HESI Case Study:Neurological Assessment – Flashcards

(Prirority Data Collection) The nurse begins the admission assessment with the collection of priority assessment data that is immediately entered into her personal digital assistant (PDA.) Which assessment should the nurse complete first after the client's arrival on the unit?

Based on Ms. Davidson's recent history of loss of consciousness and falling, what additional assessment takes priority?

The nurse measures Ms. Davidson's vital signs and assesses her level of consciousness, then proceeds to interview the patient. (Client Interview) To determine if the client experienced vertigo before she lost conciousness, what question should the nurse ask Ms. Davidson? Before you passed out, did you....

During the client interview, the nurse observes Ms. Davidson's speech patterns. Ms. Davidson seems to have difficulty choosing and forming some of her words. What action should the nurse take?

(Recording and Reporting Assessment Data) Before continuing the interview and assessment, the nurse enters the following initial data collected into her personal digital assistant (PDA): Ms. Davidson demonstrates difficulty speaking and she previously reported feeling weak, passing out, and falling at home. Her vital signs are currently T 97F, BP 140/88, P 92 and R 18. What terminology should accurately be included in the nurse's documentation?

In documenting the client's difficulty speaking, the nurse recalls that Ms. Davidson had difficulty forming some of her words and phrases. Before describing this finding on the assessment form, what additional data should the nurse consider?

The nurse determines that the client is able to comprehend information but has difficulty expressing herself at times. The nurse documents that the client is experiencing expressive aphasia. (Mental Status Exam) While continuing the client interview, the nurse assesses the client's mental status. As the interview continues, Ms. Davidson occasionally struggles to choose and form words, but seems comfortable and relaxed. The nurse provides a quiet, calm environment, allowing the client ample time to respond to the interview questions. Ms. Davidson asks the nurse what her room number is, stating she needs to let her daughter know where she is. Which assessment by the nurse accurately reflects the client's statement?

To assess Ms. Davidson's recent memory more completely, what action should the nurse take?

Ms. Davidson's memory is vague about the events after she passed out, but she states that she thinks that her neighbor called an ambulance to bring her to the hospital. Which interview data provides the nurse with information related to the client's judgment?

(Cranial Nerve Assessment) After completing the interview and mental status exam, the nurse tests Ms. Davidson's cranial nerves. In checking Ms. Davidson's pupillary response to light, the nurse first measures the size of the pupils. Each pupil is approximately 4mm. What action should the nurse take in response to this finding?

After noting the size and shape of the client's pupils, the nurse tests the pupillary response to light. After the nurse asks the client to close both eyes what is the next action the nurse should take?

To continue the cranial nerve assessment, the nurse asks Ms. Davidson to first smile, then frown, and then show her teeth. While the client performs these tasks, what should the nurse do?

The nurse tests cranial nerve XI by asking the client to shrug her shoulders. What action should the nurse perform?

(Motor Function) The nurse continues the neurological assessment by assessing motor function. Since Ms. Davidson is lying in bed, which action should the nurse take to observe small muscle movement and coordination?

The nurse observes that Ms. Davidson lacks coordination when touching her thumb to the fingers on her left side and decides to further assess her upper extremity muscle strength. To assess upper extremity muscle strength, the nurse stands facing the client and holds out both hands toward the client. The nurse asks the client to grip 2 of the nurse's fingers with 1 hand and 2 fingers with the other. What instructions should the nurse provide next?

Ms. Davidson's left upper extremity seems to be weaker than her right upper extremity. What additional assessment should the nurse perform to validate the finding of unilateral upper extremity weakness?

The test validates the initial findings of left upper extremity weakness. (Sensory Function) After validating the finding of left-sided upper extremity weakness, the nurse next assesses Ms. Davidson's sensory function. The nurse uses a tuning fork to evaluate what sensory function?

Next, the nurse asks Ms. Davidson to close her eyes. The nurse places the tuning fork in the palm of Ms. Davidson's left hand and asks her to identify what she is holding. Ms. Davidson is unable to identify the tuning fork. What action should the nurse take in response to this finding?

Ms. Davidson is able to identify a comb when it is placed in her right hand, but is unable to identify the comb when it is placed in her left hand. (Reflexes) The nurse continues the neurological assessment by evaluating Ms. Davidson's deep tendon reflexes (DTRs.) The nurse begins by testing the client's biceps reflex. With the client's forearm resting on the nurse's forearm and the nurse's thumb over the biceps tendon, what action should the nurse take next to test the client's biceps reflex?

The nurse observes contraction of the biceps muscle and flexion of the forearm in response to the attempt to elicit the biceps reflex. What action should the nurse take in response to this finding?

(A change in condition: level of consciousness.) Shortly after completing the admission assessment, the nurse returns to the client's room and notes a change in her condition. Ms. Davidson is slurring all her words. Further assessment reveals that Ms. Davidson is no longer able to move her left arm and leg, and within a few minutes no longer responds to the nurse's questions. The nurse quickly assesses the client's level of consciousness by checking for a response to varying stimuli. What stimuli should the nurse use first to attempt to elicit a response from the patient?

To objectively assess the client's level of consciousness, the nurse uses the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS.) What data should the nurse obtain to complete the GCS rating? (Select all that apply.)

(Related Assessment: End of Life Wishes) Ms. Davidson's daughter Sylvia has arrived and the nurse explains that her mother's condition has worsened. Sylvia cries, and tells the nurse that her mother had often told her that she had lived a full, long life, and did not want any extraordinary measures in the event of a serious illness. The nurse assesses Ms. Davidson's end of life wishes. In assessing the client's end of life wishes, the nurse remembers that Ms. Davidson's husband is deceased. it is most important for the nurse to communicate with which person? The client's....

The nurse learns that Ms. Davidson designated her daughter Sylvia as her power of attorney. Sylvia tells the nurse that her mother was very clear in her wishes and does not wish to have external feeding, ventilation, or resuscitation implemented under any circumstances. To confirm the verbal information regarding Ms. Davidson's end of life wishes, the nurse plans to review the client's living will. What additional information related to end of life wishes is most important for the nurse to assess?

The nurse may facilitate time and space for which action(s) commonly associated with spiritual end of life care related to Ms. Davidson's Catholic beliefs. (Select all that apply.)

Case Outcome