A 35 year-old reporter presents to your office for evaluation of back pain and weakness in his left leg. He was play-wrestling with his nephew and hurt his back 2 weeks ago. He states that he has noticed tingling in his left leg as well. He has not noticed incontinence of bowel or bladder function. You perform a physical examination and confirm that he is dragging his left foot when he walks and that his Achilles reflex is diminished. The diagnosis is a herniated disc. Which nerve root are you testing with the Achilles reflex?

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Neurological Review of Systems Questions Questions

Question 1 of 5

A 35 year-old reporter presents to your office for evaluation of back pain and weakness in his left leg. He was play-wrestling with his nephew and hurt his back 2 weeks ago. He states that he has noticed tingling in his left leg as well. He has not noticed incontinence of bowel or bladder function. You perform a physical examination and confirm that he is dragging his left foot when he walks and that his Achilles reflex is diminished. The diagnosis is a herniated disc. Which nerve root are you testing with the Achilles reflex?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

Question 2 of 5

A client with subdural hematoma was given mannitol to decrease intracranial pressure (ICP). Which of the following results would best show the mannitol was effective?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: An increase in urine output is the most direct indicator of mannitol's effectiveness. Mannitol works by promoting osmotic diuresis, which increases urine production. This reduces fluid volume in the brain, thereby decreasing ICP. While other signs like pupil reactivity and blood pressure are important, they are secondary indicators and may not directly correlate with the drug's immediate effect.

Question 3 of 5

The nurse assessed decorticate rigidity in the unconscious client. What is the best description for this posturing?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

Question 4 of 5

A patient is diagnosed with a health problem that alters the way impulses are conducted in the neurological system. When reviewing this information with the patient, which part of a neuron should the nurse teach carries impulses toward the cell body?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Dendrites are extensions of the neuron that carry impulses toward the cell body. Axons transmit impulses away from the cell body, while Schwann cells and the myelin sheath are involved in insulating and speeding up nerve impulse transmission. Understanding the role of dendrites is crucial for explaining how neurons communicate.

Question 5 of 5

A 22-year-old female patient recovering from a craniotomy begins crying and asking for her mother who is sleeping in the visitors' lounge. The patient's Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 15 and pupils are equal and reactive. What nursing action would be most appropriate at this time?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The patient is stable with a GCS of 15 and normal pupillary response, indicating no immediate neurological concern. Emotional distress after surgery is common, and having a family member present can provide comfort. Sedation or notifying the surgeon is unnecessary unless there are signs of neurological deterioration.

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