To assess cranial nerve I function, which item might the nurse use for testing?

Cranial nerve I, also known as the olfactory nerve, is responsible for the sense of smell. To effectively test its function, the nurse would typically use an item that has a strong, recognizable scent. In this case, coffee is an excellent choice because it has a potent aroma that most individuals can easily identify. This makes it suitable for determining whether the olfactory nerve is functioning properly.

Additionally, while options like vanilla, lavender, and mint also have distinctive scents that could theoretically be used for testing the sense of smell, they are not as universally identifiable or strong as coffee. This makes coffee particularly effective for reliably assessing olfactory function. By utilizing an item that has a strong and familiar smell, the nurse can better evaluate whether the patient can detect and identify odors, which is critical for proper assessment of cranial nerve I.