-Ask the patient to stand with feet together and then close his or her eyes.
-Ask the patient the position of the big toe after moving it up and down with the patient's eyes closed.
Proprioception is the individual's ability to perceive the position of a body part with his or her eyes closed. The individual should be able to replicate the position of the body part accurately with the opposite extremity or describe the position verbally. A Romberg test is the test for proprioception. The patient is asked to stand with the feet together and then close his or her eyes. If the patient is able to maintain balance with the eyes open but sways or falls with the eyes closed (i.e., a positive Romberg test), vestibulocochlear dysfunction or disease in the posterior columns of the spinal cord may be indicated.
Test-Taking Tip: Key words or phrases in the stem of the question such as first, primary, early, or best are important. Similarly, words such as only, always, never, and all in the alternatives are frequently evidence of a wrong response. As in life, no real absolutes exist in nursing; however, every rule has its exceptions, so answer with care.
-Ask the patient to stand with feet together and then close his or her eyes
-Ask the patient the position of the big toe after moving it up and down with the patient's eyes closed
Proprioception is the individual's ability to perceive the position of a body part with his or her eyes closed. The individual should be able to replicate the position of the body part accurately with the opposite extremity or describe the position verbally. A Romberg test is the test for proprioception. The patient is asked to stand with the feet together and then close his or her eyes. If the patient is able to maintain balance with the eyes open but sways or falls with the eyes closed (i.e., a positive Romberg test), vestibulocochlear dysfunction or disease in the posterior columns of the spinal cord may be indicated.
Test-Taking Tip: Key words or phrases in the stem of the question such as first, primary, early, or best are important. Similarly, words such as only, always, never, and all in the alternatives are frequently evidence of a wrong response. As in life, no real absolutes exist in nursing; however, every rule has its exceptions, so answer with care.