Cranial Nerves - NCLEX

Cranial Nerve I (1)

Olfactory - Smell

Test: Test each of the patient's nostrils to see if they can smell the clove or peppermint.

Cranial Nerve II (2)

Optic - Vision

Test: Use visual acuity chart.

Cranial Nerve III (3)

Oculomotor - Eye movement; pupil dilation.

Test: Have pt blink their eyes.

Cranial Nerve IV (4)

Trochlear - Eye movement

Test: Have pt look down.

Cranial Nerve V (5)

Trigeminal - Somatosensory information (touch, pain) from the face and head; muscles for chewing

Test: Clench jaw. Test for feeling by lightly touching forehead, cheek and jaw.

Cranial Nerve VI (6)

Abducens - Eye movement

Test: Have pt look to each side.

Cranial Nerve VII (7)

Facial - Taste and facial expression

Test: Smile; look for symmetry in the face.

Cranial Nerve VIII (8)

Vestibulocochlear - Hearing and balance.

Test: Snap fingers beside pt ear, have them stand on one foot.

Cranial Nerve IX (9)

Glossopharyngeal - Taste and ability to swallow.

Test: Gag reflex

Cranial Nerve X (10)

Vagus - Internal organs.

Test: pulse

Cranial Nerve XI (11)

Accessory - Muscles of neck

Test: shrug shoulders and look for symmetry, turn head side to side.

Cranial Nerve XII (12)

Hypoglossal - Tongue movement.

Test: stick tongue out