NUR 425 Exam 1 Review Questions and Answers 2026/27 Guide - Arizona
College of Nursing
What is a stroke?
• Is a disruption in blood flow to the brain, which can be caused by a blockage of a blood
vessel, ischemic stroke, or bleeding into the brain, or hemorrhagic stroke.
What is a hemorrhagic stroke?
• It is a lack of blood flow to brain tissue caused by bleeding in or around the brain.
What is the pathophysiology of a hemorrhagic stroke?
• Bleed in/around the brain due to ruptured vessel
Risk factors of a hemorrhagic stroke?
• Hypertension
• Substance abuse (cocaine)
• Anticoagulant Therapy
• Trauma
Complications of a hemorrhagic stroke
• Blood (is an irritant to tissues)
• Seizures
• Vasospasm-vessels clamp down (cause more ischemia)
What are some types of strokes?
• Ischemic stroke
• Hemorrhagic stroke
Risk factors for stroke
• Hypertension,
• Cigarette smoking.
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Illicit drug use (cocaine use is associated with ich).
• Age greater than 55,
• Gender (male)
• Race (African American)
Clinical manifestations of ischemic stroke
• Left Cerebral artery stroke – affects the right side of the body.
• Right cerebral artery stroke – affects the left side of the body.
• Basilar artery stroke – dizziness, ataxia, tinnitus, decreased sensations, difficulty in
articulation, speech, swallowing and oral secretions.
Clinical manifestations of hemorrhagic stroke
• A sudden severe headache, often called a “thunderclap” headache.
NUR 425 Exam 1
, • Neck stiffness
• Pain at the base of the skull
• photosensitivity
What to do when you see signs of stroke
• Act fast.
What do FAST stand for in stroke?
• Facial drooping
• Arm weakness
• Slurred speech
• Time (call 911)
What will you see in stroke patients?
• Altered LOC (confusion, coma)
• Aphasia (speech difficulty)
• Apraxia (inability to perform physical tasks)
• Ataxia
• Hemianopia (blindness in one half of the visual field
• Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) -risk for aspiration
List three places where a stroke can occur.
• MCA (Middle Cerebral Artery)
• Basilar
• Brainstem
Signs of an MCA stroke (Middle Cerebral Artery)
• Classic FAST symptoms
• Contralateral manifestations (manifestations in the body on the side opposite the infarct
in the brain)
Signs of a basilar stroke
• Decreased LOC
• Loss of vision
• Abnormal pupil response
Brainstem stroke signs
• Loss of BP regulation
• Respiratory failure
• Dysphagia
What are some nursing goals for ischemic strokes?
• Ensure perfusion to the brain tissue.
NUR 425 Exam 1
College of Nursing
What is a stroke?
• Is a disruption in blood flow to the brain, which can be caused by a blockage of a blood
vessel, ischemic stroke, or bleeding into the brain, or hemorrhagic stroke.
What is a hemorrhagic stroke?
• It is a lack of blood flow to brain tissue caused by bleeding in or around the brain.
What is the pathophysiology of a hemorrhagic stroke?
• Bleed in/around the brain due to ruptured vessel
Risk factors of a hemorrhagic stroke?
• Hypertension
• Substance abuse (cocaine)
• Anticoagulant Therapy
• Trauma
Complications of a hemorrhagic stroke
• Blood (is an irritant to tissues)
• Seizures
• Vasospasm-vessels clamp down (cause more ischemia)
What are some types of strokes?
• Ischemic stroke
• Hemorrhagic stroke
Risk factors for stroke
• Hypertension,
• Cigarette smoking.
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Illicit drug use (cocaine use is associated with ich).
• Age greater than 55,
• Gender (male)
• Race (African American)
Clinical manifestations of ischemic stroke
• Left Cerebral artery stroke – affects the right side of the body.
• Right cerebral artery stroke – affects the left side of the body.
• Basilar artery stroke – dizziness, ataxia, tinnitus, decreased sensations, difficulty in
articulation, speech, swallowing and oral secretions.
Clinical manifestations of hemorrhagic stroke
• A sudden severe headache, often called a “thunderclap” headache.
NUR 425 Exam 1
, • Neck stiffness
• Pain at the base of the skull
• photosensitivity
What to do when you see signs of stroke
• Act fast.
What do FAST stand for in stroke?
• Facial drooping
• Arm weakness
• Slurred speech
• Time (call 911)
What will you see in stroke patients?
• Altered LOC (confusion, coma)
• Aphasia (speech difficulty)
• Apraxia (inability to perform physical tasks)
• Ataxia
• Hemianopia (blindness in one half of the visual field
• Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) -risk for aspiration
List three places where a stroke can occur.
• MCA (Middle Cerebral Artery)
• Basilar
• Brainstem
Signs of an MCA stroke (Middle Cerebral Artery)
• Classic FAST symptoms
• Contralateral manifestations (manifestations in the body on the side opposite the infarct
in the brain)
Signs of a basilar stroke
• Decreased LOC
• Loss of vision
• Abnormal pupil response
Brainstem stroke signs
• Loss of BP regulation
• Respiratory failure
• Dysphagia
What are some nursing goals for ischemic strokes?
• Ensure perfusion to the brain tissue.
NUR 425 Exam 1
