Ace the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Challenge 2025 – Energize Your Nursing Future!

The correct answer identifies a specific clinical finding associated with Bell's sign, which is a crucial aspect in assessing facial nerve function. Bell's sign refers to the phenomenon where, when a patient is asked to close their eyes, the eye on the affected side does not close fully. Instead, there is an upward and inward rolling of the eyeball, known as "scleral show," as the patient attempts to close their eye.

This sign suggests involvement of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII), particularly in conditions such as Bell's palsy. In Bell's palsy, the nerve may become inflamed, leading to weakness or paralysis in the facial muscles on one side of the face. This abnormal movement during eye closure indicates that the facial nerve is not functioning correctly, resulting in the characteristic eye position.

An understanding of Bell's sign helps clinicians determine the presence and extent of facial nerve dysfunction and aids in guiding further diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.