While interviewing a newly admitted older female client, the nurse observes that the client ignores questions asked by the nurse, and speaks loudly to her son who brought her to the hospital. Which action should the nurse implement first?
Stand directly in front of the client and ask about any hearing loss
Perform a mental status exam to assess the client's thought processes.
Begin to orient the client to her surroundings in the hospital room
Obtain a tuning fork to complete Rinne and Weber tuning fork tests.
The Correct Answer is A
A) Stand directly in front of the client and ask about any hearing loss:
The client's behavior of ignoring questions and speaking loudly to her son may suggest a hearing impairment. By standing directly in front of the client and asking about any hearing loss, the nurse can assess whether hearing impairment might be contributing to the communication difficulties. This action addresses a potential physiological cause of the observed behavior and allows the nurse to gather essential information to adapt communication strategies effectively.
B) Perform a mental status exam to assess the client's thought processes:
While assessing the client's mental status is important, the observed behavior may be more indicative of a communication issue related to hearing loss rather than a cognitive impairment. Therefore, assessing hearing status would be more appropriate as the initial action.
C) Begin to orient the client to her surroundings in the hospital room:
Orienting the client to her surroundings is important for promoting comfort and reducing confusion, but it may not directly address the observed communication difficulties. Assessing for hearing loss should be prioritized to determine if it contributes to the client's behavior.
D) Obtain a tuning fork to complete Rinne and Weber tuning fork tests:
Conducting Rinne and Weber tuning fork tests may be indicated to assess hearing acuity and differentiate between conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. However, obtaining a tuning fork and performing these tests should occur after gathering initial information about the client's hearing status through direct questioning. Therefore, assessing for hearing loss should be the first action taken by the nurse.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A) Sharp, severe pain:
Percussion of the costovertebral angle (CVA) elicits sharp, severe pain in a client with pyelonephritis. This response indicates inflammation of the kidney and surrounding tissues, which is typical in pyelonephritis.
B) Audible thud without pain:
An audible thud without pain is a normal finding when percussing the CVA and would not be expected in a client with pyelonephritis.
C) Rigidity and firmness:
Rigidity and firmness may be related to muscle guarding or abdominal assessment findings, but they are not specific to CVA percussion and pyelonephritis.
D) Rebound tenderness:
Rebound tenderness is a sign of peritoneal irritation and is assessed by pressing on the abdomen and quickly releasing. It is not the typical finding associated with CVA percussion in pyelonephritis.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Give the client 8 ounces (236.5 mL) of water to drink:
While encouraging hydration is important for overall urinary function, providing water to drink may not immediately address the client's current situation of difficulty providing a urine sample. It's essential to first determine if bladder distention is contributing to the client's symptoms.
B. Evaluate the client for bladder distention:
Given the client's symptoms of lower abdominal discomfort and difficulty providing a urine sample despite feeling the urge to urinate, bladder distention should be assessed. Bladder distention could indicate urinary retention, which may require intervention to relieve the discomfort and prevent complications such as urinary tract infection or bladder rupture.
C. Instruct the client to attempt to urinate again:
While encouraging the client to attempt to urinate again may be appropriate, it's essential to first assess for bladder distention to determine if there is an underlying issue contributing to the client's difficulty in providing a urine sample.
D. Send the sample for laboratory evaluation:
Sending the urine sample for laboratory evaluation is important for diagnostic purposes, but in this case, it's more important to address the immediate concern of the client's difficulty in providing an adequate sample. Evaluating for bladder distention would help guide further assessment and management.
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