A nurse is performing an abdominal assessment as part of a client’s comprehensive physical examination. Which of the following is the final step the nurse should perform?
Percussion
Auscultation
Palpation
Inspection
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A reason: Percussion precedes palpation to assess abdominal resonance and organ size without altering bowel motility. Performing it last risks inaccurate findings, as palpation may stimulate peristalsis, changing resonance patterns. This sequence ensures reliable detection of abnormalities like organomegaly or fluid accumulation in the abdomen.
Choice B reason: Auscultation is done before palpation to capture natural bowel sounds. Manipulation during palpation can alter peristalsis, affecting auscultatory findings. Early auscultation ensures accurate detection of hypoactive or hyperactive bowel sounds, critical for diagnosing conditions like ileus or obstruction in abdominal assessments.
Choice C reason: Palpation is the final step, following inspection, auscultation, and percussion, to assess for tenderness or masses. This sequence prevents manipulation from altering earlier findings, ensuring accurate identification of abdominal abnormalities like peritonitis or organ enlargement, critical for a comprehensive physical examination.
Choice D reason: Inspection is the first step, providing a visual baseline of abdominal appearance, such as distension or scars. Performing it last misses initial cues guiding subsequent steps. Early inspection ensures no manipulation affects visual assessment, vital for identifying external signs of underlying abdominal pathology.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Multiple facial lacerations, if not affecting airway or causing severe bleeding, are minor injuries in triage (green tag). These clients can wait for treatment without immediate risk, aligning with disaster triage principles, making this the correct classification.
Choice B reason: A puncture wound to the lung is life-threatening, potentially causing pneumothorax or hemothorax, requiring urgent intervention (red tag). This is not a minor injury, so it does not qualify for a green tag, making it incorrect.
Choice C reason: Full-thickness burns over the lower extremities are severe, requiring immediate fluid resuscitation and specialized care (red or yellow tag). These are not minor injuries, so this client does not fit green tag criteria, making it incorrect.
Choice D reason: An open compound fracture of the humerus is a significant injury with risks of infection and bleeding, requiring prompt surgical intervention (yellow or red tag). It is not minor, so it does not qualify for a green tag, making it incorrect.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Administering atomoxetine, used for ADHD, is inappropriate for panic attacks, which require short-acting anxiolytics like benzodiazepines if medicated. This medication does not address acute anxiety and may worsen symptoms, making it incorrect and potentially harmful.
Choice B reason: Encouraging television watching may distract but does not address the acute distress of a panic attack. It lacks the calming, supportive presence needed to reduce anxiety, making it less effective and inappropriate compared to direct emotional support.
Choice C reason: Sitting with the client provides a calming presence, reducing fear and enhancing security during a panic attack. This therapeutic intervention supports emotional regulation and aligns with evidence-based anxiety management, making it the correct and most effective action.
Choice D reason: Instructing strenuous exercise during a panic attack can exacerbate symptoms like tachycardia and breathlessness, worsening anxiety. Calming techniques like deep breathing are preferred, so this action is counterproductive and potentially harmful, making it incorrect.
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