108 Exam 1 Practice Questions with
Guaranteed Pass Solutions 2025-2026
Updated.
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assesses what areas of response to stimuli? Select all that apply:
A. Auditory response
B. Verbal response
C. Tactile response
D. Eye-opening response
E. Motor response - Answer B, D, E
The answers are B, D, and E. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assesses THREE areas of a patient's
response to stimuli. This includes eye-opening response (E), verbal response (V), and motor
response (M).
During the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assessment the nurse applies a central painful stimulus to
test the best motor response. Which of the following is NOT this type of stimulus?
A. Trapezius squeeze
B. Fingernail bed pressure
C. Supraorbital pressure - Answer B
The answer is B. Fingernail bed pressure is a peripheral stimulus and tests the spinal cord's
response to pain. The trapezius squeeze or supraorbital pressure are central stimuli that tests
the brain's response to pain.
A patient has experienced a brain injury. You note that written in the progress notes the
physician says the patient has a GCS 10 (E3 V3 M4). What is the level of brain injury in this
patient?
A. Mild brain injury
B. Moderate brain injury
C. Severe brain injury - Answer B
The answer is B. GCS Scores can range from 3 to 15. Here is how a brain injury can be classified
based on a GCS score: 3-8: severe brain injury, 9-12: moderate brain injury, 13-15: mild brain
injury
What Glasgow Coma Scale score usually requires intubation because the airway reflexes are
affected?
A. 10 or less
B. 9 or greater
C. 8 or less
, D. 10 or greater - Answer C
If a patient has a GCS of 8 or less the patient is in a coma and usually requires intubation due to
the inability of airway reflexes that protect us from aspiration to work.
True or False: The nurse is assessing the Glasgow Coma Scale in a patient, but is unable to assess
the best verbal response due to intubation. Therefore, the nurse should assigned 1 point for the
best verbal response.
True
False - Answer False
If a certain response can't be tested like in this situation, the nurse should document it as NOT
TESTABLE. The nurse should NOT assign a score of 1.
A patient with a traumatic brain injury has sustained multiple fractures to the face and eyes.
When testing the best motor response, the nurse notes the patient is unable to perform a
motor command based on a verbal stimulus. The nurse attempts to use a pressure stimulus to
test the motor response. What type of pressure or painful stimuli should the nurse avoid in this
patient?
A. Fingernail bed pressure
B. Trapezius squeeze
C. Supraorbital pressure
D. Toenail bed pressure - Answer C
This patient has injuries to the face and eyes, therefore, supraorbital pressure (hence pressure
applied to the notch of the eye socket under the inner brow) should be avoided. A trapezius
squeeze would be more suitable.
You're assessing a patient's Glasgow Coma Scale at the bedside. What is the patient's score
based on these findings: when you arrive to the patient's bedside the patient is looking around,
the patient tells you they are at a concert hall and the year is 1960 (it is 2022) but they state
their correct name, and they are open to successfully open their mouth and stick out their
tongue.
A. GCS 14 (E4 V4 M6)
B. GCS 11 (E3 V3 M5)
C. GCS 15 (E4 V5 M6)
D. GCS 13 (E4 V3 M6) - Answer A: GCS 14 (E4 V4 M6)
You're assessing a patient's Glasgow Coma Scale at the bedside. What is the patient's score
based on these findings: when you arrive to the patient's bedside the patient's eyes are closed,
but they open when you speak to the patient, the patient doesn't respond appropriately to
questions asked and says words that don't make sense. In addition, the patient can't obey a
motor command. Therefore, when you apply a central stimulus the patient moves to locate and
remove the stimulus.
Guaranteed Pass Solutions 2025-2026
Updated.
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assesses what areas of response to stimuli? Select all that apply:
A. Auditory response
B. Verbal response
C. Tactile response
D. Eye-opening response
E. Motor response - Answer B, D, E
The answers are B, D, and E. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assesses THREE areas of a patient's
response to stimuli. This includes eye-opening response (E), verbal response (V), and motor
response (M).
During the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assessment the nurse applies a central painful stimulus to
test the best motor response. Which of the following is NOT this type of stimulus?
A. Trapezius squeeze
B. Fingernail bed pressure
C. Supraorbital pressure - Answer B
The answer is B. Fingernail bed pressure is a peripheral stimulus and tests the spinal cord's
response to pain. The trapezius squeeze or supraorbital pressure are central stimuli that tests
the brain's response to pain.
A patient has experienced a brain injury. You note that written in the progress notes the
physician says the patient has a GCS 10 (E3 V3 M4). What is the level of brain injury in this
patient?
A. Mild brain injury
B. Moderate brain injury
C. Severe brain injury - Answer B
The answer is B. GCS Scores can range from 3 to 15. Here is how a brain injury can be classified
based on a GCS score: 3-8: severe brain injury, 9-12: moderate brain injury, 13-15: mild brain
injury
What Glasgow Coma Scale score usually requires intubation because the airway reflexes are
affected?
A. 10 or less
B. 9 or greater
C. 8 or less
, D. 10 or greater - Answer C
If a patient has a GCS of 8 or less the patient is in a coma and usually requires intubation due to
the inability of airway reflexes that protect us from aspiration to work.
True or False: The nurse is assessing the Glasgow Coma Scale in a patient, but is unable to assess
the best verbal response due to intubation. Therefore, the nurse should assigned 1 point for the
best verbal response.
True
False - Answer False
If a certain response can't be tested like in this situation, the nurse should document it as NOT
TESTABLE. The nurse should NOT assign a score of 1.
A patient with a traumatic brain injury has sustained multiple fractures to the face and eyes.
When testing the best motor response, the nurse notes the patient is unable to perform a
motor command based on a verbal stimulus. The nurse attempts to use a pressure stimulus to
test the motor response. What type of pressure or painful stimuli should the nurse avoid in this
patient?
A. Fingernail bed pressure
B. Trapezius squeeze
C. Supraorbital pressure
D. Toenail bed pressure - Answer C
This patient has injuries to the face and eyes, therefore, supraorbital pressure (hence pressure
applied to the notch of the eye socket under the inner brow) should be avoided. A trapezius
squeeze would be more suitable.
You're assessing a patient's Glasgow Coma Scale at the bedside. What is the patient's score
based on these findings: when you arrive to the patient's bedside the patient is looking around,
the patient tells you they are at a concert hall and the year is 1960 (it is 2022) but they state
their correct name, and they are open to successfully open their mouth and stick out their
tongue.
A. GCS 14 (E4 V4 M6)
B. GCS 11 (E3 V3 M5)
C. GCS 15 (E4 V5 M6)
D. GCS 13 (E4 V3 M6) - Answer A: GCS 14 (E4 V4 M6)
You're assessing a patient's Glasgow Coma Scale at the bedside. What is the patient's score
based on these findings: when you arrive to the patient's bedside the patient's eyes are closed,
but they open when you speak to the patient, the patient doesn't respond appropriately to
questions asked and says words that don't make sense. In addition, the patient can't obey a
motor command. Therefore, when you apply a central stimulus the patient moves to locate and
remove the stimulus.
