Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) Practice Exam

Which reflex grading indicates a brisk response?

1. Grade 1

2. Grade 2

3. Grade 3

4. Grade 4

The correct answer is: Grade 3

A brisk response in reflex grading is represented by a score of 3. This indicates an enhanced reflex activity, which is often observed in conditions like upper motor neuron lesions. Grading for reflexes typically follows a scale from 0 to 4, with 0 indicating no response and 4 indicating a very brisk or hyperactive response, often accompanied by clonus. In this context, a grade of 3 indicates a brisk reflex but not the hyperreflexia associated with a grade of 4. Therefore, a grade of 3 signifies an active response that is more than average, which aligns with the definition of a brisk reflex. Understanding this grading scale is crucial, especially in critical care settings, as it can provide essential information about a patient's neurological status.