ATI RN
Neurological Vital Signs Assessment Questions
Question 1 of 5
A patient reports significant improvement in function following physical therapy intervention. Which component of the patient management model is being evaluated?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Outcomes. The patient's significant improvement in function after physical therapy intervention directly relates to the evaluation of outcomes. Outcomes refer to the results or effects of an intervention on a patient's health status or function. In this scenario, the improvement in function is a measurable outcome of the physical therapy intervention. Prognosis (choice A) relates to predicting the course of a condition, diagnosis (choice C) involves identifying the nature of a patient's condition, and intervention (choice D) refers to the specific treatment provided. Therefore, the patient's improvement in function aligns most closely with the evaluation of outcomes in the patient management model.
Question 2 of 5
The nurse is performing an abdominal assessment and detects a bruit over the renal arteries. What does this finding suggest?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Renal artery stenosis. A bruit over the renal arteries indicates turbulent blood flow due to narrowed or blocked arteries, which is a classic sign of renal artery stenosis. This condition can lead to hypertension and renal dysfunction. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect: A is incorrect because a bruit is not a normal vascular sound; C is incorrect as aortic aneurysm would typically present with a pulsatile mass and not just a bruit; D is incorrect as increased peristalsis would not be detected as a bruit in the renal area.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse is assessing a patient's extraocular movements. Which cranial nerves are being evaluated?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Cranial nerves III, IV, and VI. These cranial nerves are responsible for controlling the extraocular muscles. Cranial nerve III (oculomotor) controls most of the eye movements, cranial nerve IV (trochlear) controls the superior oblique muscle, and cranial nerve VI (abducens) controls the lateral rectus muscle. Evaluating these cranial nerves allows the nurse to assess the full range of eye movements. Choice A (Cranial nerves II, III, and IV) includes the optic nerve (II) which is responsible for vision, not extraocular movements. Choice C (Cranial nerves V, VI, and VII) involves the trigeminal nerve (V) responsible for facial sensation, not eye movements. Choice D (Cranial nerves II, V, and VII) includes the optic nerve (II) and facial nerve (VII), which are not primarily involved in controlling extraocular movements
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is assessing a patient's cranial nerve V (trigeminal nerve). Which action is most appropriate?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Assess the patient's ability to chew and detect light touch on the face. This is the most appropriate action for assessing cranial nerve V (trigeminal nerve) as this nerve is responsible for sensory functions of the face and motor function of the muscles of mastication. By assessing the patient's ability to chew and detecting light touch on the face, the nurse can evaluate the integrity of the trigeminal nerve. Choice A is incorrect because assessing the patient's ability to shrug their shoulders against resistance would be more indicative of assessing cranial nerve XI (accessory nerve). Choice C is incorrect because checking for gag reflex and swallowing is more related to cranial nerves IX (glossopharyngeal) and X (vagus). Choice D is incorrect because evaluating the patient's hearing ability is related to cranial nerve VIII (vestibulocochlear).
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is assessing a patient's gait and notes that the patient lifts their foot high and slaps it down while walking. What does this finding suggest?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Steppage gait. This finding suggests a steppage gait pattern, which is characterized by foot drop and excessive hip and knee flexion to lift the foot higher to avoid dragging it on the ground. This gait pattern is often seen in patients with weakness or paralysis of the dorsiflexor muscles of the foot, typically due to conditions such as peripheral neuropathy or nerve compression. This results in a high-stepping gait with foot slap during the swing phase of walking. Ataxia (A) refers to incoordination and would manifest as unsteady and uncoordinated movements, not specifically as foot slap. Spastic hemiparesis (C) typically presents with increased muscle tone and stiffness on one side of the body, affecting arm and leg movements. Cerebellar dysfunction (D) would present with ataxic gait, intention tremors, and dysmetria, rather than the specific steppage gait pattern