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.

Answer and Explanation

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.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A) Neurological status intact: While the findings suggest that the client's neurological status is intact, this description does not specifically address the pupillary assessment.

B) Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 15: The Glasgow Coma Scale evaluates a client's level of consciousness based on eye, verbal, and motor responses. While the findings may contribute to an overall assessment of neurological function, they specifically pertain to pupillary assessment.

C) Pupils equal, round, reacts to light, and accommodation (PERLA): This description includes accommodation, which is the ability of the pupils to constrict when focusing on a near object. The assessment provided in the scenario does not mention accommodation testing, so including it in the documentation would be inaccurate.

D) Pupils equal, round, reacts to light (PERRL): This notation accurately summarizes the findings of the pupillary assessment. It indicates that both pupils are equal in size, round in shape, and react briskly to light, which is a normal finding. This documentation is concise and specific to the pupillary examination without including additional findings not assessed in the scenario.

A. Presents with a hacking nonproductive cough of 6 weeks duration. B. Expresses concern of "lung cancer" symptoms for last 6 weeks. C. An adult male presents with fears that he has "lung cancer." D. Describes having a "body wracking dry cough" of 6 weeks duration.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A) Presents with a hacking nonproductive cough of 6 weeks duration:
This documentation accurately describes the client's symptom of a cough but does not capture the client's expressed concern about the possibility of lung cancer. It is important to document the client's specific concerns and fears.

B) Expresses concern of "lung cancer" symptoms for last 6 weeks:
While this option captures the client's concern about lung cancer, it does not specifically describe the client's symptom of a dry cough. Effective documentation should include both the client's expressed concerns and the associated symptoms.

C) An adult male presents with fears that he has "lung cancer":
This option captures the client's fear of having lung cancer but does not describe the specific symptom of a dry cough that the client is experiencing. Including the specific symptom in the documentation is important for comprehensive assessment and evaluation.

D) Describes having a "body wracking dry cough" of 6 weeks duration:
This option effectively documents both the client's specific symptom (dry cough) and the duration of the symptom (6 weeks), which aligns with the client's expressed concerns. It accurately reflects the client's statement and provides valuable information for the healthcare provider's assessment and management.

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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?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

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