The primary nurse asks another nurse to assist in checking a client for an apical-radial pulse deficit. One nurse counts an apical pulse of 72 beats/minute while the other nurse counts a radial pulse of 88 beats/minute. Which action should the primary nurse take?
Check the reading after the other nurse leaves the room.
Document a pulse deficit of 16 beats per minute.
Report the results of the deficit to the healthcare provider.
Repeat the assessment to obtain another reading.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A Reason:
Checking the reading after the other nurse leaves the room is inappropriate. This option suggests waiting until the other nurse leaves to check the reading again. However, there's no guarantee that the discrepancy will resolve itself, and waiting might delay necessary intervention if there is indeed a pulse deficit. Therefore, this option does not address the immediate need for clarification.
Choice B Reason:
Documenting a pulse deficit of 16 beats per minute is inappropriate. While there appears to be a difference between the apical and radial pulse readings, it's important to verify the accuracy of the measurements before documenting a pulse deficit. Documenting without confirmation could lead to inaccurate information in the patient's medical record.
Choice C Reason:
Reporting the results to the healthcare provider without confirming the accuracy of the measurements may lead to unnecessary concern or intervention. It's essential to ensure that the findings are accurate before reporting them to the healthcare provider.
Choice D Reason:
Repeating the assessment to obtain another reading is appropriate. This option prioritizes patient safety by acknowledging the need to confirm the accuracy of the measurements. Repeating the assessment allows the nurses to ensure consistency and reliability in their findings before taking further action or reporting to the healthcare provider.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Appears confused and depressed is incorrect. This option includes subjective interpretations ("confused" and "depressed") that may not accurately reflect the observed behavior. It's important to avoid subjective assessments and stick to objective descriptions of the client's behavior and mental status.
Choice B Reason:
Demonstrates signs of early dementia is incorrect. This option jumps to a diagnostic label ("early dementia") based on the observed behavior, which is not appropriate without further assessment and evaluation by a healthcare provider specializing in geriatric care or neurology. It's crucial to avoid diagnosing conditions based solely on observations without proper evaluation.
Choice C Reason:
While the client is ambulatory, the term "disoriented to place" is an assumption that has not been explicitly confirmed through an assessment. The documentation should be based on observable facts rather than assumptions.
Choice D Reason:
This statement is accurate, objective, and based on observable behaviors. "Wandering behavior" describes the client's aimless walking, and "flat affect" refers to the blank expression. This documentation does not make assumptions about the client's mental state beyond what is directly observable.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Observing pupil size when focusing on a near object and then a far object is correct. This choice is correct because it directly assesses the pupillary reaction to accommodation, which refers to the changes in pupil size that occur when the eyes shift focus between near and far objects. Observing the pupils while the client focuses on a near object and then a far object allows the nurse to assess how the pupils constrict (become smaller) or dilate (become larger) in response to changes in focus, providing valuable information about the client's accommodation reflex.
Choice B Reason:
Comparing the shape of each of the pupils bilaterally with normal room light is incorrect. While comparing the shape of each pupil bilaterally with normal room light is a valid assessment technique for evaluating pupillary size and symmetry, it does not specifically assess the pupillary reaction to accommodation. Therefore, this choice is not as directly relevant to assessing accommodation reflex as choice A.
Choice C Reason:
Noting the speed of pupil constriction when a penlight is shined into the eye is incorrect. This choice refers to assessing the pupillary light reflex, which involves observing the speed and extent of pupil constriction in response to a bright light stimulus. While this assessment is important for evaluating the pupillary response to light, it does not specifically assess accommodation, which involves changes in pupil size in response to changes in focus between near and far objects. Therefore, this choice is not directly relevant to assessing accommodation reflex.
Choice D Reason:
Determining if dilation of the pupils occurs when the room is darkened is incorrect. This choice involves assessing the pupillary response to changes in ambient light levels, which is known as the pupillary light reflex. While assessing pupil dilation in response to darkness is important for evaluating the pupillary response to changes in light, it does not specifically assess accommodation reflex. Therefore, this choice is not directly relevant to assessing accommodation reflex.
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