HESI practice questions- cranial nervesQuestions And
Answers 2025 \2026
D. Trigeminal nerve - CORRECT ANSWER-During a neurological assessment, the
nurse asks the client to close the jaws tightly, after which the nurse tries to open
the closed jaws. In this technique, the nurse is assessing the motor function of
the:
A. Oculomotor nerve
b. Trochlear nerve
C. Abducens nerve
D. Trigeminal nerve
D. Facial - CORRECT ANSWER-During a neurological assessment, the nurse asks the
client to puff out both cheeks. Which cranial nerve is the nurse assessing?
A. Oculomotor
B. Abducens
C. Vagus
D. Facial
C. Uses a tuning fork - CORRECT ANSWER-A nurse is preparing to assess the
acoustic nerve during a neurological examination. To assess this nerve, the nurse:
A. Tests taste perception on the client's tongue
B. Asks the client to puff out the cheeks
, C. Uses a tuning fork
D. Checks the client's ability to clench the teeth
D. Shrugging the shoulders against the nurse's resistance - CORRECT ANSWER-A
nurse is preparing to assess the function of a client's spinal accessory nerve.
Which of the following actions does the nurse ask the client to take to aid
assessment of this nerve?
A. Clenching the teeth
B. Identifying by taste a substance placed on the back of the tongue
C. Smiling
D. Shrugging the shoulders against the nurse's resistance
C. Asking the client to close his or her eyes and then indicate when a ticking watch
is heard as the nurse brings the watch closer to the client's ear - CORRECT
ANSWER-A nurse performing a neurological examination is testing the cochlear
portion of the acoustic nerve (cranial nerve VIII). Which of the following actions
does the nurse take to test this nerve?
A. Asking the client to clench the teeth, then palpating the masseter muscles just
above the mandibular angle
B. Asking the client to raise his or her eyebrows and looking for symmetry
C. Asking the client to close his or her eyes and then indicate when a ticking watch
is heard as the nurse brings the watch closer to the client's ear
D. Asking the client to close the eyes and then identify light and sharp touch with
a cotton ball and a pin on both sides of the face
Answers 2025 \2026
D. Trigeminal nerve - CORRECT ANSWER-During a neurological assessment, the
nurse asks the client to close the jaws tightly, after which the nurse tries to open
the closed jaws. In this technique, the nurse is assessing the motor function of
the:
A. Oculomotor nerve
b. Trochlear nerve
C. Abducens nerve
D. Trigeminal nerve
D. Facial - CORRECT ANSWER-During a neurological assessment, the nurse asks the
client to puff out both cheeks. Which cranial nerve is the nurse assessing?
A. Oculomotor
B. Abducens
C. Vagus
D. Facial
C. Uses a tuning fork - CORRECT ANSWER-A nurse is preparing to assess the
acoustic nerve during a neurological examination. To assess this nerve, the nurse:
A. Tests taste perception on the client's tongue
B. Asks the client to puff out the cheeks
, C. Uses a tuning fork
D. Checks the client's ability to clench the teeth
D. Shrugging the shoulders against the nurse's resistance - CORRECT ANSWER-A
nurse is preparing to assess the function of a client's spinal accessory nerve.
Which of the following actions does the nurse ask the client to take to aid
assessment of this nerve?
A. Clenching the teeth
B. Identifying by taste a substance placed on the back of the tongue
C. Smiling
D. Shrugging the shoulders against the nurse's resistance
C. Asking the client to close his or her eyes and then indicate when a ticking watch
is heard as the nurse brings the watch closer to the client's ear - CORRECT
ANSWER-A nurse performing a neurological examination is testing the cochlear
portion of the acoustic nerve (cranial nerve VIII). Which of the following actions
does the nurse take to test this nerve?
A. Asking the client to clench the teeth, then palpating the masseter muscles just
above the mandibular angle
B. Asking the client to raise his or her eyebrows and looking for symmetry
C. Asking the client to close his or her eyes and then indicate when a ticking watch
is heard as the nurse brings the watch closer to the client's ear
D. Asking the client to close the eyes and then identify light and sharp touch with
a cotton ball and a pin on both sides of the face
