2024 PN NCLEX Questions Nursing Practice Question
While assisting with data collection of an adult client, a nurse asks the client to identify various odors. In this technique, which cranial nerve is the nurse assessing?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The technique of asking a client to identify various odors assesses the olfactory nerve, which is responsible for the sense of smell.
Option A, the optic nerve, is related to vision, not smell. Option B, the abducens nerve, controls lateral eye movement and does not pertain to olfactory functions. Option D, the hypoglossal nerve, is involved in tongue movement and speech, making it irrelevant to odor identification. Thus, assessing the ability to recognize odors specifically evaluates the olfactory nerve, confirming option C as the appropriate choice.