PrepU Ch. 65: Assessment of Neurological Function

A client preparing to undergo a lumbar puncture states he doesn't think he will be able to get comfortable with his knees drawn up to his abdomen and his chin touching his chest. He asks if he can lie on his left side. Which statement is the best response by the nurse?

"Although the required position may not be comfortable, it will make the procedure safer and easier to perform."

A nurse notes on the electronic medical record of a post-lumbar puncture patient an abnormal CSF value. Which of the following is the minimal level that is an abnormal value?

210 mm H2O CSF pressure with the patient in a lateral recumbent position is normally 70 to 200 mm H2O. Pressures of more than 200 mm H2O are considered abnormal.

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems have a direct effect on the circulatory system. Stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) causes which of the following?

Heartbeat to decrease

A high school soccer player sustained five concussions before she was told that she should never play contact sports again. After her last injury, she began experiencing episodes of double vision. She was told that she had most likely incurred damage to which cranial nerve?

VI (Abducens)

A client experienced a stroke that damaged the hypothalamus. The nurse should anticipate that the client will have problems with:

body temperature control.

A client is waiting in a triage area to learn the medical status of family members following a motor vehicle accident. The client is pacing, taking deep breaths, and handwringing. Considering the effects in the body systems, the nurse anticipates that the liver will:

convert glycogen to glucose for immediate use.

If a client has a lower motor neuron lesion, the nurse would expect the client to exhibit

decreased muscle tone.

To assess a client's cranial nerve function, a nurse should assess:

gag reflex.

A client is admitted to an acute care facility with a suspected dysfunction of the lower brain stem. The nurse should monitor this client closely for:

hypoxia

A critical care nurse is documenting the assessment of a client. The client is status postresection of a brain tumor. The nurse documents that the client is flaccid on the left. This means that the client:

is not responding to stimuli.

To evaluate a client's cerebellar function, a nurse should ask:

"Do you have any problems with balance?"

To help assess a client's cerebral function, a nurse should ask:

"Have you noticed a change in your memory?"

A client has sustained a head injury to the parietal lobe and cannot identify a familiar object by touch. The nurse knows that this deficit is

Astereognosis

The nurse obtains a Snellen eye chart when assessing cranial nerve function. Which cranial nerve is the nurse testing when using the chart?

CN II

Which occurs when reflexes are hyperactive when the foot is abruptly dorsiflexed?

Clonus (aka hyperactive reflexes) a response that occurs when there are hyperactive reflexes; it is seen as a "pulse" or "beat" of the foot when abruptly dorsiflexed. It usually "beats" 2 or 3 times then subsides, however if it doesn't subside it is considered a sustained clonus which always indicates CNS disease and should always be investigated further.

The trochlear nerve controls which function?

Eye muscle movement

Which of the following cranial nerves is responsible for salivation, tearing, taste, and sensation in the ear?

Facial

Lower motor neuron lesions cause

Flaccid muscle

A patient is having a lumbar puncture and the physician has removed 20 mL of cerebrospinal fluid. What nursing intervention is a priority after the procedure?

Have the patient lie flat for 6 hours.

The nurse is performing a neurologic assessment and requests that the patient stand with eyes open and then closed for 20 seconds to assess balance. What type of test is the nurse performing?

Romberg test

Which cerebral lobe contains the auditory receptive areas?

Temporal

The nurse is assessing the throat of a client with throat pain. In asking the client to stick out the tongue, the nurse is also assessing which cranial nerve?

Cranial nerve XII

Which lobe of the brain is responsible for concentration and abstract thought?

Frontal

Cranial nerve IX is also known as which of the following?

Glossopharyngeal

Which lobe of the brain is responsible for spatial relationships?

Parietal

Damage to which area of the brain results in receptive aphasia?

Temporal lobe

Which cranial nerve is responsible for facial sensation and corneal reflex?

Trigeminal

When completing a neurologic examination on a client, which question is most essential to evaluate the accuracy of the data?

When, if any, was your last narcotic use?

