NEUROLOGICAL ASSESSMENT EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS UPDATED
(2024/2025) (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
What areas is the nurse focusing on when assessing a patient's physical
appearance and behavior? - ANS ✓their posture, movements and gait
What medical term refers to a patient's degree of wakefulness or ability to
be aroused? - ANS ✓level of consciousness
What is the most sensitive indicator of neurological changes? - ANS ✓level of
consciousness
What area in the brain is responsible for arousal? - ANS ✓Reticular
Activating System (RAS) in the brainstem
What patient response often indicates that the brainstem is intact? - ANS
✓the patient can open and close their eyes when a nurse calls their name. This
does not indicate if they are awake or oriented.
What term describes an individual who is currently awake or easily
aroused? - ANS ✓alert
A patient's awareness of self with regard to person, place and time is called
________________. - ANS ✓orientation (ability to comprehend and adjust, when a
person does not respond they cannot be oriented)
1
Neurological Assessment
,Neurological
Could a patient be alert, but not oriented to person, place and time? - ANS
✓Yes. Level of consciousness (may be awakened) and orientation (may be
disoriented however) are not one and the same.
What is the last indicator of orientation to disappear? - ANS ✓a patient loses
awareness of self (person) last
A patient is fully alert and knows their full name and the present time, but
has no idea where they are. Which of the following best characterizes this
patient?
A) A&Ox1
B) A&Ox2
C) A&Ox3 - ANS ✓B) A&Ox2
A patient is fully alert but only demonstrates awareness of their name.
Which of the following best characterizes this patient?
A) A&Ox1
B) A&Ox2
C) A&Ox3 - ANS ✓A) A&Ox1
A patient is fully alert and is aware of their full name, the present time and
where they are. Which of the following best characterizes this patient?
A) A&Ox1
B) A&Ox2
C) A&Ox3 - ANS ✓C) A&Ox3
What term describes an individual who is drowsy but will awaken in
response to stimulation? - ANS ✓lethargic (they do not fully awaken)
What term describes an individual who arouses to vigorous and continuous
stimulation, typically applied in the form of a painful stimulus? - ANS
✓stuporous
2
Neurological Assessment
, Neurological
What term describes an individual who fails to respond to vigorous and
continuous stimulation? - ANS ✓comatose
A patient that is ________________ will open his eyes in response to deep pain.
stuporous
comatose - ANS ✓stuporous
A patient that is ________________ will not open his eyes in response to deep
pain.
stuporous
comatose - ANS ✓comatose
Identify the progression of strategies (4) that are used for eliciting a patient
response. - ANS ✓addressing the patient in a normal voice
addressing the patient in a loud voice
shaking the patient
applying a painful stimulus--proceed to the next measure in the
progression if the patient fails to respond
Name the 4 areas a nurse would apply a painful stimulus in efforts to elicit a
response from an unresponsive patient? - ANS ✓supraorbital pressure
trapezius squeeze
mandibular pressure
sternal rub
What is a purposeful and intentional movement directed at removing an
offensive stimulus? - ANS ✓localizing (picks at linen, pulls at tubes)
A painful stimulus is not required if a nurse has observed
______________________. - ANS ✓spontaneous localization
3
Neurological Assessment
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