The nurse uses the whispered voice test to assess a patient’s hearing. The nurse is assessing which cranial nerve?

Choice A reason: Reading handheld print tests reading near vision, not standard visual acuity, which requires distance assessment. The Snellen chart at 20 feet is the standard, so this is incorrect for acuity testing.

Choice B reason: The Snellen chart, positioned 20 feet away, is the standard method for assessing visual acuity in adolescents, providing a reliable measure of distance vision. This is the correct procedure for the nurse.

Choice C reason: The confrontation test assesses peripheral vision, not central acuity. The Snellen chart measures sharpness of vision, so this is incorrect for the purpose of visual acuity assessment.

Choice D reason: Reading newsprint at 12–14 inches tests near vision, not distance acuity, which is the standard for screening. The Snellen chart at 20 feet is appropriate, so this is incorrect.

Choice A reason: Convergence and pupil constriction are accommodation reflexes, not corneal light reflex, which tests alignment. Light reflection symmetry indicates eye alignment, so this incorrect for the reflex’s purpose.

Choice B reason: Pupil constriction is a pupillary reflex, not corneal light reflex. The corneal reflex involves light reflection on corneas, assessing alignment, not pupil response, so this is incorrect.

Choice C reason: Macular focus is related to visual acuity, not corneal reflex, light reflex, which checks eye alignment via light reflection. Symmetric reflection is key, so this incorrect for the reflex’s indication.

Choice D reason: A normal corneal reflex shows light reflecting in the same spot on both corneas, indicating proper eye alignment. This is the definition of the reflex, making it the correct choice for eye assessment.