A nurse is caring for a client who has a history of a cerebral aneurysm. Which diagnostic test does the nurse anticipate to monitor the status of the aneurysm?

cerebral angiography

After a plane crash, a client is brought to the emergency department with severe burns and respiratory difficulty. The nurse helps to secure a patent airway and attends to the client's immediate needs, then prepares to perform an initial neurologic assessment. The nurse should perform an:

evaluation of the corneal reflex response

During a routine physical examination to assess a client's deep tendon reflexes, a nurse should make sure to:

support the joint where the tendon is being tested.

A patient arrives to have an MRI done in the outpatient department. What information provided by the patient warrants further assessment to prevent complications related to the MRI?

"I am trying to quit smoking and have a patch on."

A nurse is assisting during a lumbar puncture. How should the nurse position the client for this procedure?

Lateral recumbent, with chin resting on flexed knees

The physician's office nurse is caring for a client who has a history of a cerebral aneurysm. Which diagnostic test does the nurse anticipate to monitor the status of the aneurysm?

Cerebral angiography

A patient had a lumbar puncture 3 days ago in the outpatient clinic and calls the nurse with complaints of a throbbing headache. What can the nurse educate the patient to do for relief of the discomfort? Select all that apply.

Force fluids (unless contraindicated). Take some over-the-counter analgesics. Get plenty of bed rest.

The nurse is assessing the client's mental status . Which question will the nurse include in the assessment?

"Who is the president of the United States?"

The nurse is caring for a client who is undergoing single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). What is a potential side effect that this client may suffer?

Allergic reaction to the imaging material

The critical care nurse is giving report on a client they are caring for. The nurse uses the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to assess the level of consciousness (LOC) of a female client and reports to the on-coming nurse that the client has an LOC of 6. What does an LOC score of 6 in a client indicate?

Comatose Explanation: The GSC is used to measure the LOC. The scale consists of three parts: eye opening response, best verbal response, and best motor response. A normal response is 15. A score of 7 or less is considered comatose. Therefore, a score of 6 indicates the client is in a state of coma, and not in any other state such as stupor or somnolence. The evaluations are recorded on a graphic sheet where connecting lines show an increase or decrease in the LOC

A nurse is working in a neurologist's office. The physician orders a Romberg test. The nurse should have the client:

close his or her eyes and stand erect.

Which diagnostic procedure would the nurse anticipate first if the goal was to obtain a thin slice of a muscular body area?

computed tomography (CT)

The nurse is caring for a patient who was involved in a motor vehicle accident and sustained a head injury. When assessing deep tendon reflexes (DTR), the nurse observes diminished or hypoactive reflexes. How will the nurse document this finding?

1+

Which of the following neurotransmitters are deficient in myasthenia gravis?

Acetylcholine

A client undergoes a scheduled electroencephalogram (EEG). Which of the following post-procedure activities should the nurse carry out for the client?

Allow the client to rest and shampoo the client's hair.

A client is ordered to undergo CT of the brain with IV contrast. Before the test, the nurse should complete which action first?

Assess the client for medication allergies.

Which term refers to the inability to coordinate muscle movements, resulting difficulty walking?

Ataxia

A client is scheduled for an EEG. The client inquires about any diet-related prerequisites before the EEG. Which diet-related advice should the nurse provide to the client?

Avoid taking sedative drugs or drinks that contain caffeine for at least 8 hours before the test

If a client has a lower motor neuron lesion, the nurse would expect to observe which manifestation upon physical assessment?

Decreased muscle tone

A client has undergone a lumbar puncture as part of a neurological assessment. The client is put under the care of a nurse after the procedure. Which important postprocedure nursing intervention should be performed to ensure the client's maximum comfort?

Encourage the client to drink liberal amounts of fluids

A patient sustained a head injury during a fall and has changes in personality and affect. What part of the brain does the nurse recognize has been affected in this injury?

Frontal lobe

A client in the emergency department has a suspected neurologic disorder. To assess gait, the nurse asks the client to take a few steps; with each step, the client's feet make a half circle. To document the client's gait, the nurse should use which term?

Helicopod

You are caring for a client in the clinic who has come in to have an EMG done. How would you prepare the client for this test?

Tell the client to expect some discomfort. Tell the client to expect some discomfort when undergoing a lumbar puncture, myelogram, EMG, or nerve conduction studies. There is no fluoroscopy used for an EMG. It is not necessary to lie flat after an EMG.

