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HESI Exit Exam Question Bank:
Neurologic Deficits, Stroke Care &
Recovery (2025)
Table of Contents
Subtopic 1: Pathophysiology and Types of Stroke............................................2
Subtopic 2: Acute Stroke Management............................................................9
Subtopic 3: Stroke-Related Neurologic Deficits..............................................17
Subtopic 4: Stroke Rehabilitation and Functional Recovery...........................24
Subtopic 5: Stroke Risk Factors and Prevention.............................................32
Subtopic 6: Stroke Complications and Post-Acute Care.................................40
Subtopic 7: Pharmacologic Management in Stroke........................................48
Subtopic 8: Neurodiagnostic Testing and Stroke Imaging..............................55
Subtopic 9: Nursing Roles in Stroke Rehabilitation and Education.................63
Subtopic 10: Multidisciplinary Stroke Care and Long-Term Recovery.............71
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Subtopic 1: Pathophysiology and Types of
Stroke
Questions 1–20
1. Which of the following best describes an ischemic stroke?
A. Bleeding into the brain tissue due to a ruptured vessel
B. Interruption of blood flow to the brain due to a blockage
C. Obstruction of cerebral blood vessels leading to tissue death
D. Blood pooling within the subarachnoid space
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ischemic stroke occurs when a cerebral blood vessel is obstructed
by a clot, resulting in decreased perfusion and brain tissue necrosis.
2. What is the most common cause of embolic stroke?
A. Brain aneurysm rupture
B. Atrial fibrillation
C. Head trauma
D. Arteriovenous malformation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Atrial fibrillation leads to blood stasis and clot formation in the
atria, which can embolize to cerebral vessels, causing stroke.
3. A hemorrhagic stroke is most commonly caused by:
A. Hypertension
B. Hyperlipidemia
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C. Atherosclerosis
D. Deep vein thrombosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chronic hypertension weakens arterial walls, increasing the risk
for vessel rupture and hemorrhagic stroke.
4. Which stroke subtype is characterized by sudden onset of symptoms and
is often associated with small vessel disease?
A. Embolic stroke
B. Lacunar infarct
C. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
D. Thrombotic stroke
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Lacunar infarcts are small, deep infarcts due to occlusion of
penetrating arteries, commonly linked with chronic hypertension and
diabetes.
5. The main pathophysiological process in a thrombotic stroke involves:
A. Embolization from a cardiac source
B. Local plaque buildup and clot formation
C. Trauma-induced vascular injury
D. Congenital vascular malformations
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Thrombotic stroke results from atherosclerotic plaque rupture
followed by thrombosis, blocking blood flow.
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6. Which of the following differentiates an embolic stroke from a thrombotic
stroke?
A. Gradual onset of symptoms
B. Sudden onset without warning signs
C. High intracranial pressure
D. Seizures at onset
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Embolic strokes typically have sudden onset without preceding
TIAs, unlike thrombotic strokes which may have gradual symptoms.
7. Which brain region is most often affected in anterior cerebral artery
strokes?
A. Frontal lobe
B. Occipital lobe
C. Temporal lobe
D. Cerebellum
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The anterior cerebral artery supplies the frontal lobe, which
controls motor function and personality.
8. Which symptoms are typically associated with a right hemispheric stroke?
A. Language deficits, aphasia
B. Left-sided weakness, spatial-perceptual deficits
C. Bilateral weakness, confusion
D. Hyperreflexia and rigidity
HESI Exit Exam Question Bank:
Neurologic Deficits, Stroke Care &
Recovery (2025)
Table of Contents
Subtopic 1: Pathophysiology and Types of Stroke............................................2
Subtopic 2: Acute Stroke Management............................................................9
Subtopic 3: Stroke-Related Neurologic Deficits..............................................17
Subtopic 4: Stroke Rehabilitation and Functional Recovery...........................24
Subtopic 5: Stroke Risk Factors and Prevention.............................................32
Subtopic 6: Stroke Complications and Post-Acute Care.................................40
Subtopic 7: Pharmacologic Management in Stroke........................................48
Subtopic 8: Neurodiagnostic Testing and Stroke Imaging..............................55
Subtopic 9: Nursing Roles in Stroke Rehabilitation and Education.................63
Subtopic 10: Multidisciplinary Stroke Care and Long-Term Recovery.............71
, 2
Subtopic 1: Pathophysiology and Types of
Stroke
Questions 1–20
1. Which of the following best describes an ischemic stroke?
A. Bleeding into the brain tissue due to a ruptured vessel
B. Interruption of blood flow to the brain due to a blockage
C. Obstruction of cerebral blood vessels leading to tissue death
D. Blood pooling within the subarachnoid space
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ischemic stroke occurs when a cerebral blood vessel is obstructed
by a clot, resulting in decreased perfusion and brain tissue necrosis.
2. What is the most common cause of embolic stroke?
A. Brain aneurysm rupture
B. Atrial fibrillation
C. Head trauma
D. Arteriovenous malformation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Atrial fibrillation leads to blood stasis and clot formation in the
atria, which can embolize to cerebral vessels, causing stroke.
3. A hemorrhagic stroke is most commonly caused by:
A. Hypertension
B. Hyperlipidemia
, 3
C. Atherosclerosis
D. Deep vein thrombosis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Chronic hypertension weakens arterial walls, increasing the risk
for vessel rupture and hemorrhagic stroke.
4. Which stroke subtype is characterized by sudden onset of symptoms and
is often associated with small vessel disease?
A. Embolic stroke
B. Lacunar infarct
C. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
D. Thrombotic stroke
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Lacunar infarcts are small, deep infarcts due to occlusion of
penetrating arteries, commonly linked with chronic hypertension and
diabetes.
5. The main pathophysiological process in a thrombotic stroke involves:
A. Embolization from a cardiac source
B. Local plaque buildup and clot formation
C. Trauma-induced vascular injury
D. Congenital vascular malformations
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Thrombotic stroke results from atherosclerotic plaque rupture
followed by thrombosis, blocking blood flow.
, 4
6. Which of the following differentiates an embolic stroke from a thrombotic
stroke?
A. Gradual onset of symptoms
B. Sudden onset without warning signs
C. High intracranial pressure
D. Seizures at onset
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Embolic strokes typically have sudden onset without preceding
TIAs, unlike thrombotic strokes which may have gradual symptoms.
7. Which brain region is most often affected in anterior cerebral artery
strokes?
A. Frontal lobe
B. Occipital lobe
C. Temporal lobe
D. Cerebellum
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The anterior cerebral artery supplies the frontal lobe, which
controls motor function and personality.
8. Which symptoms are typically associated with a right hemispheric stroke?
A. Language deficits, aphasia
B. Left-sided weakness, spatial-perceptual deficits
C. Bilateral weakness, confusion
D. Hyperreflexia and rigidity
