What tool does a nurse typically use to assess the acoustic nerve?

A tuning fork is the appropriate tool a nurse uses to assess the acoustic nerve, also known as cranial nerve VIII, which is responsible for hearing and balance. The tuning fork test determines a patient's ability to hear by evaluating both air conduction and bone conduction of sound.

During the assessment, the nurse can perform tests such as the Rinne test and the Weber test. In the Rinne test, the tuning fork is struck and placed on the mastoid process (bone conduction) and then held in front of the ear (air conduction) to compare how long the sound is heard by both methods. The Weber test involves placing the tuning fork on the center of the forehead to determine if sound lateralizes to one ear, which can indicate conductive or sensorineural hearing loss.

Other tools mentioned have different functions: an otoscope is primarily used for examining the ear canal and tympanic membrane, a stethoscope is used for auscultation of internal sounds (like heart and lung sounds), and a reflex hammer is utilized for testing deep tendon reflexes. These tools do not assess hearing or the function of the acoustic nerve directly.