Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Assessment of Neurologic Function Related

Review Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Assessment of Neurologic Function related questions and content

A patient is admitted to the medical unit with an exacerbation of multiple sclerosis. When assessing this patient, the nurse has the patient stick out her tongue and move it back and forth. What is the nurse assessing?

  • A. Function of the hypoglossal nerve
  • B. Function of the vagus nerve
  • C. Function of the spinal nerve
  • D. Function of the trochlear nerve
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Tongue movement is controlled by the hypoglossal nerve (XII). The vagus nerve affects throat and voice, spinal nerves control body muscles, and the trochlear nerve moves the eye.