1
NCLEX PN Exam Bank Neurological Conditions and
Seizure Precautions
Table of Contents
Subtopic 1: Assessment and Early Recognition of Neurological Disorders (Questions 1–20)
.................................................................................................................................... 2
Subtopic 2: Seizure Types and Nursing Interventions (Questions 21–40) ........................... 9
Subtopic 3: Gastrointestinal Assessment and Diagnostic Procedures (Questions 41–60) . 16
Subtopic 4: Gastrointestinal Disorders – Inflammatory and Infectious Conditions
(Questions 61–80) ....................................................................................................... 23
Subtopic 5: Gastrointestinal Disorders – Obstruction, Motility, and Structural Abnormalities
(Questions 81–100) ..................................................................................................... 30
Subtopic 6: Gastrointestinal Disorders – Diagnostic Tests and Interpretation ................... 37
Subtopic 7: Gastrointestinal Diagnostic Testing and Patient Preparation ......................... 45
, 2
Subtopic 1: Assessment and Early Recognition of
Neurological Disorders (Questions 1–20)
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has just experienced a head injury. Which of the
following findings should be reported to the provider immediately?
A. Headache rated 3/10
B. Unequal pupil size
C. Bruising behind the ears
D. Nausea and vomiting
Rationale: Unequal pupils (anisocoria) can indicate increased intracranial pressure or
herniation and require immediate medical intervention.
2. Which Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score indicates a moderate head injury?
A. 3–5
B. 6–8
C. 9–12
D. 13–15
Rationale: A GCS score of 9–12 indicates moderate brain injury, while 13–15 is mild, and 8
or less is considered severe.
3. A client with suspected meningitis exhibits a positive Brudzinski's sign. What does this
indicate?
A. Loss of proprioception
B. Meningeal irritation
C. Cerebral edema
D. Normal neurological reflexes
, 3
Rationale: A positive Brudzinski's sign—flexion of the hips and knees when the neck is
flexed—indicates meningeal irritation.
4. A nurse is assessing a patient for early signs of increased intracranial pressure (ICP).
Which symptom should the nurse report first?
A. Slurred speech
B. Restlessness and irritability
C. Vomiting
D. Decreased heart rate
Rationale: Restlessness and irritability are early signs of increased ICP due to altered brain
function from swelling or pressure.
5. Which nursing action is most appropriate when assessing cranial nerve VII?
A. Test the gag reflex
B. Check the pupillary light reflex
C. Ask the client to smile and frown
D. Assess shoulder shrug strength
Rationale: Cranial nerve VII controls facial expressions like smiling and frowning.
6. A client presents with a sudden severe headache, nausea, and photophobia. Which
condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Migraine with aura
B. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
C. Cluster headache
, 4
D. Sinusitis
Rationale: A sudden, severe headache with nausea and photophobia may suggest a
subarachnoid hemorrhage, a neurological emergency.
7. Which finding is most concerning in a client with multiple sclerosis (MS)?
A. New onset difficulty swallowing
B. Fatigue in the afternoon
C. Tingling in extremities
D. Muscle spasms
Rationale: Dysphagia may increase the risk of aspiration, requiring prompt intervention in
MS patients.
8. When assessing a client with Parkinson’s disease, which symptom is most
characteristic?
A. Sudden jerking movements
B. Resting tremors
C. Positive Babinski reflex
D. Loss of pain sensation
Rationale: Resting tremors are a hallmark sign of Parkinson’s disease due to basal ganglia
dysfunction.
9. A client recovering from a stroke suddenly develops slurred speech and right facial
drooping. What is the nurse’s priority?
A. Notify the provider immediately
NCLEX PN Exam Bank Neurological Conditions and
Seizure Precautions
Table of Contents
Subtopic 1: Assessment and Early Recognition of Neurological Disorders (Questions 1–20)
.................................................................................................................................... 2
Subtopic 2: Seizure Types and Nursing Interventions (Questions 21–40) ........................... 9
Subtopic 3: Gastrointestinal Assessment and Diagnostic Procedures (Questions 41–60) . 16
Subtopic 4: Gastrointestinal Disorders – Inflammatory and Infectious Conditions
(Questions 61–80) ....................................................................................................... 23
Subtopic 5: Gastrointestinal Disorders – Obstruction, Motility, and Structural Abnormalities
(Questions 81–100) ..................................................................................................... 30
Subtopic 6: Gastrointestinal Disorders – Diagnostic Tests and Interpretation ................... 37
Subtopic 7: Gastrointestinal Diagnostic Testing and Patient Preparation ......................... 45
, 2
Subtopic 1: Assessment and Early Recognition of
Neurological Disorders (Questions 1–20)
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has just experienced a head injury. Which of the
following findings should be reported to the provider immediately?
A. Headache rated 3/10
B. Unequal pupil size
C. Bruising behind the ears
D. Nausea and vomiting
Rationale: Unequal pupils (anisocoria) can indicate increased intracranial pressure or
herniation and require immediate medical intervention.
2. Which Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score indicates a moderate head injury?
A. 3–5
B. 6–8
C. 9–12
D. 13–15
Rationale: A GCS score of 9–12 indicates moderate brain injury, while 13–15 is mild, and 8
or less is considered severe.
3. A client with suspected meningitis exhibits a positive Brudzinski's sign. What does this
indicate?
A. Loss of proprioception
B. Meningeal irritation
C. Cerebral edema
D. Normal neurological reflexes
, 3
Rationale: A positive Brudzinski's sign—flexion of the hips and knees when the neck is
flexed—indicates meningeal irritation.
4. A nurse is assessing a patient for early signs of increased intracranial pressure (ICP).
Which symptom should the nurse report first?
A. Slurred speech
B. Restlessness and irritability
C. Vomiting
D. Decreased heart rate
Rationale: Restlessness and irritability are early signs of increased ICP due to altered brain
function from swelling or pressure.
5. Which nursing action is most appropriate when assessing cranial nerve VII?
A. Test the gag reflex
B. Check the pupillary light reflex
C. Ask the client to smile and frown
D. Assess shoulder shrug strength
Rationale: Cranial nerve VII controls facial expressions like smiling and frowning.
6. A client presents with a sudden severe headache, nausea, and photophobia. Which
condition should the nurse suspect?
A. Migraine with aura
B. Subarachnoid hemorrhage
C. Cluster headache
, 4
D. Sinusitis
Rationale: A sudden, severe headache with nausea and photophobia may suggest a
subarachnoid hemorrhage, a neurological emergency.
7. Which finding is most concerning in a client with multiple sclerosis (MS)?
A. New onset difficulty swallowing
B. Fatigue in the afternoon
C. Tingling in extremities
D. Muscle spasms
Rationale: Dysphagia may increase the risk of aspiration, requiring prompt intervention in
MS patients.
8. When assessing a client with Parkinson’s disease, which symptom is most
characteristic?
A. Sudden jerking movements
B. Resting tremors
C. Positive Babinski reflex
D. Loss of pain sensation
Rationale: Resting tremors are a hallmark sign of Parkinson’s disease due to basal ganglia
dysfunction.
9. A client recovering from a stroke suddenly develops slurred speech and right facial
drooping. What is the nurse’s priority?
A. Notify the provider immediately
