Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA) Practice Exam

How does a perianesthesia nurse assess cranial nerve VII postoperatively?

1. Protrude the tongue

2. Move eyes up, down, and medially

3. Frown, smile, and raise the eyebrows

4. Shrug the shoulders

The correct answer is: Frown, smile, and raise the eyebrows

Assessing cranial nerve VII, also known as the facial nerve, involves evaluating the motor functions associated with facial expressions. The correct approach is to ask the patient to frown, smile, and raise their eyebrows. This assessment allows the nurse to identify any motor deficits or abnormalities in facial symmetry, which are indicative of potential nerve impairment. The action of frowning tests the corrugator supercilii muscle, smiling tests the zygomaticus major and minor muscles, and raising the eyebrows tests the frontalis muscle. Observing these facial movements provides critical information regarding the integrity of cranial nerve VII and helps in determining the neurological status of the patient after surgery. In contrast, the other options assess different cranial nerves: protruding the tongue assesses cranial nerve XII (hypoglossal nerve), moving the eyes up, down, and medially evaluates cranial nerves III (oculomotor), IV (trochlear), and VI (abducens), and shrugging the shoulders tests cranial nerve XI (accessory nerve). Therefore, the correct assessment for cranial nerve VII involves specific facial expressions that indicate its motor function.