Which diagnostic test may be performed to evaluate blood flow within intracranial blood vessels?

Transcranial Doppler

The brain stem holds the medulla oblongata. What is the function of the medulla oblongata?

Transmits motor impulses from the brain to the spinal cord

The provider orders the Romberg test for a patient. The nurse tells the patient that the provider wants to evaluate his equilibrium by assessing which cranial nerve?

VIII

The nurse is performing a neurologic assessment on a client diagnosed with a stroke and cannot elicit a gag reflex. This deficit is related to which of the following cranial nerves?

X

A nurse observes that decerebrate posturing is a comatose client's response to painful stimuli. Decerebrate posturing as a response to pain indicates:

dysfunction in the brain stem. Explanation: Decerebrate posturing indicates damage of the upper brain stem. Decorticate posturing indicates cerebral dysfunction. Increased intracranial pressure is a cause of decortication and decerebration. Alterations in sensation or paralysis indicate dysfunction in the spinal column.

A nurse is discussing a lumbar puncture with a nursing student who observed the procedure. The student noticed that the cerebrospinal fluid was blood tinged and asks what that means. The correct reply is which of the following?

"It can mean a traumatic puncture or a subarachnoid bleed."

The nurse is preparing a client for a neurological examination by the physician and explains tests the physician will be doing, including the Romberg test. The client asks the purpose of this particular test. The correct reply by the nurse is which of the following?

"It is a test for balance."

The anatomy instructor is discussing the central nervous system. A student asks where the cerebral cortex is located. What should the anatomy instructor answer?

"It is located on the surface of the cerebrum."

Lesions in the temporal lobe may result in which type of agnosia?

Auditory

The nurse is performing an assessment of cranial nerve function and asks the patient to cover one nostril at a time to see if the patient can smell coffee, alcohol, and mint. The patient is unable to smell any of the odors. The nurse is aware that the patient has a dysfunction of which cranial nerve?

CN I

Which occurs when reflexes are hyperactive when the foot is abruptly dorsiflexed?

Clonus

Which is a sympathetic effect of the nervous system?

Dilated pupils

Which anatomic part supplies cerebrospinal fluid to the subarachnoid space and down the spinal cord on the dorsal surface?

Fourth ventricle

A client who was trapped inside a car for hours after a head-on collision is rushed to the emergency department with multiple injuries. During the neurologic examination, the client responds to painful stimuli with decerebrate posturing. This finding indicates damage to which part of the brain?

Midbrain Decerebrate posturing, characterized by abnormal extension in response to painful stimuli, indicates damage to the midbrain. With damage to the diencephalon or cortex, abnormal flexion (decorticate posturing) occurs when a painful stimulus is applied. Damage to the medulla results in flaccidity.

Which of the following is a manifestation of an upper motor neuron lesion?

Muscle spasticity

The pre-nursing class is learning about the nervous system in their anatomy class. What part of the nervous system would the students learn is responsible for digesting food and eliminating body waste?

Parasympathetic Explanation: The parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system works to conserve body energy and is partly responsible for slowing heart rate, digesting food, and eliminating body wastes.

Which of the following is a disorder due to a lesion in the basal ganglia?

Parkinson's disease

A client is losing sensation in their arms and legs. The problem appears to be confined to the peripheral nervous system. What does the peripheral nervous system include?

Sympathetic nerves

A nurse is preparing a client for lumbar puncture. The client has heard about post-lumbar puncture headaches and asks how to avoid having one. The nurse tells the client that these headches can be avoided by doing which of the following after the procedure?

"Remain prone for 2 to 3 hours."

Which of the following is a sympathetic nervous system effect?

Decreased peristalsis

Low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin lead to which of the following disease processes?

Depression

What part of the brain controls and coordinates muscle movement?

Cerebellum

Which term describes the fibrous connective tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord?

Meninges

Which neurons transmit impulses from the CNS?

Motor

A client is diagnosed with a brain tumor. The nurse's assessment reveals that the client has difficulty interpreting visual stimuli. Based on these findings, the nurse suspects injury to which lobe of the brain?

occipital

Which of the following terms is used to describe rapid, jerky, involuntary, purposeless movements of the extremities?

