Cranial nerves nursing assessment
I Olfactory Ans- Sensory -ask patient if can smell a vial of coffee
II Optic Ans- Sensory , test vision, ask patient to read Snellen chart
III Oculomotor Ans- Motor, ask patient to follow pen light in six directions from center outward.
Assess pupil reaction to light with pen light
IV Trochlear Ans- Motor, moves eyeball down and laterally, ask patient to follow movement of
pen light in six directions.
V Trigeminal Ans- both Sensory and motor, sensation of cornea, nasal mucosa and skin of face.
Use cotton ball to lightly touch different places on face when patients eyes are closed. Ask
patient to identify location of touch. Use alternating ends of safety pin to test blunt and sharp
sensation. Use corner of four by four to lightly touch cornea, patient should blink. Ask patient to
clench teeth.
VI Abducens Ans- Motor, lateral eyeball movement, assess directions of gaze.
VII Facial Ans- both motor and sensory, ask patient to smile, raise eyebrows, frown, puff out
cheeks, close eyes tightly. Ask pt to identify various tasts on tongue, such as sugar, salt, lemon
juice, quinine.
VIII auditory, MRS. R calls Acoustic Ans- Sensory, Romberg test for balance, equilibrium,
tuning fork, whisper to test hearing
IX glossopharyngeal Ans- both motor and sensory, ask pt to move tongue from side to side and
up and down, ask pt to swallow.
X Vagus Ans- Both motor and sensory, sensation of pharynx and larynx, swallowing, vocal cord
movement. Same tests as glossopharyngeal, plus assess voice for hoarseness"
XI accessory Ans- Motor, head movement, shrugging of shoulders. Sk pt to move head from side
to side, touch chin to chest, ear to shoulders or shrug shoulders.
XII Hypoglossal Ans- Motor, ask patient to stick out tongue, move it side to side
I Olfactory Ans- Sensory -ask patient if can smell a vial of coffee
II Optic Ans- Sensory , test vision, ask patient to read Snellen chart
III Oculomotor Ans- Motor, ask patient to follow pen light in six directions from center outward.
Assess pupil reaction to light with pen light
IV Trochlear Ans- Motor, moves eyeball down and laterally, ask patient to follow movement of
pen light in six directions.
V Trigeminal Ans- both Sensory and motor, sensation of cornea, nasal mucosa and skin of face.
Use cotton ball to lightly touch different places on face when patients eyes are closed. Ask
patient to identify location of touch. Use alternating ends of safety pin to test blunt and sharp
sensation. Use corner of four by four to lightly touch cornea, patient should blink. Ask patient to
clench teeth.
VI Abducens Ans- Motor, lateral eyeball movement, assess directions of gaze.
VII Facial Ans- both motor and sensory, ask patient to smile, raise eyebrows, frown, puff out
cheeks, close eyes tightly. Ask pt to identify various tasts on tongue, such as sugar, salt, lemon
juice, quinine.
VIII auditory, MRS. R calls Acoustic Ans- Sensory, Romberg test for balance, equilibrium,
tuning fork, whisper to test hearing
IX glossopharyngeal Ans- both motor and sensory, ask pt to move tongue from side to side and
up and down, ask pt to swallow.
X Vagus Ans- Both motor and sensory, sensation of pharynx and larynx, swallowing, vocal cord
movement. Same tests as glossopharyngeal, plus assess voice for hoarseness"
XI accessory Ans- Motor, head movement, shrugging of shoulders. Sk pt to move head from side
to side, touch chin to chest, ear to shoulders or shrug shoulders.
XII Hypoglossal Ans- Motor, ask patient to stick out tongue, move it side to side
