Nokea
The nurse practitioner conducting a neurological assessment on a patient uses a sterile cotton wisp to lightly touch the patient’s forehead, cheek, and chin. The nurse practitioner is testing the:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Cranial nerve V (trigeminal). The nurse practitioner is testing the trigeminal nerve's sensory function by using a sterile cotton wisp to assess light touch sensation in the patient's forehead, cheek, and chin. The trigeminal nerve has three branches - ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular - which innervate these areas respectively. By assessing the patient's response to the light touch in these specific areas, the nurse practitioner can determine if the sensory function of the trigeminal nerve is intact.
Summary:
B: Cranial nerve VII (facial) controls facial expression, not sensation.
C: Cranial nerve XII (hypoglossal) controls tongue movement, not facial sensation.
D: Cranial nerve II (optic) is responsible for vision, not facial sensation.