Choose the action the nurse should take to elicit the oculocephalic response in a motor vehicle accident victim who is unconscious.
A)Use a wisp of cotton to stimulate the cornea.
B)Hold the eyelids open while turning the client's head.
C)Squirt ice water into the client's ear canal.
D)Hold both eyelids open and shine a bright light into the eyes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The oculocephalic reflex, also known as the doll's eye reflex, is tested by holding the patient's eyelids open and quickly turning the head from side to side. This action checks for the presence of brainstem function by observing the eyes' movement in the opposite direction of the head turn. Options A, C, and D describe other neurological tests (corneal reflex, caloric reflex test, and pupillary light reflex, respectively), not the oculocephalic reflex.

Choose the Action the Nurse Should Take to Elicit the Oculocephalic