Cranial Nerves
There are this many pairs of cranial nerves.
What are 12?
This cranial nerve assesses movement of the tongue.
What is Cranial Nerve 12 - hypoglossal?
This is the highest that can be scored on the Glasgow coma scale (GCS).
What is 15?
This is the best orientation level.
What is Alert and oriented x4?
This test/scan shows metabolic function and potential malignancy.
What is a PET scan?
These cranial nerve pairs should be assessed together when assessing the eye.
What are
III - oculomotor
IV - Trochlear
VI - Abducens
This nerve is being assessed when a patient shrugs their shoulders with resistance.
What is Cranial Nerve 11 - Accessory?
This is the lowest that can be scored on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GSC).
What is 3?
These are the questions you ask your patient about orientation.
What are person, place, time, and situation?
This test identifies electrical activity in the brain.
What is an EEG?
This nerve is responsible for the sense of smell.
What is Cranial Nerve 1 - olfactory?
This cranial nerve is assessed by asking the client to frown/smile.
What is Cranial Nerve 7 - Facial?
These three behaviors are assessed using the Glasgow coma scale (GSC).
What is Eye opening response, motor response, and verbal response?
Mrs. Smith tells you her name, that is 2020, that she is at the Holiday Inn, and she doesn't know what you mean when you ask what is going on with her. She would be alert and oriented x this:
What is Alert and oriented x1?
This procedure is performed to detect abnormalities in cerebrospinal fluid.
What is a Lumbar Puncture (LP)?
This nerve is responsible for hearing.
What is Cranial Nerve 8 - Acoustic nerve (Vestibulocochlear)?
This cranial nerve is responsible for facial expression and sensation.
What is CN V- Trigeminal Muscles of mastication (Chewing)
Sensation on the face
Corneal Reflex
Motor, sensory, and reflex*
As the nurse you go in and assess Mrs. Smith's GCS status. She opens her eyes to voice, she only knows her name, and she obeys commands. This is her GCS.
What is 13? (3 for respond to voice, 4 for confused, 6 for obeys commands)
When doing the GCS these are the four responses you are looking for in eye opening response.
What are:
Spontaneously
Speech
Pain
No response?
This area of the brain is responsible for balance and coordination issues.
What is the cerebellum?
This cranial nerve is responsible for speech quality, gag reflex, cough reflex, and uvula.
What is the Cranial Nerve 10 - Vagus Nerve?
This cranial nerve is assessed by asking the client to read objects in the room.
What is the Optic Nerve (Cranial Nerve 2)?
Later in the day, you assess Mrs. Smith neuro Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). She only opens her eyes to pain, her speech is difficult to understand, and she cannot move her extremities. Her GCS is now:
GCS 5 - this is an emergency. I-SBAR the doctor immediately
(opens eyes to pain- 2, speech-2, 1- cannot move)
When assessing GCS in verbal response, these 5 responses are what you are looking for:
What are:
Oriented to place, time, situation, and person
Confused
Inappropriate Words
Incomprehensible Speech/sounds
No response?
This type of malignant brain tumor is very aggressive and associated with poor prognosis.
What is a glioblastoma?