A nurse is caring for a client who has tuberculosis. The nurse should anticipate which isolation precautions for the client?

The correct answer is b. “We can discuss several scheduling options for monitoring your blood glucose.”

Choice A Reason

“You should be fine as long as you check your blood glucose before eating.” This response is not ideal because it oversimplifies the complexity of managing insulin-dependent diabetes. Blood glucose monitoring should be done at various times throughout the day, including before meals, after meals, and possibly before bedtime, to ensure proper management and avoid complications. Limiting checks to just before meals may not provide a comprehensive picture of the client’s glucose levels.

Choice B Reason

“We can discuss several scheduling options for monitoring your blood glucose.” This response is the most appropriate as it acknowledges the client’s concern and offers a collaborative approach to finding a solution. It allows the nurse to tailor the blood glucose monitoring schedule to fit the client’s busy lifestyle, ensuring better adherence and management of diabetes. This approach also empowers the client by involving them in their care plan.

Choice C Reason

“You should reorganize your schedule around your blood glucose monitoring.” While it is important for the client to prioritize their health, this response may come across as dismissive of the client’s busy schedule. It does not offer practical solutions or flexibility, which are crucial for long-term adherence to diabetes management. A more supportive and collaborative approach would be more effective.

Choice D Reason

“Your provider will set up a schedule for when you should monitor your blood glucose.” This response places the responsibility solely on the healthcare provider and does not address the client’s immediate concern about fitting blood glucose monitoring into their busy schedule. While the provider’s input is important, the nurse should also offer immediate support and practical solutions. Collaborative planning is key to effective diabetes management.

Choice A reason:

Observing the contours of the client’s abdomen using a penlight is the first step in the abdominal assessment. This step involves inspecting the shape, skin abnormalities, masses, and movement of the abdomen. It is essential to perform this step first to gather initial visual information about the abdomen’s condition before proceeding to other assessment techniques.

Choice B reason:

Determining the presence of bowel sounds by using the diaphragm of the stethoscope is the second step in the abdominal assessment. Auscultation should be performed before percussion and palpation to avoid altering the frequency and intensity of bowel sounds. This step helps assess the presence, frequency, and location of bowel sounds, as well as any vascular sounds.

Choice C reason:

Systematically percussing the client’s abdomen is the third step in the abdominal assessment. Percussion helps assess the presence of tympany or dullness, which can indicate the presence of air, fluid, or solid masses in the abdomen. This step provides valuable information about the underlying structures and any abnormalities.

Choice D reason:

Using fingertips to lightly depress the right lower quadrant of the client’s abdomen is the fourth step in the abdominal assessment. Light palpation helps assess the consistency, tenderness, and presence of any masses or rigidity in the abdomen. This step should be performed after percussion to avoid altering the findings.

Choice E reason:

Pressing deeply into the client’s upper abdomen left of midline to detect aortic pulsation is the fifth and final step in the abdominal assessment. Deep palpation helps assess the presence of any deep-seated masses and the aortic pulsation, which can provide information about the vascular status of the abdomen.