The nurse is using the finger pads of the hand to palpate a body part. Which finding would the nurse be best able to detect?

Choice A Reason:
Palpitations are typically associated with hyperthyroidism, not hypothyroidism. They occur due to an excess of thyroid hormones, which can overstimulate the heart, leading to increased heart rate and palpitations. In hypothyroidism, the heart rate is usually slower, and palpitations are less common.

Choice B Reason:
Diaphoresis, or excessive sweating, is also more commonly associated with hyperthyroidism. In hypothyroidism, the metabolism is slowed down, which reduces the tendency for increased sweating. Patients with hypothyroidism may actually have less sweating than normal.

Choice C Reason:
Weight gain is a common symptom of hypothyroidism. Due to the decreased metabolic rate caused by low levels of thyroid hormones, the body burns fewer calories, which can lead to weight gain. This is one of the hallmark signs of hypothyroidism and is often one of the first symptoms patients notice.

Choice D Reason:
Exophthalmos, the protrusion of the eyes, is a symptom associated with Graves' disease, a form of hyperthyroidism. It is not a symptom of hypothyroidism. In hypothyroidism, any eye changes are usually related to puffiness or edema around the eyes, not the bulging of the eyes themselves.

The correct answer is d) Stage II.
Choice a reason:
Stage IV pressure ulcers are the most severe, with full-thickness skin loss and exposed bone, tendon, or muscle. Signs of stage IV include large-scale tissue loss, possibly including slough or eschar, and may include undermining and tunneling. The scenario described does not indicate such an advanced stage, as there is no mention of exposed deeper tissues or structures.
Choice b reason:
Stage III pressure ulcers involve full-thickness skin loss, potentially affecting subcutaneous tissue but not extending to underlying muscle or bone. The wound may have a crater-like appearance. The described condition does not match stage III, as there is no indication of the ulcer extending into subcutaneous tissue.
Choice c reason:
Stage I pressure ulcers present with intact skin and non-blanchable redness of a localized area usually over a bony prominence. The skin may be painful, firm, soft, warmer, or cooler compared to adjacent tissue. In the given scenario, the skin is not intact, ruling out stage I.
Choice d reason:
Stage II pressure ulcers are characterized by partial-thickness loss of dermis presenting as a shallow open ulcer with a red-pink wound bed, without slough. They may also present as intact or ruptured blisters. The description of the skin condition with erythema, serosanguineous drainage, and a blister-like appearance aligns with a stage II pressure ulcer.