A 45-year-old African-American client comes to the clinic complaining of fatigue, thirst, and frequent urination. During the physical exam, the nurse notices areas of linear hyperpigmentation around the neck and in the axillae (Acanthosis Nigricans). What would the nurse do next?
Refer the client for medical follow-up.
Ask the client about a family history of cancer.
Document the benign findings.
Perform a random blood sugar test.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice a reason :
Referring the client for medical follow-up is the most appropriate action. Acanthosis Nigricans is often associated with insulin resistance and is a risk factor for diabetes mellitus. The client's symptoms of fatigue, thirst, and frequent urination are classic signs of diabetes. Therefore, a comprehensive medical evaluation is necessary to rule out diabetes or other underlying conditions that could be causing these symptoms.
Choice b reason
While Acanthosis Nigricans can sometimes be associated with malignancy, it is more commonly linked to insulin resistance and diabetes. The client's presenting symptoms are not typical of cancer but are indicative of diabetes. Therefore, while a family history of cancer is relevant to the client's overall health, it is not the immediate concern based on the current presentation.
Choice c reason
Documenting findings is an essential part of the nursing process; however, the presence of Acanthosis Nigricans, especially when coupled with symptoms of fatigue, thirst, and frequent urination, should not be considered benign without further investigation. These findings warrant further assessment to determine the underlying cause.
Choice d reason
Performing a random blood sugar test could be a part of the initial assessment; however, it should not replace a referral for a comprehensive medical evaluation. A random blood sugar test alone may not be sufficient to diagnose diabetes or determine the cause of the client's symptoms. A full medical follow-up will likely include blood sugar testing along with other diagnostic tests.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice a reason:
Pigeon Chest, or pectus carinatum, is a condition where the breastbone is pushed outward, and the chest appears to protrude. It is not typically associated with a barrel-shaped chest, which is characterized by a rounded and bulging appearance.
Choice b reason:
Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, which may fill with fluid or pus. While it can cause chest expansion, it does not lead to a barrel-shaped chest. The barrel-shaped chest is more indicative of a chronic condition rather than an acute infection like pneumonia.
Choice c reason:
Funnel Chest, or pectus excavatum, is a condition where the breastbone is sunken into the chest. Unlike a barrel-shaped chest, funnel chest gives the chest a depressed appearance.
Choice d reason:
COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is commonly associated with a barrel-shaped chest. This shape results from the chronic hyperinflation of the lungs due to obstructive lung disease, which causes the rib cage to remain expanded.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice a reason:
Resonance is the expected percussion note when percussing over normal, healthy lung tissue. This sound is produced due to the presence of air in the lung parenchyma, which allows for the transmission of sound waves through the air-filled spaces. In a healthy individual, the resonance indicates that the lungs are free from any significant abnormalities that could alter the sound, such as fluid or solid masses.
Choice b reason:
Tympanic notes are typically heard over hollow, air-containing structures like the stomach. This sound is not expected in lung percussion unless there is a large, air-filled cavity within the lung tissue, which would be abnormal and indicative of a pathological condition such as a pneumothorax.
Choice c reason:
A flat percussion note is usually heard over dense tissues where air is not present, such as over the thigh muscles or areas of the chest where lung tissue has been replaced by something more solid, like in the case of a pleural effusion or a lung mass.
Choice d reason:
Dullness on percussion usually indicates that the lung is not air-filled and may be suggestive of underlying conditions such as pneumonia, tumor, or atelectasis. It is a higher-pitched sound compared to flatness and is typically found in areas of the lung that are filled with fluid or solid tissue rather than air.
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