1. Faculty of Nursing-IUG
Chapter (13)
Assessment of Neurological system
Faculty of Nursing-IUG

2. Assess this system when doing physical examination e. g
Assess this system when doing physical examination e.g. cranial nerve function can be testing during the survey of the head and neck.
The neurological assessment consists of six parts: (mental status, cranial nerves, sensory functions, motor function, cerebellar function, reflexes).
Subjective data:
Loss of consciousness, dizziness, and fainting.
Headache: precipitating factors and duration.
Numbness and tingling or paralysis or neuralgia.
Loss of memory, confusion, visual loss, blurring, and pain.
Facial pain, weakness, twitching, speech problems e.g. aphasia.
Swallowing problems and drooling.
Neck weakness or spasm

3. Mental and emotional
Mental and emotional status is observed as the nursing history is collected, and by simply interacting with client, e.g. “Nursing care plan”
Level of consciousness
Level of consciousness ranges from full a wakening, “alertness” to unresponsiveness to any form of external stimuli.
Alert client responds to questions spontaneously.
Assess level of consciousness by using Glasgow coma scale

4. Glasgow coma scale

5. Assessment of behavior and Appearance
Behavior, mood, hygiene, grooming and choice of dress reveal pertinent information about client’s mental status.
Appearance reflects how a client feels about the self.
Personal hygiene such as unkempt hair, a dirty body, or broken, dirty fingernails should be noted.
Language: Assess ability of individual to understand spoken or written words & how he speak or writes.
Assess intellectual function, which includes: memory “recent, immediate, past”, knowledge, abstract thinking, association and judgment.
Assess for sensory function:
Assess sensitivity to light touch “cotton”
Assess sensitivity to pain “pinprick”
Assess sensitivity to vibrations “tuning fork”
Assess sensitivity to positions.
Don’t forget comparing both sides of body.