Neuro Nursing Quiz: Stroke, GCS & Seizures Decoded

1. A patient presents with sudden onset weakness of the right arm and slurred speech. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Hemorrhagic stroke

Ischemic stroke

Transient ischemic attack

Subarachnoid hemorrhage

2. The Glasgow Coma Scale assesses three components. Which is NOT one of them?

Eye opening

Pupil reactivity

Verbal response

Motor response

3. A GCS score of 8 or less indicates the patient is at high risk for which complication?

Airway obstruction

Hypertension

Hyperglycemia

Tachycardia

4. What is the maximum possible Glasgow Coma Scale score?

10

12

15

20

5. Which medication is the thrombolytic agent of choice for acute ischemic stroke within 4.5 hours of symptom onset?

Heparin

Alteplase

Warfarin

Aspirin

6. Which finding is most consistent with a subarachnoid hemorrhage?

Gradual onset of headache

Sudden severe thunderclap headache

Localized weakness only

Transient speech difficulty

7. The NIHSS (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) is used to assess stroke severity. A higher score indicates:

Better neurological function

More severe neurological deficit

Complete recovery

No stroke present

8. Which seizure type typically occurs in children and is characterized by brief staring spells with no motor activity?

Tonic seizure

Clonic seizure

Absence seizure

Myoclonic seizure

9. A seizure characterized by sudden loss of consciousness and tonic-clonic muscle contractions is classified as which type?

Absence seizure

Partial seizure

Generalized tonic-clonic seizure

Atonic seizure

10. During a patient's active seizure, the priority nursing intervention is to:

Insert a tongue blade

Protect the airway and prevent injury

Administer medication immediately

Restrain the patient's limbs

11. A patient with a GCS score of 12 (eyes 3, verbal 4, motor 5) demonstrates which level of consciousness?

Alert and oriented

Lethargic

Stuporous

Comatose

12. Status epilepticus is defined as:

A single prolonged seizure lasting more than 5 minutes

Two or more seizures without regaining consciousness

Repetitive seizures or one seizure lasting 30 minutes or more

A seizure that occurs only during sleep

13. Which anticonvulsant medication is commonly used as a first-line agent for seizure prophylaxis in stroke patients?

Phenobarbital

Levetiracetam

Phenytoin

Valproic acid

14. Which arterial territory is most commonly affected in ischemic stroke?

Middle cerebral artery

Anterior cerebral artery

Posterior cerebral artery

Vertebral artery

15. In acute stroke management, the term 'time is brain' emphasizes that:

Brain imaging takes priority over treatment

Every minute of delay increases neuronal death and disability risk

All strokes require immediate surgery

Medication administration can be delayed safely