Question

The nurse is assessing a patient admitted with a stroke. What assessment finding would indicate that the patient experienced a stroke to the right hemisphere?

A) Weakness on the left side of the body
B) Difficulty with spatial-perceptual tasks
C) Aphasia
D) Impaired memory

Answer 1

Weakness on the left side of the body is a common indicator of a stroke in the right hemisphere, along with difficulty in spatial-perceptual tasks. Aphasia is more typically associated with damage to the left hemisphere, while flat affect and non-verbal communication issues may result from right hemisphere damage.

Step-by-step explanation:

An assessment finding that would indicate a patient experienced a stroke to the right hemisphere of the brain includes weakness on the left side of the body. The right hemisphere of the brain controls the left side of the body, and damage to this area can result in motor deficits such as difficulty moving the left leg or arm. The patient may also demonstrate problems with spatial-perceptual tasks, as the right hemisphere is involved with processing this type of information. While damage to the left hemisphere may lead to aphasia, or a loss of speech function, damage to the right side can manifest as difficulty in understanding nonverbal aspects of communication or a flat affect in speech. It's also important to note that while memory problems are a symptom of a stroke, they are not specifically tied to a stroke in the right hemisphere alone and can occur with strokes in various parts of the brain.