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# APEA NEUROLOGY QUESTIONS – UPDATED
2026## ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED
NURSE (APRN) CERTIFICATION EXAM PREP###
150+ PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES | GRADED A+ | FIRST-TIME PASS
## Table of Contents
| Section | Topic | Questions |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Section 1 | Headache & Migraine Disorders | 1-20 |
| Section 2 | Seizure Disorders & Epilepsy | 21-35 |
| Section 3 | Cerebrovascular Disorders (Stroke/TIA) | 36-50 |
| Section 4 | Movement Disorders (Parkinson's, Essential Tremor) | 51-65
| Section 5 | Dementia & Cognitive Disorders | 66-80 |
| Section 6 | Peripheral Neuropathy & Neuromuscular Disorders | 81-95 |
| Section 7 | Multiple Sclerosis & Demyelinating Disorders | 96-105 |
| Section 8 | Infectious & Inflammatory Neurologic Disorders | 106-115 |
| Section 9 | Spinal Cord Disorders & Neuropathies | 116-125 |
| Section 10 | Neurologic Examination & Diagnostic Testing | 126-140 |
| Section 11 | NGN-Style Integrated Case Scenarios | 141-155 |
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# Section 1: Headache & Migraine Disorders
**Q1.** A 32-year-old female presents with recurrent, unilateral
throbbing headaches preceded by visual auras lasting 20 minutes. The
headache is associated with nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia,
lasting 8-12 hours. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Tension-type headache
B) Migraine with aura
C) Cluster headache
D) Medication overuse headache
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Migraine with aura is characterized by recurrent, unilateral
throbbing headaches preceded by fully reversible neurological
symptoms (visual aura). Associated features include nausea, vomiting,
photophobia, and phonophobia. Duration is typically 4-72 hours. Cluster
headaches are shorter (15-180 minutes) with autonomic features.
Tension headaches are bilateral, non-throbbing, without aura .
---
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**Q2.** A 45-year-old male presents with episodic severe unilateral
orbital pain occurring daily for 3 weeks, lasting 60-90 minutes each
episode. He reports ipsilateral conjunctival injection, lacrimation, and
nasal congestion during attacks. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Migraine without aura
B) Tension-type headache
C) Cluster headache
D) Trigeminal neuralgia
**Answer: C**
*Rationale:* Cluster headache is characterized by severe, strictly
unilateral orbital/supraorbital pain lasting 15-180 minutes. Associated
ipsilateral autonomic features include conjunctival injection,
lacrimation, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, forehead/facial sweating,
miosis, or ptosis. Cluster periods last weeks to months .
---
**Q3.** A patient reports a new-onset headache described as a
"thunderclap" reaching maximum intensity within seconds. This
presentation is most concerning for:
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A) Migraine
B) Tension headache
C) Subarachnoid hemorrhage
D) Cervicogenic headache
**Answer: C**
*Rationale:* Thunderclap headache (sudden, severe, reaches peak
intensity within seconds to one minute) is a red flag. The most
concerning cause is subarachnoid hemorrhage (ruptured aneurysm).
Other causes include reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome
(RCVS), pituitary apoplexy, and cervical artery dissection. Immediate
neuroimaging is required .
---
**Q4.** A 28-year-old woman with migraines is prescribed sumatriptan.
Which statement indicates a need for further teaching?
A) "I should take this at the first sign of migraine pain."
B) "I can take this medication daily for prevention."
C) "I will report any chest tightness or pressure."
D) "I should not take this within 24 hours of another triptan."
# APEA NEUROLOGY QUESTIONS – UPDATED
2026## ADVANCED PRACTICE REGISTERED
NURSE (APRN) CERTIFICATION EXAM PREP###
150+ PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH DETAILED
RATIONALES | GRADED A+ | FIRST-TIME PASS
## Table of Contents
| Section | Topic | Questions |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Section 1 | Headache & Migraine Disorders | 1-20 |
| Section 2 | Seizure Disorders & Epilepsy | 21-35 |
| Section 3 | Cerebrovascular Disorders (Stroke/TIA) | 36-50 |
| Section 4 | Movement Disorders (Parkinson's, Essential Tremor) | 51-65
| Section 5 | Dementia & Cognitive Disorders | 66-80 |
| Section 6 | Peripheral Neuropathy & Neuromuscular Disorders | 81-95 |
| Section 7 | Multiple Sclerosis & Demyelinating Disorders | 96-105 |
| Section 8 | Infectious & Inflammatory Neurologic Disorders | 106-115 |
| Section 9 | Spinal Cord Disorders & Neuropathies | 116-125 |
| Section 10 | Neurologic Examination & Diagnostic Testing | 126-140 |
| Section 11 | NGN-Style Integrated Case Scenarios | 141-155 |
,2|Page
# Section 1: Headache & Migraine Disorders
**Q1.** A 32-year-old female presents with recurrent, unilateral
throbbing headaches preceded by visual auras lasting 20 minutes. The
headache is associated with nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia,
lasting 8-12 hours. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Tension-type headache
B) Migraine with aura
C) Cluster headache
D) Medication overuse headache
**Answer: B**
*Rationale:* Migraine with aura is characterized by recurrent, unilateral
throbbing headaches preceded by fully reversible neurological
symptoms (visual aura). Associated features include nausea, vomiting,
photophobia, and phonophobia. Duration is typically 4-72 hours. Cluster
headaches are shorter (15-180 minutes) with autonomic features.
Tension headaches are bilateral, non-throbbing, without aura .
---
,3|Page
**Q2.** A 45-year-old male presents with episodic severe unilateral
orbital pain occurring daily for 3 weeks, lasting 60-90 minutes each
episode. He reports ipsilateral conjunctival injection, lacrimation, and
nasal congestion during attacks. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A) Migraine without aura
B) Tension-type headache
C) Cluster headache
D) Trigeminal neuralgia
**Answer: C**
*Rationale:* Cluster headache is characterized by severe, strictly
unilateral orbital/supraorbital pain lasting 15-180 minutes. Associated
ipsilateral autonomic features include conjunctival injection,
lacrimation, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, forehead/facial sweating,
miosis, or ptosis. Cluster periods last weeks to months .
---
**Q3.** A patient reports a new-onset headache described as a
"thunderclap" reaching maximum intensity within seconds. This
presentation is most concerning for:
, 4|Page
A) Migraine
B) Tension headache
C) Subarachnoid hemorrhage
D) Cervicogenic headache
**Answer: C**
*Rationale:* Thunderclap headache (sudden, severe, reaches peak
intensity within seconds to one minute) is a red flag. The most
concerning cause is subarachnoid hemorrhage (ruptured aneurysm).
Other causes include reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome
(RCVS), pituitary apoplexy, and cervical artery dissection. Immediate
neuroimaging is required .
---
**Q4.** A 28-year-old woman with migraines is prescribed sumatriptan.
Which statement indicates a need for further teaching?
A) "I should take this at the first sign of migraine pain."
B) "I can take this medication daily for prevention."
C) "I will report any chest tightness or pressure."
D) "I should not take this within 24 hours of another triptan."
