Final answer:
The nurse should assess for impaired proprioception in a client who had a stroke in the right cerebral hemisphere, as the right side of the brain is associated with spatial awareness and body position.
Step-by-step explanation:
A stroke in the right cerebral hemisphere typically affects functions that are not primarily language-related, as language centers like Broca's and Wernicke's areas are typically located in the left hemisphere in most people. Hence, impaired proprioception is the neurologic deficit the nurse should assess for, given that the right hemisphere is more involved in spatial awareness and body position. Aphasia and agraphia are associated with the left hemisphere, while impaired olfaction is not typically lateralized to one hemisphere and more related to the olfactory bulb and tract.
A nurse assessing a client after a stroke will consider the affected region of the brain and corresponding lost functions. This systematic approach is crucial as it guides targeted management and rehabilitation strategies depending on the deficits. Proprioception impairment can manifest as difficulty perceiving the position of one's body in space or in coordinating movements, which would relate to damage in specific areas of the right hemisphere.