A man presents with a red, painful eye, halos around lights, vomiting and a hard eye. The priority is to:

Refer at once for IOP-lowering treatment

Apply a warm compress and discharge

A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is important mainly because it:

Warns of a high risk of a completed stroke

Always needs immediate thrombolysis

Is caused by a ruptured aneurysm

Open-angle glaucoma typically presents with:

Gradual painless loss of peripheral vision

Sudden severe eye pain and halos

Floaters and a curtain over the vision

Neurological, orthopaedic, eye and ENT nursing

55 Staff nurse recruitment practice questions on Neurological, orthopaedic, eye and ENT nursing, part of Medical-Surgical Nursing. The first 25 are below; the first 5 with answers and explanations (tap Show answer after you have chosen), the rest in Learn with a free account.

Question 1 · Easy
On the Glasgow Coma Scale, the highest score for best motor response is:
1. A4
2. B6
3. C5
4. D3
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Answer: B · 6
The GCS adds eye opening (4), verbal response (5) and motor response (6); obeying commands earns the full 6 motor points. The total ranges from 3 to 15. A score of 8 or less marks severe head injury and usually means the airway must be protected. A fall of 2 or more points should be reported at once.
- A: 4 is the maximum for eye opening.
- C: 5 is the maximum for the verbal component.
- D: 3 is the motor score for abnormal flexion.
Question 2 · Hard
A man presents with a red, painful eye, halos around lights, vomiting and a hard eye. The priority is to:
1. AApply a warm compress and discharge
2. BRefer at once for IOP-lowering treatment
3. CInstil atropine drops
4. DGive an antiemetic and observe
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Answer: B · Refer at once for IOP-lowering treatment
These are features of acute angle-closure glaucoma, an emergency that can blind within hours. Pressure is lowered with IV acetazolamide, pilocarpine and other drops, followed by laser iridotomy. Treating only the vomiting delays sight-saving care. Mydriatics such as atropine worsen the closure.
- A: Discharge with a compress ignores a blinding condition.
- C: Atropine dilates the pupil and worsens angle closure.
- D: Antiemetics alone miss a sight-threatening emergency.
Question 3 · Medium
A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is important mainly because it:
1. AAlways needs immediate thrombolysis
2. BCauses permanent paralysis
3. CWarns of a high risk of a completed stroke
4. DIs caused by a ruptured aneurysm
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Answer: C · Warns of a high risk of a completed stroke
A TIA is a brief episode of neurological deficit from ischaemia with full recovery and no infarction. It carries a high short-term risk of stroke, greatest in the first days. Patients need urgent assessment, antiplatelet therapy and risk-factor control. Carotid imaging may lead to endarterectomy.
- A: Symptoms have resolved, so thrombolysis is not given.
- B: By definition a TIA leaves no permanent deficit.
- D: A ruptured aneurysm causes subarachnoid haemorrhage, not TIA.
Question 4 · Medium
Open-angle glaucoma typically presents with:
1. ASudden severe eye pain and halos
2. BPainful red eye with discharge
3. CGradual painless loss of peripheral vision
4. DFloaters and a curtain over the vision
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Answer: C · Gradual painless loss of peripheral vision
Chronic open-angle glaucoma raises intraocular pressure slowly as drainage through the trabecular meshwork falls. It damages the optic nerve and narrows the visual fields from the edges, often unnoticed until late. Regular pressure checks are needed after age 40. The lost vision cannot be recovered.
- A: Sudden pain and halos are features of acute angle-closure glaucoma.
- B: A painful red eye with discharge suggests conjunctivitis or keratitis.
- D: Floaters and a curtain suggest retinal detachment.
Question 5 · Medium
After a tonsillectomy, frequent swallowing by the patient should make the nurse suspect:
1. AThirst from mild dehydration
2. BBleeding from the tonsil bed
3. CReferred pain from the ear
4. DNormal healing of the throat
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Answer: B · Bleeding from the tonsil bed
Frequent swallowing, clearing the throat and vomiting dark blood suggest bleeding trickling down the throat after tonsillectomy. Rising pulse and restlessness support it. The nurse checks the throat with a torch and informs the surgeon. The patient is kept on the side to drain secretions.
- A: Dehydration does not cause frequent swallowing.
- C: Ear pain may occur but frequent swallowing does not signal ear infection.
- D: Repeated swallowing is a warning sign, not part of normal recovery.
Question 6 · Hard
In a patient with a forearm cast, the finding the nurse reports first is:
1. ASwelling that settles on elevation
2. BMild itching under the cast
3. CCast still damp at 12 hours
4. DCool pale fingers with slow refill
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 7 · Hard
A patient has vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus and ear fullness. The nurse expects teaching about:
1. AA high-salt diet
2. BIncreasing caffeine
3. CEar syringing daily
4. DA low-salt diet
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 8 · Easy
The first-line drug for stopping status epilepticus is:
1. AIntravenous potassium chloride
2. BIntravenous lorazepam
3. COral carbamazepine
4. DOral phenytoin
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 9 · Medium
For a patient in Buck's skin traction, the nurse should ensure that:
1. AThe foot is pressed against the footboard
2. BThe weights are rested on the bed during care
3. CThe weights are removed at night for comfort
4. DThe weights hang freely and do not touch the floor or bed
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 10 · Easy
A patient with right-sided hemiplegia after stroke most likely has a lesion in the:
1. ARight cerebral hemisphere
2. BSpinal cord at C2
3. CRight cerebellum
4. DLeft cerebral hemisphere
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 11 · Medium
After cataract surgery, the patient should be told to report immediately:
1. ABrighter colours than before
2. BMild scratchiness of the eye
3. CSudden eye pain or reduced vision
4. DSlight watering of the eye
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 12 · Hard
Six hours after a fall from a date palm with C5 cord injury, a farmer has BP 80/50 mmHg, pulse 50/min and warm dry skin. The most likely cause is:
1. ALoss of sympathetic tone
2. BInternal blood loss
3. CEarly sepsis
4. DPump failure of the heart
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 13 · Easy
Once the jerking of a tonic-clonic seizure stops, the nurse should place the patient:
1. AFlat on the back
2. BIn high Fowler's position
3. CIn the lateral recovery position
4. DProne with the face down
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 14 · Easy
Status epilepticus is defined in current practice as a seizure lasting more than:
1. A30 seconds
2. B1 minute
3. C5 minutes
4. D60 minutes
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 15 · Medium
Which of these care measures could raise intracranial pressure in a brain-injured patient?
1. AKeeping the head in midline
2. BSpacing out nursing procedures
3. CGiving a stool softener
4. DEncouraging forceful coughing
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 16 · Medium
Patient teaching after cataract surgery includes:
1. AStop drops after one day
2. BRub the eye if it itches
3. CSleep on the operated side
4. DWear the shield at night
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 17 · Easy
Gingival hyperplasia is a well-known side effect of long-term:
1. ALevetiracetam
2. BSodium valproate
3. CPhenytoin
4. DLorazepam
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 18 · Medium
For anterior epistaxis, the correct first-aid position and action is to:
1. ALie flat and tilt the head back
2. BLean back and pinch the bridge of the nose
3. CSit up, lean forward and pinch the soft part of the nose
4. DLie on the side and pack the ear
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 19 · Easy
Which set of vital signs, seen late, suggests brain stem compression from rising ICP?
1. AHypotension, bradycardia and warm dry skin
2. BHypotension, tachycardia and rapid shallow breathing
3. CWide pulse pressure, bradycardia, irregular breathing
4. DFever, neck stiffness and photophobia
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 20 · Medium
After a seizure, a patient is drowsy and confused for about an hour. This is best described as:
1. AThe postictal phase
2. BA sensory aura
3. CAn absence seizure
4. DStatus epilepticus
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 21 · Hard
A patient on timolol eye drops for glaucoma also has asthma. The nurse's main concern is:
1. AA rise in eye pressure
2. BPupil dilation
3. CRaised blood glucose
4. DBronchospasm
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 22 · Medium
In skeletal traction, the main nursing care at the pin sites is to:
1. AAdjust the pin tension each shift
2. BObserve and clean them for signs of infection
3. CCover them with an occlusive plastic dressing
4. DRemove the pins daily for cleaning
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 23 · Easy
Battle's sign, bruising behind the ear over the mastoid, suggests:
1. ASimple concussion
2. BExtradural haematoma
3. CBasal skull fracture
4. DAcute otitis media
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 24 · Medium
A patient complains of 'the worst headache of my life' with sudden onset and neck stiffness. The nurse should suspect:
1. AMigraine with an aura
2. BAcute frontal sinusitis
3. CTension-type headache
4. DSubarachnoid haemorrhage
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account
Question 25 · Medium
A patient splashed with an alkali chemical in the eye arrives in the emergency department. The first action is to:
1. ANeutralise with an acid solution
2. BInstil an antibiotic ointment
3. CApply an eye pad and wait for the doctor
4. DIrrigate the eye with copious normal saline or water
Answer and explanation in LearnFree account

