NUR 400 - Comprehensive Neurology Study Guide | Brain Injury, Stroke, ICP, and Neuro
Disorders Q&A (Exam-Ready Notes)
High-Yield Nursing Review for NUR 400 — Neurology, Brain Injury, Stroke, and Neuro
Disorders
This printable study guide covers 100+ key nursing questions and answers on intracranial
pressure,
cerebral perfusion, brain injury, stroke management, cranial nerves, neurodegenerative
diseases,
neuromuscular disorders, and essential nursing interventions. Perfect for exams, NCLEX
prep,
and nursing school assessments.
---
Neurology — Questions & Answers (NURS Study Guide)
[This study guide contains Q&A covering intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion, neuro
emergencies,
traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular disease, autonomic dysreflexia, spinal cord
injuries,
seizures, headaches, intracranial hemorrhages, neurologic exams, neurotransmitters,
brain anatomy, cranial nerves, neurodegenerative & neuromuscular disorders, infections,
and nursing care pearls.]
(Formatted for printing — use standard A4/Letter page size.)
---
INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE & CEREBRAL PERFUSION
1. Q: What is the clinical target range often cited for cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)
in severe brain injury?
A: Clinicians commonly aim for CPP roughly between 50–70 mm Hg, though some texts
reference slightly higher normal ranges.
2. Q: What is a typical normal range quoted for CPP?
A: Approximately 70–80 mm Hg is considered normal in many references.
3. Q: What is autoregulation in the brain?
A: The ability of cerebral vessels to constrict or dilate to maintain relatively constant
cerebral blood flow despite changes in systemic blood pressure.
4. Q: What is the Monro-Kellie hypothesis?
A: Because the skull is a fixed space, an increase in brain tissue, blood, or CSF volume
must be offset by decreases in the others to maintain pressure.
5. Q: What is Cushing’s reflex and when does it occur?
A: A physiologic response to critically decreased cerebral perfusion where the body raises
systemic blood pressure to try to overcome elevated intracranial pressure.
6. Q: What is Cushing’s triad (signs of brainstem compression/herniation)?
A: Hypertension (widened pulse pressure), bradycardia, and irregular respirations (e.g.,
Cheyne–Stokes).
7. Q: Name common complications of raised intracranial pressure (ICP).
A: Brain herniation, diabetes insipidus (DI), cerebral salt wasting (CSW), and syndrome of
, inappropriate ADH (SIADH).
8. Q: How does SIADH present and how is it treated?
A: SIADH causes excess ADH → water retention, low serum sodium, low urine output. Treat
with fluid restriction (<800 mL/day) and severe cases may require hypertonic saline (3%).
9. Q: What is cerebral salt wasting (CSW) and main treatment?
A: CSW is hyponatremia due to renal sodium loss after intracranial injury; treat with
fluid and sodium replacement.
---
NEURO EMERGENCIES & CRITICAL SIGNS
10. Q: What are early clinical signs of increased ICP?
A: Restlessness, disorientation, increased work of breathing, purposeless movements, pupil
changes, unilateral weakness, and persistent headache.
11. Q: What posture indicates severe brain injury with decerebrate rigidity?
A: Decerebrate — extreme extension of both upper and lower limbs.
12. Q: What is decorticate posturing?
A: Abnormal flexion of the arms with extension of the legs — indicates severe cortical
damage.
13. Q: What is “locked-in syndrome”?
A: A pontine lesion producing near-complete paralysis of voluntary muscles while cognition
is intact; patients can often only blink or move eyes vertically.
14. Q: What is microdialysis in neurocritical care?
A: Insertion of a tiny catheter near injured brain tissue to measure metabolic markers
(e.g., lactate, pyruvate, glutamate, glucose).
15. Q: What monitoring device can directly measure ICP via the subarachnoid space?
A: A subarachnoid screw or bolt.
16. Q: What is a ventriculostomy used for?
A: A catheter placed in a lateral ventricle to measure ICP and drain CSF.
---
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI)
17. Q: What is a closed TBI?
A: Brain injury from rapid acceleration–deceleration or impact without skull penetration —
brain tissue is injured but the skull remains intact.
18. Q: What is a penetrating (open) TBI?
A: An object breaches the skull and dura and injures brain tissue.
---
CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE — STROKE
19. Q: What are major causes of ischemic stroke?
A: Large-artery atherosclerotic thrombosis, small penetrating (lacunar) infarcts,
cardioembolic events (e.g., from AF), cryptogenic (unknown), and others.
20. Q: Common presenting symptoms of ischemic stroke?
A: Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg — often affecting one side
(face/arm/leg) — speech disturbance, vision changes.
