The nurse working in the eye doctor's office is completing an assessment on an elderly client. Which of the following would a nurse expect to assess in a client with esotropia?

Choice A Reason:
Assessing vital signs is crucial for evaluating the client's responses to treatment. Changes in vital signs can indicate whether the body is responding positively or negatively to a treatment, allowing healthcare providers to adjust care plans accordingly. For example, a decrease in fever after administering antipyretics would suggest the treatment is effective.

Choice B Reason:
While carrying out orders from the healthcare provider is a responsibility of the nurse, it is not the primary reason for assessing vital signs. Vital signs are assessed to inform clinical decisions, not solely to fulfill orders. Therefore, this choice is not correct in the context of the importance of vital sign assessment.

Choice C Reason:
Monitoring risks for alterations in health is another key reason for assessing vital signs. Vital signs can serve as early indicators of health issues, such as the onset of an infection indicated by a rising temperature or cardiovascular problems suggested by changes in blood pressure or heart rate.

Choice D Reason:
Establishing a baseline is essential when assessing vital signs. It provides a reference point for future comparisons, which is important for detecting any deviations from the client's normal range. This helps in identifying potential health issues early and monitoring the progression of known conditions.

Choice A reason:
Peripheral vision is the ability to see objects and movement outside of the direct line of vision. This type of vision is assessed using different methods, such as confrontation visual field testing, where the examiner moves objects into the patient's side vision from different angles. Standing 20 feet away from a chart would not be the appropriate method to assess peripheral vision.
Choice B reason:
The assessment of external eye structures involves examining the physical appearance and condition of the eyelids, sclera, conjunctiva, and surrounding areas. This is typically done at a close range and does not require the patient to stand at a distance from a chart. The nurse would inspect these structures directly, often with the aid of a penlight for better visibility.

Choice C reason:
Distant vision is the ability to see objects far away, and it is what the nurse is preparing to assess when the client is asked to stand 20 feet from a chart. This distance is standard for the Snellen eye chart, which is used to measure visual acuity. The chart has rows of letters that decrease in size, and the patient is asked to read the smallest line of letters they can see clearly. The Snellen chart is the most common method used by eye doctors to measure visual acuity.
Choice D reason:
Near vision is the ability to see objects that are close to the eyes clearly. It is assessed using different charts, such as the Jaeger eye chart, which contains blocks of text in various type sizes. The patient is asked to read the text at a close range, typically around 14 inches, not 20 feet. Therefore, standing 20 feet away from a chart would not be the method to assess near vision.