Question 1

The two parts of the nervous system are the:

Accepted Answer

A) motor and sensory. 
B) central and peripheral. 
C) peripheral and autonomic. 
D) hypothalamus and cerebral.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

A) Flexion of the hand 
B) Pronation of the hand 
C) Extension of the forearm 
D) Flexion and supination of the forearm

Question 3

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?

Accepted Answer

A) Positive Babinski sign 
B) Plantar reflex abnormal 
C) Plantar reflex present 
D) Plantar reflex "2+" on a scale from "0 to 4+"

Question 4

The nurse knows that determining whether a person is oriented to his or her surroundings will test the functioning of which of the following structures?

Accepted Answer

A) Cerebrum 
B) Cerebellum 
C) Cranial nerves 
D) Medulla oblongata

Question 5

In obtaining a history on a 74-year-old patient the nurse notes the following: he drinks alcohol daily;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?

Accepted Answer

A) "Does your family know you are drinking every day?" 
B) "Does the tremor change when you drink the alcohol?" 
C) "We'll do some tests to see what is causing the tremor." 
D) "You really shouldn't drink so much alcohol;it may be causing your tremor."

Question 6

During an assessment of an 80-year-old patient,the nurse notes the following: inability to identify vibrations at the ankle and to identify position of big toe;slower and more deliberate gait;slightly impaired tactile sensation.All other neurologic findings are normal.The nurse knows that these findings indicate:

Accepted Answer

A) cranial nerve dysfunction. 
B) lesion in the cerebral cortex. 
C) normal changes due to aging. 
D) demyelinization of nerves due to a lesion.

Question 7

While obtaining a history of a 3-month old infant from the mother,the nurse asks about the baby's ability to suck and grasp the mother's finger.What is the nurse assessing?

Accepted Answer

A) Reflexes 
B) Intelligence 
C) Cranial nerves 
D) Cerebral cortex function

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

A) This is a normal occurrence. 
B) This may indicate disease of the cerebellum or brainstem. 
C) This is a sign that the patient is nervous about the examination. 
D) This indicates a visual problem and a referral to an ophthalmologist is indicated.

Question 9

The nurse is performing a neurologic assessment on a 41-year-old woman with a history of diabetes.When testing her ability to feel the vibrations of a tuning fork,the nurse notes the following: unable to feel vibrations on the great toe or ankle bilaterally;is able to feel vibrations on both patellae.Given this information,what would the nurse suspect?

Accepted Answer

A) Hyperalgesia 
B) Hyperesthesia 
C) Peripheral neuropathy 
D) Lesion of sensory cortex

Question 10

The ability that humans have to perform very skilled movements such as writing is controlled by the:

Accepted Answer

A) basal ganglia. 
B) corticospinal tract. 
C) spinothalamic tract. 
D) extrapyramidal tract.

Question 11

During the history,a patient tells the nurse that "it feels like the room is spinning around me." The nurse would document this as:

Accepted Answer

A) vertigo. 
B) syncope. 
C) dizziness. 
D) seizure activity.

Question 12

During the assessment of an 80-year-old patient,the nurse notes that his hands show tremors when he reaches for something and his head is always nodding.There is no associated rigidity with movement.Which of the following statements is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A) These are normal findings resulting from aging. 
B) These could be related to hyperthyroidism. 
C) These are the result of degenerative arthropathy. 
D) This patient should be evaluated for a cerebellar lesion.

Question 13

While gathering equipment for an intravenous injection,a nurse accidentally received a prick from an improperly capped needle.To interpret this sensation,which of the following areas must be intact?

Accepted Answer

A) Corticospinal tract,medulla,and basal ganglia 
B) Pyramidal tract,hypothalamus,and sensory cortex 
C) Lateral spinothalamic tract,thalamus,and sensory cortex 
D) Anterior spinothalamic tract,basal ganglia,and sensory cortex

Question 14

While assessing a 7-month-old infant,the nurse makes a loud noise and notes the following response: abduction and flexion of arms and legs;fanning of fingers,and curling of index and thumb in C position followed by infant bringing in arms and legs to body.What does the nurse know about this response?

Accepted Answer

A) This could indicate brachial nerve palsy. 
B) This is an expected startle response at this age. 
C) This reflex should have disappeared between 1 and 4 months of age. 
D) It is normal as long as movements are symmetric bilaterally.

Question 15

In a person with an upper motor neuron lesion such as a cerebrovascular accident,which of the following physical assessment findings would the nurse expect to see?

Accepted Answer

A) Hyperreflexia 
B) Fasciculations 
C) Loss of muscle tone and flaccidity 
D) Atrophy and wasting of the muscles

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

A) Denver II 
B) Stereognosis 
C) Deep tendon reflexes 
D) Rapid alternating movements

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

A) Demonstrates full range of motion of the neck 
B) Sticks tongue out midline without tremors or deviation 
C) Follows an object with eyes without nystagmus or strabismus 
D) Moves the head and shoulders against resistance with equal strength

Question 18

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?

Accepted Answer

A) Vestibular disease 
B) Lesion of cranial nerve IX 
C) Dysfunction of the cerebellum 
D) Inability to understand directions

Question 19

A 30-year-old woman tells the nurse that she has been very unsteady and has had difficulty in maintaining her balance.Which area of the brain would the nurse be concerned about with these findings?

Accepted Answer

A) Thalamus 
B) Brainstem 
C) Cerebellum 
D) Extrapyramidal tract

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

A) parkinsonism. 
B) cerebral palsy. 
C) cerebellar ataxia. 
D) muscular dystrophy.

Exam 23: Neurologic System