Disorders Q&A (Exam-Ready Notes)
High-Yield Nursing Review for NUR 400 — Neurology, Brain Injury, Stroke, and Neuro
Disorders
This printable study guide covers 100+ key nursing questions and answers on intracranial
pressure,
cerebral perfusion, brain injury, stroke management, cranial nerves, neurodegenerative
diseases,
neuromuscular disorders, and essential nursing interventions. Perfect for exams, NCLEX
prep,
and nursing school assessments.
---
Neurology — Questions & Answers (NURS Study Guide)
[This study guide contains Q&A covering intracranial pressure, cerebral perfusion, neuro
emergencies,
traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular disease, autonomic dysreflexia, spinal cord
injuries,
seizures, headaches, intracranial hemorrhages, neurologic exams, neurotransmitters,
brain anatomy, cranial nerves, neurodegenerative & neuromuscular disorders, infections,
and nursing care pearls.]
(Formatted for printing — use standard A4/Letter page size.)
---
INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE & CEREBRAL PERFUSION
1. Q: What is the clinical target range often cited for cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)
in severe brain injury?
A: Clinicians commonly aim for CPP roughly between 50–70 mm Hg, though some texts
reference slightly higher normal ranges.
2. Q: What is a typical normal range quoted for CPP?
A: Approximately 70–80 mm Hg is considered normal in many references.
3. Q: What is autoregulation in the brain?
A: The ability of cerebral vessels to constrict or dilate to maintain relatively constant
cerebral blood flow despite changes in systemic blood pressure.
4. Q: What is the Monro-Kellie hypothesis?
A: Because the skull is a fixed space, an increase in brain tissue, blood, or CSF volume
must be offset by decreases in the others to maintain pressure.
5. Q: What is Cushing’s reflex and when does it occur?
A: A physiologic response to critically decreased cerebral perfusion where the body raises
systemic blood pressure to try to overcome elevated intracranial pressure.
6. Q: What is Cushing’s triad (signs of brainstem compression/herniation)?
A: Hypertension (widened pulse pressure), bradycardia, and irregular respirations (e.g.,
Cheyne–Stokes).
7. Q: Name common complications of raised intracranial pressure (ICP).
A: Brain herniation, diabetes insipidus (DI), cerebral salt wasting (CSW), and syndrome of
, inappropriate ADH (SIADH).
8. Q: How does SIADH present and how is it treated?
A: SIADH causes excess ADH → water retention, low serum sodium, low urine output. Treat
with fluid restriction (<800 mL/day) and severe cases may require hypertonic saline (3%).
9. Q: What is cerebral salt wasting (CSW) and main treatment?
A: CSW is hyponatremia due to renal sodium loss after intracranial injury; treat with
fluid and sodium replacement.
---
NEURO EMERGENCIES & CRITICAL SIGNS
10. Q: What are early clinical signs of increased ICP?
A: Restlessness, disorientation, increased work of breathing, purposeless movements, pupil
changes, unilateral weakness, and persistent headache.
11. Q: What posture indicates severe brain injury with decerebrate rigidity?
A: Decerebrate — extreme extension of both upper and lower limbs.
12. Q: What is decorticate posturing?
A: Abnormal flexion of the arms with extension of the legs — indicates severe cortical
damage.
13. Q: What is “locked-in syndrome”?
A: A pontine lesion producing near-complete paralysis of voluntary muscles while cognition
is intact; patients can often only blink or move eyes vertically.
14. Q: What is microdialysis in neurocritical care?
A: Insertion of a tiny catheter near injured brain tissue to measure metabolic markers
(e.g., lactate, pyruvate, glutamate, glucose).
15. Q: What monitoring device can directly measure ICP via the subarachnoid space?
A: A subarachnoid screw or bolt.
16. Q: What is a ventriculostomy used for?
A: A catheter placed in a lateral ventricle to measure ICP and drain CSF.
---
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI)
17. Q: What is a closed TBI?
A: Brain injury from rapid acceleration–deceleration or impact without skull penetration —
brain tissue is injured but the skull remains intact.
18. Q: What is a penetrating (open) TBI?
A: An object breaches the skull and dura and injures brain tissue.
---
CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE — STROKE
19. Q: What are major causes of ischemic stroke?
A: Large-artery atherosclerotic thrombosis, small penetrating (lacunar) infarcts,
cardioembolic events (e.g., from AF), cryptogenic (unknown), and others.
20. Q: Common presenting symptoms of ischemic stroke?
A: Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg — often affecting one side
(face/arm/leg) — speech disturbance, vision changes.