Chorea

The critical care nurse is giving report on a client they are caring for. The nurse uses the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to assess the level of consciousness (LOC) of a female client and reports to the on-coming nurse that the client has an LOC of 6. What does an LOC score of 6 in a client indicate?

Comatose

A nurse is preparing a client for a lumbar puncture. The client has heard about post-lumbar puncture headaches and asks what causes them. The nurse tells the client that these headches are caused by which of the following?

Cerebral spinal fluid leakage at the puncture site

Age-related changes in the neurologic system must be carefully assessed. Which of the following changes does the nurse expect to find in some degree depending on the patient's age and medical condition? Select all that apply.

Decreased muscle mass Increased sensitivity to heat and cold Reduced papillary responses

A patient has difficulty interpreting his awareness of body position in space. Which lobe is most likely to be damaged?

Parietal

The nurse is caring for a client who is to have a lumbar puncture. What are the lowest vertebrae that contain the spinal cord?

second lumbar vertebrae

A nurse is working in an outpatient studies unit administering neurological tests. The client is surprised that paste is used to secure an electroencephalogram and asks how it will be removed from the hair. The nurse is most correct to state that the paste is removed with:

standard shampoo.

When learning about the nervous system, students learn that which nervous system regulates the expenditure of energy?

Sympathetic

A client who was found unconscious at home is brought to the hospital by a rescue squad. In the intensive care unit, the nurse checks the client's oculocephalic (doll's eye) response by:

turning the client's head suddenly while holding the eyelids open.

A client suspected of having a distortion of cerebral arteries and veins is scheduled for a cerebral angiography. What would the nurse tell the client about the upcoming test?

Contrast will be given and a rapid sequence of radiographs will be taken.

A patient recently noted difficulty maintaining his balance and controlling fine movements. The nurse explains that the provider will order diagnostic studies for the part of his brain known as the:

Cerebellum

The nurse is assessing the pupils of a patient who has had a head injury. What does the nurse recognize as a parasympathetic effect?

Constricted pupils

A client presents to the emergency department status postseizure. The physician wants to know what the pressure is in the client's head. What test might be ordered on this client?

Changes in CSF occur in many neurologic disorders. A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) is performed to obtain samples of CSF from the subarachnoid space for laboratory examination and to measure CSF pressure. Echoencephalography records the electrical impulses generated by the brain. Nerve conduction studies measure the speed with which the nerve impulse travels along the peripheral nerve. Electromyography studies the changes in the electrical potential of muscles and the nerves supplying the muscles

A nurse is caring for a client with an injury to the central nervous system. When caring for a client with a spinal cord insult slowing transmission of the motor neurons, the nurse would anticipate a delayed reaction in:

response due to interrupted impulses from the central nervous system

During a neurological assessment examination, the nurse assesses a patient for tactile agnosia. The nurse places a familiar door key in the patient's hand and asks him to identify the object with his eyes closed. The nurse documents his inability to identify the object and notes the affected area of the brain. Which of the following is the most likely affected area of the brain?

Parietal lobe

Which neurotransmitter demonstrates inhibitory action, helps control mood and sleep, and inhibits pain pathways?

Serotonin

During recovery from a stroke, a client is given nothing by mouth to help prevent aspiration. To determine when the client is ready for a liquid diet, the nurse assesses the client's swallowing ability once per shift. This assessment evaluates:

cranial nerves IX and X.

The nurse is caring for a client after lumbar puncture. The client reports a severe headache. Which actions should the nurse complete? Select all that apply.

Administer analgesic medication. Administer fluids to the client. Maintain the client on bed rest.

A client is weak and drowsy after a lumbar puncture. The nurse caring for the client knows that what priority nursing intervention should be provided after a lumbar puncture?

Position the client flat for at least 3 hours.

A nurse is performing a neurologic assessment on the client and notes a positive Romberg test. This test for balance is related to which of the following cranial nerves?

VIII

There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves. Only three are sensory. Select the cranial nerve that is affected with decreased visual fields.

CN II

The nurse is assessing the throat of a client with throat pain. In asking the client to stick out the tongue, the nurse is also assessing which cranial nerve?

