Question

Which action does the nurse implement when conducting the voice test to asses a patient's

hearing?
A. Hands headphones to the patient
B. Stands 1 to 2 feet away from the patient
C. Asks the patient to verify if a tick is heard
D. Holds a watch 5 in. from the patient's ear

Answer 1

The nurse stands 1 to 2 feet away from the patient and whispers a sequence of numbers or letters for the patient to repeat, thereby assessing their hearing ability.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse typically conducts a voice test to assess a patient's hearing by speaking in a normal conversational tone from a specific distance. Among the options provided: B. Stands 1 to 2 feet away from the patient. This option is correct because maintaining a distance of 1 to 2 feet allows the nurse to communicate with the patient at a normal speaking volume, simulating a real-life conversational situation. This method helps evaluate the patient's ability to hear and understand spoken words without the use of additional devices. The other options, such as handing headphones to the patient, asking about a tick sound, or holding a watch close to the ear, do not align with standard voice testing practices for assessing hearing ability.