Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) Practice Exam

After a stroke, which cognitive skill may require significant rehabilitation efforts?

1. Math calculation

2. Memory retention

3. Spatial awareness

4. Imaginative play

The correct answer is: Spatial awareness

Spatial awareness is often significantly affected after a stroke due to the way brain regions are compromised. Specific areas of the brain, particularly in the right hemisphere, are responsible for spatial processing, which includes the ability to perceive and understand spatial relationships between objects, navigate environments, and coordinate movements in space. When a stroke occurs, these functions can be disrupted, leading to difficulties in orientation, judgment of distances, and the ability to manipulate objects effectively. Rehabilitation efforts focused on enhancing spatial awareness may involve exercises to improve navigation skills, understanding directions, and even activities to enhance visual-motor coordination. These skills are essential not only for daily activities but also for safety, as impaired spatial awareness can lead to an increased risk of falls or accidents. While the other cognitive skills mentioned—math calculation, memory retention, and imaginative play—are also important in rehabilitation, they may not require the same level of focused intervention as spatial awareness, which is deeply tied to the ability to function independently in one’s environment following a stroke.