Deck 36: Introduction to the Nervous System

Question 1

A Geriatric Nurse Practitioner is assessing older adults. The Nurse Practitioner knows that older adults sometimes have difficulty following directions during a neurologic examination or diagnostic procedure. What strategies can the Nurse Practitioner use to examine older clients?

A) Offer incentives such as sweets
B) Provide brief instructions, one step at a time
C) Spread the examination over 2 or 3 days
D) Suggest a nurse or an examiner who is of their age

Answer 1

Provide brief instructions, one step at a time

Question 2

A critical care nurse is caring for a client with a neurologic disorder. The nurse regularly records the temperature and blood pressure of the client and has not observed any change in the client's vital signs for some days. However, on a particular day, the nurse observes a change in the vital signs of the client. What would be a priority action for the nurse to take when a change in the vital signs is observed?

A) Inform the physician immediately.
B) Note the change and inform the physician at the next occurrence about the change.
C) Provide measures to normalize vital signs.
D) Assess the level of consciousness (LOC) and the pupil response of the client.

Answer 2

Inform the physician immediately.

Question 3

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?

A) Headache and pain in the neck
B) Claustrophobia
C) Allergic reaction to the imaging material
D) Allergic reaction to radioactive rays

Answer 3

Allergic reaction to the imaging material

Question 4

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

A) Parasympathetic
B) Central
C) Peripheral
D) Sympathetic

Question 5

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?

A) Administer antihistamines to the client.
B) Provide adequate caffeine-rich drinks to the client.
C) Assess the level of consciousness (LOC) and the pupil response of the client.
D) Position the client flat for at least 3 hours.

Question 6

A critical care nurse is documenting their assessment of a client they are caring for. The client is status post resection of a brain tumor. The nurse documents that the client is flaccid on the left. What does this mean?

A) The client has an abnormal posture response to stimuli.
B) The client is not responding to stimuli.
C) The client is hyperresponsive on the left.
D) The client is hyporesponsive on the left.

Question 7

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

A) Transmits sensory impulses from the brain to the spinal cord
B) Controls striated muscle activity in blood vessel walls
C) Controls parasympathetic nerve impulses in the pns
D) Transmits motor impulses from the brain to the spinal cord

Question 8

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

A) Allow the client to rest and shampoo the client's hair.
B) Provide the client with adequate caffeine-rich drinks.
C) Measure the level of consciousness (LOC) of the client.
D) Measure the heart and the pulse rate.

Question 9

What part of the brain controls and coordinates muscle movement?

A) Cerebellum
B) Cerebrum
C) Midbrain
D) Brain stem

Question 10

You are caring for a male client who is scheduled for a neurologic examination that uses a radiopaque dye. Before the test, you assess the allergy history of the client and find the client is allergic to seafood. What does the nurse relate the allergy to seafood as?

A) An allergy to antihistamines
B) An allergy to radiation exposure
C) An allergy to morphine
D) An allergy to iodine

Question 11

A client presents to the Emergency Department status post seizure. The physician wants to know what the pressure is in the client's head. What test might be ordered on this client?

A) Lumbar puncture
B) Echoencephalography
C) Nerve Conduction Studies
D) EMG

Question 12

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?

A) That sedatives, coffee, tea, and soft drinks that contain caffeine will be withheld for at least 8 hours before the test to avoid affecting the diagnostic findings.
B) The client will have to stay in a dark quiet room.
C) Contrast will be given and a rapid sequence of radiographs will be taken.
D) The client will have to shampoo his or her hair.

Question 13

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?

A) Comatose
B) Somnolence
C) Stupor
D) Normal

Question 14

The Family Nurse Practitioner is assessing a 55-year-old who came to the clinic complaining of being "unsteady" on their feet. What would be a test for equilibrium?

A) Walking and turning abruptly
B) Carlsburg test
C) Romberg test
D) Heel-to-toe test

Question 15

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?

A) Cerebellum
B) Sensory neurons
C) Sympathetic nerves
D) Spinal cord

Question 16

A male client is scheduled for an electroencephalogram (EEG). When the nurse caring for the client is preparing him for the test, the client states that during childhood he was mildly electrocuted but miraculously lived. Therefore, he is quite afraid of going through an EEG. In what ways can the nurse help dispel the client's fear regarding the test?

A) Distract the client's attention from the test.
B) Inform the client that he will not experience any electrical shock.
C) Inform the client that he will experience only mild electrical shock.
D) Encourage adequate water intake by the client.

Question 17

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

A) Observing the reaction of pupils to light
B) Observing the client's response to painful stimulus
C) Using the Romberg test
D) Assessing the client's sensitivity to temperature, touch, and pain

Question 18

A comatose client is being cared for by a critical care nurse who documents that the client responds only to very painful stimuli by fragmentary, delayed reflex withdrawal. The nurse knows that reflexes in the body are centered where?

A) In the pons
B) In the medulla oblongata
C) In the spinal cord
D) In the midbrain

Question 19

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?

A) Moving the head toward both sides
B) Lightly tapping the lower portion of the neck to detect sensation
C) Moving the head and chin toward the chest
D) Gently pressing the bones on the neck

Question 20

Which neurons transmit impulses from the CNS?

A) Sensory
B) Neurilemma
C) Dendrites
D) Motor

Question 21

The anatomy and physiology instructor is talking about the nervous system. What would the instructor tell the students about the cerebrum? Select all that apply.

A) It has a parietal lobe.
B) It has a frontal lobe.
C) It has a capses collusam.
D) It has a temporal lobe.
E) It has an occipital lobe.

Question 22

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

A) "It is located on the surface of the cerebrum."
B) "It is located in the center of the cerebellum."
C) "It is located at the base of the brain."
D) "It is located between the left and right hemispheres of the brain."

Question 23

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?

A) Central
B) Sympathetic
C) Peripheral
D) Parasympathetic

Question 24

The nursing instructor is talking with their clinical group about the central nervous system. What should the instructor tell the students about the function of the spinal cord?

A) Provides centers for planned action
B) Extends through the whole vertebral column
C) Serves as a conduit for impulses to and from the brain
D) Supports the skeletal system

Question 25

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?

A) Tell the client the doctor will use fluoroscopy for this test.
B) Tell the client the test is painless.
C) Tell the client to expect some discomfort.
D) Tell the client they will have to lie flat afterwards.