A nurse is preparing to assess fetal heart tones for a client who is at 12 weeks of gestation.

Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

The correct answer is choice D. Speak directly to the client. This is because the nurse should establish eye contact and rapport with the client, not the interpreter, and show respect for the client’s culture and autonomy. The nurse should also use simple and clear language, avoid jargon and slang, and speak in short sentences.

Choice A is wrong because using gestures to convey meaning can be confusing or offensive to some cultures. The nurse should avoid relying on nonverbal communication and ask the interpreter for clarification if needed.

Choice B is wrong because pausing in the middle of sentences can disrupt the flow of communication and make it harder for the interpreter to translate accurately. The nurse should pause at the end of each complete thought or sentence to allow the interpreter to relay the information.

Choice C is wrong because speaking slowly when talking to the interpreter can imply that the interpreter is incompetent or unintelligent. The nurse should speak at a normal pace and tone, and allow enough time for the interpreter to translate.

The correct answer is choice D. Shuffling gait. This is because shuffling gait is a common manifestation of pseudoparkinsonism, which is a condition that mimics the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease due to the use of certain medications that block dopamine receptors, such as haloperidol. Pseudoparkinsonism can cause slowed movements, muscle stiffness, tremor, and postural instability.

Choice A. Nonreactive pupils is wrong because this is not a typical feature of pseudoparkinsonism or Parkinson’s disease.

Nonreactive pupils can be caused by other conditions, such as brain injury, drugs, or eye diseases.

Choice B. Serpentine limb movement is wrong because this is a characteristic of tardive dyskinesia, another drug-induced movement disorder that can result from long-term use of dopamine receptor blocking agents. Tardive dyskinesia causes involuntary movements of the face, tongue, and limbs that are often writhing or twisting.

Choice C. Smacking lips is wrong because this is also a sign of tardive dyskinesia, not pseudoparkinsonism. Smacking lips is one of the orofacial movements that can occur in tardive dyskinesia due to abnormal muscle contractions.