The nurse is preparing to assess a patient's cognitive function. What should the nurse include in this assessment?
1. ability to smell items placed under the nose while eyes are closed
2. orientation to time, place, and person, and ability to recall recent and past events
3. ability to walk with a smooth, steady gait
4. level of consciousness
Correct Answer: 2
Cognitive function includes orientation to time, place, and person and the ability to recall recent and past events. Assessing the patient's ability to smell items placed under the nose while the eyes are closed is the method used to test cranial nerve I, the olfactory nerve. Level of consciousness and gait are not reflective of cognitive function.
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