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
