Chapter 60 Assessment of Neurologic Function
1.The nurse assessing a patient with a head injury due to a motor vehicle accident who is
experiencing temporary blindness in the left eye would be correct in documenting this
abnormal finding as corresponding to which of the following cerebral lobes?
A) Temporal B) Occipital C) Parietal D) Frontal
2.A nurse completing a neurological exam on a patient with Ménière's disease is assessing
cranial nerve VIII. The nurse would be correct in identifying the function of this nerve as
which of the following?
A) Movement of the tongue C) Sense of smell
B) Visual acuity D) Hearing and equilibrium
3.The nurse assessing a patient who exhibits an uncoordinated gait knows that which of the
following brain structures affects balance and coordination?
A) Cerebellum B) Pons C) Medulla D) Midbrain
4.A patient is scheduled for an electroencephalography (EEG) to aid in the diagnosis of a seizure
disorder. Appropriate patient teaching for this diagnostic test would include which of the
following?
A) Sedation will be given prior to the test.
B) The patient will be NPO prior to the test.
C) The patient may be sleep deprived prior to the test. D) Coffee can be
consumed in the meal prior to the test.
5.To assess function of cranial nerve VIII, the nurse would be correct in completing which of the
following assessment techniques?
A) Have the patient identify familiar odors with his eyes closed
B) Assess papillary reflex
C) Utilize the Snellen chart
D) Test for air and bone conduction (Rinne's test)
6.The patient is receiving a cholinergic medication. With knowledge of the parasympathetic
nervous system (PNS), the nurse would expect to find which of the following clinical
manifestations?
A) Diaphoresis B) Decreased bowel sounds C) Hypotension D) Pupil dilation
, 7.A patient has an upper motor neuron lesion. The nurse would be correct in assessing for
which of the following during assessment of the patient's lower extremities?
A) Muscle spasticity C) Decreased muscle tone
B) Hyporeflexia D) Muscle atrophy
8.The nurse preparing a patient for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) would include which of
the following?
A) Withhold stimulants 24 to 48 hours prior to exam
B) Remove all metal-containing objects
C) Instruct the patient to void prior to exam
D) Initiate an intravenous line for administration of contrast
9.The nurse is assisting with a lumbar puncture in a patient with an intracranial mass. The
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is sent to the lab for analysis. The nurse knows that a normal CSF test
is positive for which of the following?
A) Glucose B) Potassium C) Creatinine D) Blood
10.The nurse caring for an 83-year-old patient with Alzheimer's disease knows that which of the
following is a normal neurological change in the aging process?
A) Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes
B) Reduction in cerebral blood flow (CBF) C) Increased cerebral metabolism
D) Hypersensitivity to painful stimuli
11.The nurse administering an adrenergic medication knows that it will have which of the
following effects on the circulatory system?
A) Thin, watery saliva C) Decreased blood pressure
B) Increased heart rate D) Constricted bronchioles
12.The nurse is assessing the ankle reflex in a patient with hyperactive reflexes. When the
patient's foot is abruptly dorsiflexed, it continues to “beat” 2 to 3 times before setting into a
resting position. The nurse would document this finding as which of the following?
A) Rigidity B) Flaccidity C) Clonus D) Ataxia
13.A nurse caring for a patient with altered level of consciousness is preparing to test cranial
nerve VII. The nurse would complete which of the following assessment techniques to elicit a
response from cranial nerve VII?
A) Palpate the trapezius muscle while the patient shrugs his shoulders against
resistance
B) Administer the whisper or watch tick test
C) Observe for symmetry of facial movements, such as a smile
1.The nurse assessing a patient with a head injury due to a motor vehicle accident who is
experiencing temporary blindness in the left eye would be correct in documenting this
abnormal finding as corresponding to which of the following cerebral lobes?
A) Temporal B) Occipital C) Parietal D) Frontal
2.A nurse completing a neurological exam on a patient with Ménière's disease is assessing
cranial nerve VIII. The nurse would be correct in identifying the function of this nerve as
which of the following?
A) Movement of the tongue C) Sense of smell
B) Visual acuity D) Hearing and equilibrium
3.The nurse assessing a patient who exhibits an uncoordinated gait knows that which of the
following brain structures affects balance and coordination?
A) Cerebellum B) Pons C) Medulla D) Midbrain
4.A patient is scheduled for an electroencephalography (EEG) to aid in the diagnosis of a seizure
disorder. Appropriate patient teaching for this diagnostic test would include which of the
following?
A) Sedation will be given prior to the test.
B) The patient will be NPO prior to the test.
C) The patient may be sleep deprived prior to the test. D) Coffee can be
consumed in the meal prior to the test.
5.To assess function of cranial nerve VIII, the nurse would be correct in completing which of the
following assessment techniques?
A) Have the patient identify familiar odors with his eyes closed
B) Assess papillary reflex
C) Utilize the Snellen chart
D) Test for air and bone conduction (Rinne's test)
6.The patient is receiving a cholinergic medication. With knowledge of the parasympathetic
nervous system (PNS), the nurse would expect to find which of the following clinical
manifestations?
A) Diaphoresis B) Decreased bowel sounds C) Hypotension D) Pupil dilation
, 7.A patient has an upper motor neuron lesion. The nurse would be correct in assessing for
which of the following during assessment of the patient's lower extremities?
A) Muscle spasticity C) Decreased muscle tone
B) Hyporeflexia D) Muscle atrophy
8.The nurse preparing a patient for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) would include which of
the following?
A) Withhold stimulants 24 to 48 hours prior to exam
B) Remove all metal-containing objects
C) Instruct the patient to void prior to exam
D) Initiate an intravenous line for administration of contrast
9.The nurse is assisting with a lumbar puncture in a patient with an intracranial mass. The
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is sent to the lab for analysis. The nurse knows that a normal CSF test
is positive for which of the following?
A) Glucose B) Potassium C) Creatinine D) Blood
10.The nurse caring for an 83-year-old patient with Alzheimer's disease knows that which of the
following is a normal neurological change in the aging process?
A) Hyperactive deep tendon reflexes
B) Reduction in cerebral blood flow (CBF) C) Increased cerebral metabolism
D) Hypersensitivity to painful stimuli
11.The nurse administering an adrenergic medication knows that it will have which of the
following effects on the circulatory system?
A) Thin, watery saliva C) Decreased blood pressure
B) Increased heart rate D) Constricted bronchioles
12.The nurse is assessing the ankle reflex in a patient with hyperactive reflexes. When the
patient's foot is abruptly dorsiflexed, it continues to “beat” 2 to 3 times before setting into a
resting position. The nurse would document this finding as which of the following?
A) Rigidity B) Flaccidity C) Clonus D) Ataxia
13.A nurse caring for a patient with altered level of consciousness is preparing to test cranial
nerve VII. The nurse would complete which of the following assessment techniques to elicit a
response from cranial nerve VII?
A) Palpate the trapezius muscle while the patient shrugs his shoulders against
resistance
B) Administer the whisper or watch tick test
C) Observe for symmetry of facial movements, such as a smile
