When conducting a physical examination of a client with generalized muscle weakness, which of the following is the PRIORITY for the nurse?

Choice A reason:
Discussing reactions to allergens typically focuses on environmental or food triggers that may cause allergic reactions. While it's important to understand a client's allergies, this topic is not closely related to alcohol use, which has different implications for health and lifestyle choices.
Choice B reason:
Asking about alcohol use naturally follows the discussion about cigarette smoking because both involve substance use and have potential health risks. It allows the nurse to transition smoothly from one lifestyle factor to another, which can impact the client's overall health. This approach also helps in creating a comprehensive picture of the client's habits that may contribute to or affect their current health status.
Choice C reason:
Reviewing current medications is an essential part of the health history, as it can reveal potential interactions with alcohol. However, it might be more appropriate to ask about alcohol use after discussing other lifestyle habits such as smoking, as they are more directly related. Once the client's substance use habits are established, the nurse can then discuss how these might interact with prescribed medications.
Choice D reason:
Asking about previous surgeries is important for understanding a client's medical history, but it is not directly related to the client's current lifestyle habits like alcohol use. Therefore, it would be more natural to ask about alcohol use in the context of other substance use discussions rather than after surgical history.

Choice a reason:
A penlight is used to provide illumination during an examination, not to move the tongue. It helps the nurse to visualize the mouth floor and other areas by casting light, but it does not have the physical structure to manipulate the tongue.

Choice b reason:
Gloves are worn by healthcare professionals to maintain hygiene and protect both the patient and the nurse from the transmission of infectious agents. They are not used to move the tongue to one side during an examination.

Choice c reason:
A gauze pad is the correct tool to use when the nurse needs to move the tongue to one side during an examination of the mouth floor. The nurse can wrap the gauze pad around the tongue for a better grip, which allows for safe and effective retraction of the tongue without causing discomfort to the patient.

Choice d reason:
A tongue blade, also known as a tongue depressor, is typically used to depress the tongue to examine the back of the throat, not to move the tongue to one side. It is used to hold the tongue down so that the nurse can inspect the oropharynx and other structures.