NCLEX CRUSADE ACADEMY TEST - 20 NEUROLOGICAL

1. A nurse is caring for a patient who suddenly develops right-sided weakness and difficulty understanding speech. What is the FIRST nursing action?. Administer tPA. Notify the speech therapist. Assess the onset and precipitating factors. Provide patient teaching.

2. When answering NCLEX neurological prioritization questions, which principle should be applied first?. Implement treatment immediately. Validate the assessment data. Call the physician. Start IV fluids.

3. According to Maslows hierarchy used in nursing prioritization, which need should be addressed first?. Emotional distress. Physiological survival. Self esteem. Social belonging.

4. A nurse must prioritize care for multiple patients. Which patient should be seen first?. A patient with chronic migraine requesting medication. A patient with new onset confusion. A patient requesting discharge paperwork. A patient anxious about a procedure tomorrow.

5. A patient with blunt trauma arrives with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 6. What is the priority intervention?. Administer analgesics. Provide oral fluids. Intubate the patient. Place patient in supine position.

6. A nurse is evaluating a patient with suspected meningitis. Which assessment finding is the earliest indicator of rising intracranial pressure?. Blood pressure elevation. Cranial nerve changes. Level of consciousness changes. Irregular respirations.

7. In neurological triage, which patient represents the highest priority?. Stable concussion. Patient awaiting diagnostic testing. Patient with GCS 6 after trauma. Patient with mild headache.

8. Trauma leads to cerebral edema which then increases intracranial pressure. What is the next physiological consequence?. Improved cerebral perfusion. Compression of the medulla oblongata. Increased oxygenation. Decreased neurological symptoms.

9. Compression of the medulla oblongata primarily threatens which function?. Vision. Memory. Respiratory control. Motor coordination.

10. A patient with migraine reports severe pain while another patient is at risk of falling. Which problem should be addressed first?. Risk for injury. Migraine pain. Anxiety. Education needs.

11. Which action represents an independent nursing intervention?. Administer IV antibiotics. Order laboratory tests. Perform patient assessment. Insert central line.

12. Which intervention requires a collaborative order?. Positioning patient. Administering IV fluids. Teaching safety precautions. Monitoring vital signs.

13. A patient becomes lethargic but still has pulse and respirations. What should the nurse activate?. Code Blue. Rapid Response Team. Discharge planning. Routine monitoring.

14. A patient has no pulse and no respirations. What action should be taken?. Rapid response. Code Blue. Call physician. Document findings.

15. Which neurological symptom suggests left hemisphere damage?. Left sided weakness. Right sided weakness. Bilateral paralysis. Loss of vision only.

16. Receptive aphasia is most commonly associated with damage to which area?. Brocas area. Wernickes area. Cerebellum. Medulla.

17. Which artery is most commonly involved in ischemic stroke causing speech comprehension deficits?. Posterior cerebral artery. Middle cerebral artery. Basilar artery. Vertebral artery.

18. A nurse assessing neurological decline should first evaluate which system?. Gastrointestinal. Respiratory. Cardiovascular. Endocrine.

19. When prioritizing neurological care, which principle should guide decision making?. Psychosocial before physiological. Physiological before psychosocial. Risk before current problem. Chronic before acute.

20. A nurse suspects increased intracranial pressure. Which symptom would most likely appear first?. Dilated pupils. Decreased level of consciousness. Hypertension. Bradycardia.

21. Which strategy best describes NCLEX clinical decision thinking?. Memorization of facts. Pattern recognition. Prioritization and elimination. Trial and error.

22. Which concept helps determine patient priority when multiple cases exist?. Hospital policy. Acute vs chronic condition. Insurance status. Patient preference.

23. Which factor is most important when identifying unstable patients?. Unexpected symptoms. Patient satisfaction. Diet. Sleep pattern.

24. A nurse evaluating neurological patients should prioritize which sign?. Appetite changes. Level of consciousness. Urinary output. Skin condition.

25. The key message for mastering neurological NCLEX questions is: Memorize drug lists. Focus only on anatomy. Understand pathophysiology and intervention logic. Ignore prioritization rules.