CN XII Assessment of the movement of the tongue is cranial nerve XII . Cranial nerve I is the olfactory nerve. Cranial nerve V is the trigeminal nerve responsible for sensation to the face and chewing. Cranial nerve XI is the spinal or accessory nerve responsible for head and shoulder and shoulder movement.

The Family Nurse Practitioner is performing the physical examination of a client with a suspected neurologic disorder. In addition to assessing other parts of the body, the nurse should assess for neck rigidity. Which method should help the nurse assess for neck rigidity correctly?

Moving the head and chin toward the chest Explanation: The neck is examined for stiffness or abnormal position. The presence of rigidity is assessed by moving the head and chin toward the chest. The nurse should not maneuver the neck if a head or neck injury is suspected or known. The neck should also not be maneuvered if trauma to any part of the body is evident. Moving the head toward the sides or pressing the bones on the neck will not help assess for neck rigidity correctly. While assessing for neck rigidity, sensation at the neck area is not to be assessed.

A nurse is performing a neurologic assessment on a client. The nurse observes the client's tongue for symmetry, tremors, and strength, and assesses the client's speech. Which cranial nerve is the nurse assessing?

XII

The nurse is performing the physical examination of a client with a suspected neurologic disorder. In addition to assessing other parts of the body, the nurse should assess for neck rigidity. Which method should help the nurse assess for neck rigidity correctly?

Moving the head and chin toward the chest

A patient is being tested for a gag reflex. When the nurse places the tongue blade to the back of the throat, there is no response elicited. What dysfunction does the nurse determine the patient has?

Dysfunction of the vagus nerve

A nurse is caring for a client with lower back pain who is scheduled for myelography using metrizamide (a water-soluble contrast dye). After the test, the nurse should place the client in which position?

Head of the bed elevated 45 degrees Reason: After a myelogram, positioning depends on the dye injected. When a water-soluble dye such as metrizamide is injected, the head of the bed is elevated to a 45-degree angle to slow the upward dispersion of the dye. The prone and supine positions are contraindicated when a water-soluble contrast dye is used. The client should be positioned supine with the head lower than the trunk after an air-contrast study. *A myelogram is a diagnostic imaging procedure done by a radiologist. It uses a contrast dye and X-rays or computed tomography (CT) to look for problems in the spinal canal, including the spinal cord, nerve roots, and other tissues. It is also known as myelography.

A 53-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a chief complaint of inability to form words, and numbness and weakness of the right arm and leg. Where would you locate the site of injury?

Left frontoparietal region

The nurse is caring for a client in the clinic who has come in to have an EMG done. How would the nurse prepare the client for this test?

Tell the client to expect some discomfort.

A patient comes to the emergency department with severe pain in the face that was stimulated by brushing the teeth. What cranial nerve does the nurse understand can cause this type of pain?

V

Which term refers to a method of recording, in graphic form, the electrical activity of a muscle?

Electromyography

A 53-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a chief complaint of inability to form words, and numbness and weakness of the right arm and leg. Where would you locate the site of injury?

Left frontoparietal region Explanation: The patient is exhibiting signs of expressive aphasia with numbness/tingling and weakness of the right arm and leg. This indicates injury to the expressive speech center (Broca's area), which is located in the inferior portion of the frontal lobe. The motor strip is located in the posterior portion of the frontal lobe. The sensory strip is located in the anterior parietal lobe.

A client who was trapped inside a car for hours after a head-on collision is rushed to the emergency department with multiple injuries. During the neurologic examination, the client responds to painful stimuli with decerebrate posturing. This finding indicates damage to which part of the brain?

Midbrain

The Family Nurse Practitioner is performing the physical examination of a client with a suspected neurologic disorder. In addition to assessing other parts of the body, the nurse should assess for neck rigidity. Which method should help the nurse assess for neck rigidity correctly?

Moving the head and chin toward the chest

The nurse is caring for a comatose client. The nurse knows she should assess the client's motor response. Which method may the nurse use to assess the motor response?

Observing the client's response to painful stimulus

The pre-nursing class is learning about the nervous system in their anatomy class. What part of the nervous system would the students learn is responsible for digesting food and eliminating body waste?

Parasympathetic

The nurse who is employed in a neurologist's office is performing a history and assessment on a client experiencing hearing difficulty. The nurse is most correct to gather equipment to assess the function of cranial nerve:

VIII