SCRN Exam 2026/2026 Questions and
Answers (Graded A)
cerebral cortex - Answer- gray matter on the outermost section of the cerebrum and
cerebellum
composed of neuronal cell bodies
Four lobes of the cerebral cortex and cerebrum - Answer- Frontal
Parietal
Temporal
Occipital
Oxygen supplemental need - Answer- > 93%
BP goal post tPA - Answer- <180/105
Vast majority of fatal hemorrhages occur within - Answer- the first 12 hours
hyperthermia management - Answer- strict < 38.0 or 100.4
tylenol for fevers
neurogenic fevers with an early increase in temperature
after 24 hours - Answer- can restart antihypertensives
blood pressure goals if they did not receive tPA - Answer- systolic < 220
diastolic < 120
** do not want to bring BP down fast d/t risk for hypotension
Co2 is a potent vasodilator - Answer- leads to an increase in ICP
more blood volume to brain
mild hyperventilation for low CO2 leads to lower ICP and vasoconstriction
Hypocarbia in extreme can lower cerebral blood flow by too much
door to physician - Answer- < 10 min
door to team - Answer- < 15 min
door to CT - Answer- < 25 min
Door to interpretation - Answer- < 45 min
,door to tPA - Answer- < 60 min
BP if they did not receive TPA - Answer- 220/120
Acute care management - Answer- continue to monitor neurological status
begin early mobilization of patient
close observation during transition sitting to standing
intracranial hemorrhage - Answer- hypertensive bleed
venous thrombosis
trauma
subarachnoid hemorrhage - Answer- trauma
aneurysmal
non-aneurysmal
venous thrombosis
ischemic stroke - Answer- large vessel occlusions (LVO) usually from embolic sources
ICA
MCA
ACA
PCA
PICA
AICA
Basilar
Small vessel occlusions - Answer- generally from atherosclerosis
vessels that feed cerebrum - Answer- MCA
PCA
ACA
vessels that feeds the cerebellum - Answer- AICA
PICA
SCA
vessels that feed the brainstem - Answer- basilar
pontine
stroke mimics - Answer- seizures
metabolic syndromes
complex migraines
degenerative neurologic conditions
CNS tumors
, drug toxicity
CNS abscess
Bell's palsy
Neuroplasticity - Answer- the ability within the brain to constantly change both the
structure and function of many cells in response to experience or trauma
adaptive or maladaptive
rehab is key
SAH bp goal - Answer- < 140
ICH blood pressure goal - Answer- < 160
frontal lobe - Answer- motor, behavioral expression, motor and sensory maps
Parietal lobe - Answer- sensation, optic radiations carrying sensory input from the eyes,
language centers (typically left side of the brain) --> broca's and wernicke's
dysarthria - Answer- slurred speech reflecting poor motor control of the muscles
associated with speech and language
occipital lobe - Answer- vision and interpretation of visual sensory signals
temporal lobe - Answer- coding visual memory and processing auditory and visual
sensory input and language comprehension
basal ganglia - Answer- coordinating center for several nerve tracts including
coordinating muscle movement
globus pallidus - Answer- component of the basal ganglia instrumental in control of
voluntary muscle movement
limbic system - Answer- group of nuclear and critical structures that encode memory
and regulate autonomic nervous system and endocrine function in response to
emotional situations
Limbic System: Hypothalamus - Answer- coordinates ANS with endocrine function,
control of body temperature, circadian rhythm, and body water osmolality
amygdala: limbic system - Answer- plays a crucial role in the management of stress,
rage, and anxiety
center for memory and emotions
cingulate gyrus (limbic system) - Answer- develop emotions and encode memory
Answers (Graded A)
cerebral cortex - Answer- gray matter on the outermost section of the cerebrum and
cerebellum
composed of neuronal cell bodies
Four lobes of the cerebral cortex and cerebrum - Answer- Frontal
Parietal
Temporal
Occipital
Oxygen supplemental need - Answer- > 93%
BP goal post tPA - Answer- <180/105
Vast majority of fatal hemorrhages occur within - Answer- the first 12 hours
hyperthermia management - Answer- strict < 38.0 or 100.4
tylenol for fevers
neurogenic fevers with an early increase in temperature
after 24 hours - Answer- can restart antihypertensives
blood pressure goals if they did not receive tPA - Answer- systolic < 220
diastolic < 120
** do not want to bring BP down fast d/t risk for hypotension
Co2 is a potent vasodilator - Answer- leads to an increase in ICP
more blood volume to brain
mild hyperventilation for low CO2 leads to lower ICP and vasoconstriction
Hypocarbia in extreme can lower cerebral blood flow by too much
door to physician - Answer- < 10 min
door to team - Answer- < 15 min
door to CT - Answer- < 25 min
Door to interpretation - Answer- < 45 min
,door to tPA - Answer- < 60 min
BP if they did not receive TPA - Answer- 220/120
Acute care management - Answer- continue to monitor neurological status
begin early mobilization of patient
close observation during transition sitting to standing
intracranial hemorrhage - Answer- hypertensive bleed
venous thrombosis
trauma
subarachnoid hemorrhage - Answer- trauma
aneurysmal
non-aneurysmal
venous thrombosis
ischemic stroke - Answer- large vessel occlusions (LVO) usually from embolic sources
ICA
MCA
ACA
PCA
PICA
AICA
Basilar
Small vessel occlusions - Answer- generally from atherosclerosis
vessels that feed cerebrum - Answer- MCA
PCA
ACA
vessels that feeds the cerebellum - Answer- AICA
PICA
SCA
vessels that feed the brainstem - Answer- basilar
pontine
stroke mimics - Answer- seizures
metabolic syndromes
complex migraines
degenerative neurologic conditions
CNS tumors
, drug toxicity
CNS abscess
Bell's palsy
Neuroplasticity - Answer- the ability within the brain to constantly change both the
structure and function of many cells in response to experience or trauma
adaptive or maladaptive
rehab is key
SAH bp goal - Answer- < 140
ICH blood pressure goal - Answer- < 160
frontal lobe - Answer- motor, behavioral expression, motor and sensory maps
Parietal lobe - Answer- sensation, optic radiations carrying sensory input from the eyes,
language centers (typically left side of the brain) --> broca's and wernicke's
dysarthria - Answer- slurred speech reflecting poor motor control of the muscles
associated with speech and language
occipital lobe - Answer- vision and interpretation of visual sensory signals
temporal lobe - Answer- coding visual memory and processing auditory and visual
sensory input and language comprehension
basal ganglia - Answer- coordinating center for several nerve tracts including
coordinating muscle movement
globus pallidus - Answer- component of the basal ganglia instrumental in control of
voluntary muscle movement
limbic system - Answer- group of nuclear and critical structures that encode memory
and regulate autonomic nervous system and endocrine function in response to
emotional situations
Limbic System: Hypothalamus - Answer- coordinates ANS with endocrine function,
control of body temperature, circadian rhythm, and body water osmolality
amygdala: limbic system - Answer- plays a crucial role in the management of stress,
rage, and anxiety
center for memory and emotions
cingulate gyrus (limbic system) - Answer- develop emotions and encode memory
