
Wernicke's area- important for language development. Located in left temporal lobe.
Periphreal Nervous System (PNS) - correct answer ✔✔Contains 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of
spinal nerves.
I- smell
II- Vision
III- pupillary reflex, eyelid movement
IV- turns eyes down and lateral
V- Sensory impulses over face and scalp
VI- controls outward lateral eye movement.
VII- taste
VIII- aids in balance, hearing
IX- gag and swallow reflex, taste, senses carotid blood pressure
XI- controls swallowing
XII- controls tongue movement involved with speech and swallowing
, Types of Positioning - correct answer ✔✔Decorticate- associated with lesion above the brainstem. Upper
arms close to the side and elbows, wrists, and fingers flexed. Legs extended and internally rotated. The
feet are plantar flexed.
Decerebrate- associated with lesion of the brain stem. Neck extended, jaw clenches, arms pronated and
extended, legs extended, feet plantar flexed. Worse type of posturing.
Intervention for increased intracranial pressure - correct answer ✔✔Maintain airway patency, monitor
neuro status including LOC and PERRLA, monitor IICP monitoring device, raise pads and bed rails incase
of seizure, elevate head of bed 30 degrees, monitor ABG and electrolyte balance, monitor for bladder
distension or constipation, reduce stimuli, treat underlying cause, diuretics, sedation
Interventions for seizure disorders - correct answer ✔✔Maintain airway patency, ensure saftey,
administer meds as ordered, provide emotional support, treat underlying cause
Interventions for status epilepticus - correct answer ✔✔Maintain airway patency, keep suction at the
bed side, give oxygen mask, monitor vital signs, preform frequent neuro checks, establish IV, insert NG
tube, ensure safety, manage thermoregulation, administer meds as ordered, IV of 50% dextrose,
diazepam/ lorazepam,
Glascow Coma Scale (GCS) - correct answer ✔✔Rates patient on a scale of 3-15 using their best eye
response, verbal response, and motor response. Used when any patient is suspected of a brain injury
Neurological Assessment - correct answer ✔✔Assess appearance (dress, grooming, hygiene, gait, and
posture), assess behavior (affect, speech, and LOC), assess cognative function (A&O), assess vision using
snellen chart, PERRLA, assess sensation, assess cranial nerves, assess sense of positioning, assess
symmetry and strength of muscles, assess muscle tone, assess gait and romberg's test, assess
cordination,
Independent Interventions for LOC - correct answer ✔✔Assess LOC, pupil response, and neuro status,
monitor I&O, reduce stimuli, raise head to 30 degrees to decrease ICP, seizure precautions, adminster IV
fluids as ordered, positioning client, ensure airway, measuring vital signs,
Collaborative interventions for LOC - correct answer ✔✔Fluid management, lasix or other diuretics,
surgery, meds to reduce seizure and ICP, physical therapy, occupational therapy, enteral feedings,
Seizure - correct answer ✔✔Periods of abnormal electrical discharges in the brain that cay cause
involuntary movement or behavior and sensory alterations.
Patho of seizures - correct answer ✔✔Result of abnormal excessive concurrent electrical discharges in
the brain. These cells can be triggered by enviornmental or physiologic stimuli.
Focal Seizure- abnormal electrical activity is contained to a limited area of the brain. Focal aware does
not affect memory or awareness. Focal imparied can effect behavior, awareness, or memory before,
during, or after episode.
Generalized seizures- abnormal electrical discharge that originates from both hemispheres of the brain.
They can manifest a blank stare, brief muscle twitches, or muscle stiffening.
& PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
Intracranial Regulation - correct answer ✔✔Refers to the process that affect intracranial compensation
and adaptive neurologic function
Central Nervous System (CNS) - correct answer ✔✔Brain and spinal cord. It regulates homeostasis
controlling functions like breathing, allowing problem solving and judgement, forms memories and
emotions, and regulate more functions to allow life and define an individual.
Parts of the brain - correct answer ✔✔Cerebrum- largest part of brain mass. Two hemispheres take up
most of it. It is divided into four lobes.
Cerebellum- made up of white and grey matter that is responsible for controlling muscle movement and
balance. Coordinates stimuli from cerebral cortex and spinal cord, transmitting it to skeletal muscles and
smooth muscles
Diencephalon- thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus, and subthalamus. It takes all incoming nerve
impulses and send the signal to the correct region of the brain.
