NRS 434VN TOPIC 4 ASSIGNMENT PRACTICE
TEST 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ The nurse is assessing a patient with a spinal cord injury in the
ICU. The patient is completely paralyzed from the waist down but
has sensation in his shoulders, chest, arms, and hands. He has no
control of his bowel or bladder. Which of the following are possible
sites for this patients injury, given his loss of function? Select all that
apply.
A)C4
B)C7
C)T3
D)T7
E)T12
F)L4. Answer: D E
◉ A patient presents to the ICU with a spinal cord injury at C3 and
the following: loss of position sense, light touch, and vibratory sense
below the level of the injury. However, the patient has retained all
motor function and pain and temperature sensation. The nurse
suspects that the injury has occurred on what portion of the spinal
cord?
A)Central
,B)Lateral
C)Anterior
D)Posterior. Answer: D
◉ A patient involved in a snowmobile accident struck a tree and
sustained a fractured vertebra at C4. She demonstrates signs of
ischemic areas near the injury, along with hypoperfusion,
microscopic hemorrhage, and edema. The nurse observes signs of
concussion, including loss of consciousness. Which of the following
are considered secondary injuries? Select all that apply.
A)Fractured vertebra
B)Cord ischemia
C)Hypoperfusion
D)Microscopic hemorrhage
E)Edema
F)Concussion. Answer: B C D E
◉ A patient with a mild spinal cord injury becomes light-headed
every time she attempts to rise from her bed. At rest, her heart rate
and blood pressure are normal. All of her motor, sensory, reflex, and
autonomic functions are intact. The nurse recognizes which
condition in this patient? A)Spinal shock
B)Neurogenic shock
C)Orthostatic hypotension
,D)Central cord syndrome. Answer: C
◉ A patient with a spinal cord injury has been stabilized in the ICU
and now must undergo diagnostic testing. Which test would be most
appropriate for detecting a fracture of the vertebra?
A)Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
B)Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
C)Glasgow coma scale (GCS)
D)Computed tomography (CT). Answer: D
◉ A patient is recovering from a lumbar spine injury and requires an
immobilization device for this region. Which device would be most
appropriate for this patient?
A)Halo vest
B)Aspen collar
C)Minerva brace
D)Jewett brace. Answer: D
◉ A nurse is monitoring a patient with spinal cord injury for
respiratory complications. Which of the following findings would
indicate that the patient should be intubated?
A)Respiratory rate of 20 breaths/minute
B)Vital capacity of 30 mL/kg
, C)PaO2 of 90 mm Hg
D)PaCO2 of 60 mm Hg. Answer: D
◉ After failing to effectively clear a patients airway by having him
cough, the nurse is now suctioning his airway. What complication
related to suctioning should the nurse be aware of?
A)Bradycardia
B)Tachycardia
C)Hyperglycemia
D)Hypertension. Answer: A
◉ A patient with a spinal cord injury and who smokes is at risk for
developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The nurse provides the
patient with antiembolism stockings and encourages her to stop
smoking, as it contributes to vasoconstriction in the periphery and
thus to DVT. What other measure would be appropriate to help
prevent DVT in this patient?
A)Administration of atropine sulfate
B)Administration of heparin
C)Administration of reserpine
D)Administration of methyldopa. Answer: B
◉ A patient is admitted to the emergency department after a near-
drowning accident. The patient dove head-first into shallow water
TEST 2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
GRADED A+
◉ The nurse is assessing a patient with a spinal cord injury in the
ICU. The patient is completely paralyzed from the waist down but
has sensation in his shoulders, chest, arms, and hands. He has no
control of his bowel or bladder. Which of the following are possible
sites for this patients injury, given his loss of function? Select all that
apply.
A)C4
B)C7
C)T3
D)T7
E)T12
F)L4. Answer: D E
◉ A patient presents to the ICU with a spinal cord injury at C3 and
the following: loss of position sense, light touch, and vibratory sense
below the level of the injury. However, the patient has retained all
motor function and pain and temperature sensation. The nurse
suspects that the injury has occurred on what portion of the spinal
cord?
A)Central
,B)Lateral
C)Anterior
D)Posterior. Answer: D
◉ A patient involved in a snowmobile accident struck a tree and
sustained a fractured vertebra at C4. She demonstrates signs of
ischemic areas near the injury, along with hypoperfusion,
microscopic hemorrhage, and edema. The nurse observes signs of
concussion, including loss of consciousness. Which of the following
are considered secondary injuries? Select all that apply.
A)Fractured vertebra
B)Cord ischemia
C)Hypoperfusion
D)Microscopic hemorrhage
E)Edema
F)Concussion. Answer: B C D E
◉ A patient with a mild spinal cord injury becomes light-headed
every time she attempts to rise from her bed. At rest, her heart rate
and blood pressure are normal. All of her motor, sensory, reflex, and
autonomic functions are intact. The nurse recognizes which
condition in this patient? A)Spinal shock
B)Neurogenic shock
C)Orthostatic hypotension
,D)Central cord syndrome. Answer: C
◉ A patient with a spinal cord injury has been stabilized in the ICU
and now must undergo diagnostic testing. Which test would be most
appropriate for detecting a fracture of the vertebra?
A)Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
B)Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
C)Glasgow coma scale (GCS)
D)Computed tomography (CT). Answer: D
◉ A patient is recovering from a lumbar spine injury and requires an
immobilization device for this region. Which device would be most
appropriate for this patient?
A)Halo vest
B)Aspen collar
C)Minerva brace
D)Jewett brace. Answer: D
◉ A nurse is monitoring a patient with spinal cord injury for
respiratory complications. Which of the following findings would
indicate that the patient should be intubated?
A)Respiratory rate of 20 breaths/minute
B)Vital capacity of 30 mL/kg
, C)PaO2 of 90 mm Hg
D)PaCO2 of 60 mm Hg. Answer: D
◉ After failing to effectively clear a patients airway by having him
cough, the nurse is now suctioning his airway. What complication
related to suctioning should the nurse be aware of?
A)Bradycardia
B)Tachycardia
C)Hyperglycemia
D)Hypertension. Answer: A
◉ A patient with a spinal cord injury and who smokes is at risk for
developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The nurse provides the
patient with antiembolism stockings and encourages her to stop
smoking, as it contributes to vasoconstriction in the periphery and
thus to DVT. What other measure would be appropriate to help
prevent DVT in this patient?
A)Administration of atropine sulfate
B)Administration of heparin
C)Administration of reserpine
D)Administration of methyldopa. Answer: B
◉ A patient is admitted to the emergency department after a near-
drowning accident. The patient dove head-first into shallow water
