Scenario-Based Neuroscience Nursing Questions And Answers 2025

1. A patient with a suspected TBI has a GCS score of 6. The nurse should first:

1. Suction the patient’s airway orally
2. Administer IV mannitol as ordered
3. Prepare for endotracheal intubation
4. Assess the pupillary response

2. After a lumbar puncture, which finding should the nurse report immediately?

1. Mild headache upright
2. Pain at puncture site 3/10
3. Inability to dorsiflex the foot
4. Urinary urgency

3. Cervical SCI patient with severe headache, flushing, BP 210/110 has:

1. Malignant hyperthermia
2. Autonomic dysreflexia
3. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
4. Cushing’s triad

4. Which prescription should the nurse question for a patient with increased ICP?

1. Elevate HOB 30°
2. Administer IV dexamethasone
3. Infuse IV 0.45% saline
4. Maintain PaCO2 at 30–35 mmHg

5. Four hours post-craniotomy, urine output is 300 mL/hr. Nurse should assess:

1. Airway patency
2. Serum sodium level
3. Surgical incision
4. Pupillary response

6. Trigeminal neuralgia teaching: which statement is correct?

1. Avoid hot/cold foods lifelong
2. Use an electric razor to shave
3. Caused by chronic inflammation
4. Pain is constant, dull ache

7. Guillain-Barré syndrome priority assessment:

1. Monitor ascending weakness
2. Assess respiratory effort & vital capacity
3. Check recent infection history
4. Evaluate pain

8. During a tonic-clonic seizure, the nurse’s priority action:

1. Insert tongue blade
2. Restrain limbs
3. Turn patient onto side
4. Give IV lorazepam stat

9. Ptosis, eye pain, halos around lights suggest:

1. Acute angle-closure glaucoma
2. Retinal detachment
3. Migraine headache
4. Myasthenia gravis

10. Nimodipine in hemorrhagic stroke is given to:

1. Reduce cerebral edema
2. Prevent vasospasm
3. Lower systemic BP
4. Dissolve clot

11. Post-transsphenoidal hypophysectomy, report immediately:

1. Clear nasal drainage
2. Dry mouth
3. Blood glucose 120 mg/dL
4. Urine output 50 mL/hr

12. Most suggestive sign of basilar skull fracture:

1. Battle’s sign
2. Scalp swelling
3. Unilateral pupil dilation
4. Expressive aphasia

13. Tensilon test: which drug must be at bedside?

1. Neostigmine
2. Atropine
3. Edrophonium
4. Pyridostigmine

14. Care plan for bacterial meningitis: most important intervention:

1. Implement seizure precautions
2. Encourage family visits
3. Give analgesics for headache
4. Semi-private room

15. Four days post-stroke, right-sided hypertonia & reflexes =

1. Flaccidity
2. Spasticity
3. Ataxia
4. Rigidity

16. Carbidopa-levodopa in Parkinson’s disease acts to:

1. Block acetylcholine
2. Increase dopamine availability
3. Stimulate dopamine receptors
4. Prevent dopamine breakdown

17. Epilepsy patient smells burnt rubber before seizure. This is:

1. Aura
2. Ictal manifestation
3. Postictal phenomenon
4. Atonic event

18. VP shunt for hydrocephalus: best way to assess function:

1. Palpate fontanels
2. Measure head circumference
3. Test Brudzinski’s sign
4. Look for sunsetting sign

19. Closing eyes and identifying a key tests:

1. Graphesthesia
2. Stereognosis
3. Proprioception
4. Two-point discrimination

20. T4 Spinal Cord Injury patient: headache, anxious, HR 48, BP 80/50. First action:

1. Give antihypertensive
2. Place supine
3. Check bladder distention
4. Prepare atropine