A nurse is preparing to perform a cranial nerve examination on a client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to check cranial nerve twelve (hypoglossal)?

Choice A reason: Identifying specific smells tests the olfactory nerve (cranial nerve I), which relays sensory information from the nasal mucosa to the brain. This is unrelated to the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII), which controls tongue movement, making it an incorrect method for assessing this nerve. Choice B reason: Asking the client to stick out their tongue and observing if it is midline tests the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII), which innervates tongue muscles. Deviation or weakness indicates nerve dysfunction, as the hypoglossal nerve controls motor function for tongue movement, making this the correct assessment. Choice C reason: Observing head turning tests the spinal accessory nerve (cranial nerve XI), which innervates the sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles. This is unrelated to the hypoglossal nerve, which governs tongue movement, so this action does not assess cranial nerve XII and is incorrect. Choice D reason: Whispering in one ear while occluding the other tests the auditory nerve (cranial nerve VIII), assessing hearing. This has no relation to the hypoglossal nerve, which controls tongue motor function, making it an inappropriate method for evaluating cranial nerve XII function.