Neurological MCQs for Nursing Exams

Answer: A. Performing oral suctioning

Suctioning is required whenever a patient cannot clear his or her own airway. An unconscious patient should be positioned on the side rather than supine. Removing pillows is inconsequential to maintaining a clear airway. Oral hygiene is an appropriate nursing measure for meeting the patient's basic needs, but it does not clear the airway.

Answer: C. Elevating the head of the bed to 30 degrees

Elevating the head of the bed to 30 degrees is contraindicated for infratentorial craniotomies because it could cause herniation of the brain down onto the brain stem and spinal cord, resulting in sudden death. Elevation of the head of the bed to 30 degrees with the head turned to the side opposite the incision, if not contraindicated by the increased intracranial pressure, is used for supratentorial craniotomies.

Answer: A. Teach the patient to increase the light in the home

A. Cataracts cause less light to be filtered through an opaque lens to the retina. The patient should have as much light as possible in the home to prevent falls. B. Dark glasses protect the eyes from the sun's rays when outside, as they do for anyone, but this patient needs more light indoors. C. This is the responsibility of the HCP, not the nurse. D. The furniture in the patient's house should not be moved. If the furniture is left in its usual position, the patient will be less likely to fall or stumble. However, the priority intervention is safety when walking; therefore, increasing light in the home is priority.

Answer: B. Thymus

Myasthenia gravis (MG) – antibodies block acetylcholine receptors at the nerve-muscle junction, so voluntary muscles get weak with activity; 80% have thymus hyperplasia or thymus tumour.

Answer: B. Encephalitis

Encephalitis is defined as inflammation of the brain parenchyma. Patients with encephalitis present with headache, fever, and altered mental status. The clinical presentation of encephalitis is similar to bacterial meningitis. Patients with bacterial meningitis often present with headache, fever, and nuchal rigidity. Patients with encephalitis present with headache, fever, and altered mental status, ranging from mood disorders to focal neurological deficits to coma.