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DOH Neurological Nursing Practice Questions
Neurological questions test neuro observations and recognising emergencies such as stroke, raised intracranial pressure and seizures. Below are 5 free sample questions for the DOH Registered Nurse exam, each with the answer and a rationale.
What this topic covers
- Glasgow Coma Scale and pupil checks
- Stroke recognition and swallow screening
- Raised ICP and Cushing's triad
- Seizure safety and status epilepticus
- Spinal cord injury and autonomic dysreflexia
- Meningitis and Guillain-Barré
The full bank has 80 neurological nursing questions, part of 1,500 questions across 16 nursing topics.
Free DOH neurological nursing questions
1. Which statement best describes a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)?
- A. Bleeding into the brain that resolves without treatment
- B. Temporary neurological symptoms from brief ischaemia without permanent tissue infarction
- C. A type of seizure caused by low blood glucose
- D. A small stroke that always leaves permanent weakness
Show answer and rationale
A TIA causes transient focal neurological dysfunction without acute infarction; symptoms usually resolve within an hour.
Reference: AHA/ASA – transient ischaemic attack
2. What does the abbreviation PERRLA mean when documenting a pupil assessment?
- A. Pupils equal, reduced, reactive to light and accommodation
- B. Pupils enlarged, round, reactive to light and air
- C. Pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation
- D. Pupils even, round, responsive to lids and alignment
Show answer and rationale
PERRLA stands for pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation, indicating a normal pupil examination.
Reference: Potter & Perry – neurological assessment
3. A patient is going to have a lumbar puncture. Which position should the nurse help the patient into?
- A. Prone with arms above the head
- B. Trendelenburg position
- C. Side-lying with knees drawn up to the chest and chin tucked
- D. Supine with legs straight
Show answer and rationale
The fetal position (or sitting leaning forward) widens the spaces between the lumbar vertebrae for needle insertion.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – lumbar puncture
4. A patient takes levodopa–carbidopa. Which teaching point is correct?
- A. Take doses on time as prescribed, because delays can worsen symptoms
- B. Double the next dose if one is missed
- C. Take with a large high-protein meal to improve absorption
- D. Stop the drug if dark urine occurs
Show answer and rationale
Timing is important to keep symptoms controlled; high-protein meals can reduce absorption, and harmless darkening of urine or sweat can occur.
Reference: Standard nursing pharmacology – levodopa-carbidopa
5. A patient was briefly unconscious after a head injury, then became alert and talkative. Two hours later the patient becomes drowsy with a dilating pupil. Which condition is most likely?
- A. Concussion with full recovery
- B. Chronic subdural haematoma
- C. Tension headache
- D. Epidural (extradural) haematoma
Show answer and rationale
Epidural haematoma, usually from arterial bleeding, classically causes brief unconsciousness, a lucid interval, then rapid deterioration; it is a surgical emergency.
Reference: Lewis Medical-Surgical Nursing – head injury
Study tip
A falling GCS or new pupil change is almost always the finding to report first.
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