Exam 25: Neurological System

The nurse is doing an assessment on a 29-year-old woman who visits the clinic complaining of "always dropping things and falling down." While testing rapid alternating movements,the nurse notices that the woman is unable to pat both her knees.Her response is very slow,and she misses frequently.What might the nurse suspect?

The nurse knows that testing kinesthesia is a test of a person's:

A mother of a 1-month-old infant asks the nurse why it takes so long for babies to learn to roll over.The nurse knows that the reason for this is that:

In obtaining a history for a 74-year-old patient,the nurse notes that he drinks alcohol daily and that he has noticed a tremor in his hands that affects his ability to hold things.With this information,what should the nurse's response be?

The nurse is testing superficial reflexes on an adult patient.When stroking up the lateral side of the sole and across the ball of the foot,the nurse notices the plantar flexion of the toes.How would the nurse document this finding?

A 32-year-old woman tells the nurse that she has noticed "very sudden,jerky movements," mainly in her hands and arms."They seem to come and go,primarily when I am trying to do something.I haven't noticed them when I'm sleeping." This description suggests:

The nurse is testing the deep tendon reflexes of a 30-year-old woman during her annual physical examination.When striking the Achilles and quadriceps,the nurse is unable to elicit reflexes.The nurse's next response should be to:

A man who was found wandering in a park at 2 A.M.has been brought to the emergency department for an examination because he said he fell and hit his head.During the examination,the nurse asks him to use his index finger to touch the nurse's finger,then his own nose,and then the nurse's finger again (which has been moved to a different location).The patient is clumsy,unable to follow the instructions,and overshoots the mark,missing the finger.The nurse suspects which of the following?

The nurse is taking the health history of a 78-year-old man.During the history,his wife states that he occasionally has problems with short-term memory loss and confusion: "He can't even remember how to button his shirt." In doing the assessment of his sensory system,the nurse would do which of the following?

A 21-year-old patient has a head injury resulting from trauma and is unconscious.There are no other injuries.During the assessment,what would the nurse expect to find when testing the patient's deep tendon reflexes?

The nurse is caring for a patient who has just had neurosurgery.To assess for increased intracranial pressure,what would the nurse include in the assessment?

A 78-year-old man has a history of a cerebrovascular accident.The nurse notes that when he walks,his left arm is immobile against the body,with flexion of the shoulder,elbow,wrist,and fingers and adduction of the shoulder.His left leg is stiff and extended,and circumducts with each step.What type of gait disturbance is this individual experiencing?

During an examination,the nurse notes severe nystagmus in both of the patient's eyes.Which of the following conclusions is correct?

During an assessment of a 22-year-old woman who has a head injury from a car accident 4 hours ago,the nurse notes the following change: her pupils were equal,but now the right is fully dilated and nonreactive,while the left is 4 mm and reacts to light.What would this finding suggest?

The nurse is testing the function of CN XI.Which of the following best describes the response the nurse would expect if the nerve is intact?

Which of the following would the nurse use to test the motor coordination of an 11-month-old infant?

A 50-year-old woman is visiting the clinic for "weakness in my left arm and leg for the past week." The nurse will perform which type of neurological examination?

The nurse is assessing the neurological status of a patient who has a late-stage brain tumour.With the reflex hammer,the nurse draws a light stroke up the lateral side of the sole of the foot and inward across the ball of the foot.In response,the patient's toes fan out,and the big toe shows dorsiflexion.The nurse recognizes this as which of the following?

When the nurse is testing the triceps reflex,what is the expected response?

During an assessment of a 62-year-old man the nurse notes stooped posture;shuffling,short steps when walking;a very rigid,flat facial expression;and movement of the fingers as if rolling a pill with them.These findings would be consistent with: