A nurse is assessing a client for tactile fremitus. The nurse should recognize that it is normal to feel tactile fremitus most intensely over which location?

A) II:
This is the correct answer. The optic nerve (cranial nerve II) is responsible for visual acuity, as it transmits visual information from the retina to the brain. When assessing visual acuity, the nurse is evaluating the function of the optic nerve, which is responsible for the sense of vision. Therefore, cranial nerve II should be assessed during a visual acuity exam.

B) I:
This is incorrect. The olfactory nerve (cranial nerve I) is responsible for the sense of smell, not vision. Visual acuity is not related to the olfactory nerve, so it is not involved in this type of assessment.

C) VI:
This is incorrect. The abducens nerve (cranial nerve VI) controls the lateral rectus muscle of the eye, which is responsible for outward eye movement. While cranial nerve VI plays a role in eye movement, it is not directly involved in measuring visual acuity, which pertains to the function of the optic nerve.

D) IV:
This is incorrect. The trochlear nerve (cranial nerve IV) controls the superior oblique muscle, which helps with eye movement, specifically downward and inward eye movements. This nerve is not involved in measuring visual acuity.

A) Palpate the chest symmetrically:
Palpating the chest symmetrically is crucial when assessing tactile fremitus, as it allows the nurse to compare the intensity of vibrations felt on both sides of the chest. Tactile fremitus refers to the palpable vibrations transmitted through the bronchopulmonary system when a person speaks or breathes. Symmetrical palpation ensures that the nurse can detect any differences in fremitus, which may indicate abnormalities such as lung consolidation (e.g., pneumonia), pleural effusion, or pneumothorax. Uneven fremitus can suggest a pathological condition, and symmetrical palpation helps identify these variations.

B) Ask the client to cough:
Asking the client to cough is not directly related to the assessment of tactile fremitus. Coughing may be used in other aspects of the respiratory assessment (e.g., to clear secretions or to assess for a productive cough), but it is not necessary for palpating fremitus. Tactile fremitus is assessed while the client is speaking (e.g., repeating the phrase "ninety-nine") or breathing, not coughing.

C) Use the bell of the stethoscope:
The bell of the stethoscope is used for auscultating low-pitched sounds, such as heart murmurs or some lung sounds (e.g., certain adventitious sounds like crackles or wheezes). However, it is not used for palpating tactile fremitus, which is a physical exam technique that involves using the hands to feel for vibrations. Fremitus is a tactile (not auscultatory) finding, so the stethoscope, whether bell or diaphragm, is not relevant in this assessment.

D) Instruct the client to breathe deeply:
While it is important for the client to breathe deeply during a lung exam, deep breathing is not directly required for assessing tactile fremitus. Tactile fremitus is typically assessed while the client is speaking. When the client repeats a phrase like "ninety-nine," vibrations are transmitted through the chest wall, and the nurse can assess the intensity of the vibrations. Deep breathing would be more relevant for assessing breath sounds or the general respiratory effort.