Brainstem- midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. Controls reflexes and influences all basic life
functions. Also make connections between sensory and motor pathways.
Spinal cord- extension of the brainstem. Transmits impulses to and from the brain.
Lobes of the brain - correct answer ✔✔Frontal- speech, though, learning, emotions, and voluntary
movement
Prefrontal cortex- complex cognative process like judgement, reasoning, and caring for others
Parietal- processes sensory information, including shapes, temperature, pain, and two point
discrimination.
Occipital- visual cortex located here. processes vision
Temporal- stores memory, and interprets audio stimuli
Broca's area- production of speech. Located in left temporal lobe.
Wernicke's area- important for language development. Located in left temporal lobe.
Periphreal Nervous System (PNS) - correct answer ✔✔Contains 12 pairs of cranial nerves and 31 pairs of
spinal nerves.
I- smell
II- Vision
III- pupillary reflex, eyelid movement
IV- turns eyes down and lateral
V- Sensory impulses over face and scalp
VI- controls outward lateral eye movement.
VII- taste
VIII- aids in balance, hearing
IX- gag and swallow reflex, taste, senses carotid blood pressure
XI- controls swallowing
XII- controls tongue movement involved with speech and swallowing
, Types of Positioning - correct answer ✔✔Decorticate- associated with lesion above the brainstem. Upper
arms close to the side and elbows, wrists, and fingers flexed. Legs extended and internally rotated. The
feet are plantar flexed.
Decerebrate- associated with lesion of the brain stem. Neck extended, jaw clenches, arms pronated and
extended, legs extended, feet plantar flexed. Worse type of posturing.
Intervention for increased intracranial pressure - correct answer ✔✔Maintain airway patency, monitor
neuro status including LOC and PERRLA, monitor IICP monitoring device, raise pads and bed rails incase
of seizure, elevate head of bed 30 degrees, monitor ABG and electrolyte balance, monitor for bladder
distension or constipation, reduce stimuli, treat underlying cause, diuretics, sedation
Interventions for seizure disorders - correct answer ✔✔Maintain airway patency, ensure saftey,
administer meds as ordered, provide emotional support, treat underlying cause
Interventions for status epilepticus - correct answer ✔✔Maintain airway patency, keep suction at the
bed side, give oxygen mask, monitor vital signs, preform frequent neuro checks, establish IV, insert NG
tube, ensure safety, manage thermoregulation, administer meds as ordered, IV of 50% dextrose,
diazepam/ lorazepam,
Glascow Coma Scale (GCS) - correct answer ✔✔Rates patient on a scale of 3-15 using their best eye
response, verbal response, and motor response. Used when any patient is suspected of a brain injury
Neurological Assessment - correct answer ✔✔Assess appearance (dress, grooming, hygiene, gait, and
posture), assess behavior (affect, speech, and LOC), assess cognative function (A&O), assess vision using
snellen chart, PERRLA, assess sensation, assess cranial nerves, assess sense of positioning, assess
symmetry and strength of muscles, assess muscle tone, assess gait and romberg's test, assess
cordination,
Independent Interventions for LOC - correct answer ✔✔Assess LOC, pupil response, and neuro status,
monitor I&O, reduce stimuli, raise head to 30 degrees to decrease ICP, seizure precautions, adminster IV
fluids as ordered, positioning client, ensure airway, measuring vital signs,
Collaborative interventions for LOC - correct answer ✔✔Fluid management, lasix or other diuretics,
surgery, meds to reduce seizure and ICP, physical therapy, occupational therapy, enteral feedings,
Seizure - correct answer ✔✔Periods of abnormal electrical discharges in the brain that cay cause
involuntary movement or behavior and sensory alterations.
Patho of seizures - correct answer ✔✔Result of abnormal excessive concurrent electrical discharges in
the brain. These cells can be triggered by enviornmental or physiologic stimuli.
Focal Seizure- abnormal electrical activity is contained to a limited area of the brain. Focal aware does
not affect memory or awareness. Focal imparied can effect behavior, awareness, or memory before,
during, or after episode.
Generalized seizures- abnormal electrical discharge that originates from both hemispheres of the brain.
They can manifest a blank stare, brief muscle twitches, or muscle stiffening.