30 more Neurological, orthopaedic, eye and ENT nursing questions

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Neurological, orthopaedic, eye and ENT nursing

On the Glasgow Coma Scale, the highest score for best motor response is:

A man presents with a red, painful eye, halos around lights, vomiting and a hard eye. The priority is to:

A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is important mainly because it:

Open-angle glaucoma typically presents with:

After a tonsillectomy, frequent swallowing by the patient should make the nurse suspect:

In a patient with a forearm cast, the finding the nurse reports first is:

A patient has vertigo, fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus and ear fullness. The nurse expects teaching about:

The first-line drug for stopping status epilepticus is:

For a patient in Buck's skin traction, the nurse should ensure that:

A patient with right-sided hemiplegia after stroke most likely has a lesion in the:

After cataract surgery, the patient should be told to report immediately:

Six hours after a fall from a date palm with C5 cord injury, a farmer has BP 80/50 mmHg, pulse 50/min and warm dry skin. The most likely cause is:

Once the jerking of a tonic-clonic seizure stops, the nurse should place the patient:

Status epilepticus is defined in current practice as a seizure lasting more than:

Which of these care measures could raise intracranial pressure in a brain-injured patient?

Patient teaching after cataract surgery includes:

Gingival hyperplasia is a well-known side effect of long-term:

For anterior epistaxis, the correct first-aid position and action is to:

Which set of vital signs, seen late, suggests brain stem compression from rising ICP?

After a seizure, a patient is drowsy and confused for about an hour. This is best described as:

A patient on timolol eye drops for glaucoma also has asthma. The nurse's main concern is:

In skeletal traction, the main nursing care at the pin sites is to:

Battle's sign, bruising behind the ear over the mastoid, suggests:

A patient complains of 'the worst headache of my life' with sudden onset and neck stiffness. The nurse should suspect:

A patient splashed with an alkali chemical in the eye arrives in the emergency department. The first action is to: