NIHSS CERTIFICATION EXAM REVIEW QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS
What does NIHSS stand for? - - CORRECT ANSWER-National Institute of Health Stroke Scale
What are 6 important conventions to remember when scoring a NIHSS? - - CORRECT ANSWER-
Administer scale items in EXACT order
Avoid coaching the patient
Accept the patient's first effort
Score only what the patient does
Be consistent
Include all deficits in scoring
When administering an NIHSS what is important to remember about the order of the test? - -
CORRECT ANSWER-Do not change the order of the testing, go in exact order to reproduce
results.
A nurse is administering a NIHSS. He/she re preforms the test after a poor first result. The
patient scores much better on the second attempt. Which test result should the nurse record in
the patient's records? Why? - - CORRECT ANSWER-The first attempt. Only first attempts are
recorded as an attempt to keep the NIHSS uniform throughout healthcare.
What is the first item of the NIHSS? 1A - - CORRECT ANSWER-Level of Consciousness
What are the four score levels for item 1A? - - CORRECT ANSWER-0 = Alert
1 = Not alert, aroused with minor verbal stimulation
2 = Not alert; requires strong or painful stimulation
NIHSS Certification Exam Review questions with correct answers
CORRECT ANSWERS
What does NIHSS stand for? - - CORRECT ANSWER-National Institute of Health Stroke Scale
What are 6 important conventions to remember when scoring a NIHSS? - - CORRECT ANSWER-
Administer scale items in EXACT order
Avoid coaching the patient
Accept the patient's first effort
Score only what the patient does
Be consistent
Include all deficits in scoring
When administering an NIHSS what is important to remember about the order of the test? - -
CORRECT ANSWER-Do not change the order of the testing, go in exact order to reproduce
results.
A nurse is administering a NIHSS. He/she re preforms the test after a poor first result. The
patient scores much better on the second attempt. Which test result should the nurse record in
the patient's records? Why? - - CORRECT ANSWER-The first attempt. Only first attempts are
recorded as an attempt to keep the NIHSS uniform throughout healthcare.
What is the first item of the NIHSS? 1A - - CORRECT ANSWER-Level of Consciousness
What are the four score levels for item 1A? - - CORRECT ANSWER-0 = Alert
1 = Not alert, aroused with minor verbal stimulation
2 = Not alert; requires strong or painful stimulation
NIHSS Certification Exam Review questions with correct answers
