A nurse is planning to collect data about the abdomen of a client who reports "stomach pain". Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Percuss

Auscultate.

Palpate.

Inspect

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

A. Percuss:
Percussion involves tapping the abdomen with the fingers to assess for areas of dullness or resonance. Dullness might indicate organ enlargement or mass, while resonance is the typical sound over air-filled structures. This step helps identify the borders and size of organs.

B. Auscultate:
Auscultation involves listening to the abdomen using a stethoscope. The nurse listens for bowel sounds, which are the noises made by the movement of the intestines. Absence or abnormal bowel sounds can indicate intestinal obstruction or other gastrointestinal issues.

C. Palpate:
Palpation involves gently pressing the abdomen to assess for tenderness, masses, or areas of discomfort. This step helps identify areas of pain or tenderness, guarding, or rigidity, which might indicate inflammation, infection, or other abdominal issues.

D. Inspect:
Inspection involves visually assessing the abdomen for any visible abnormalities such as scars, distention, pulsations, or visible masses. It's the first step in the abdominal assessment process as it provides initial information about the overall condition of the abdomen before physical contact.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Bradycardia
Bradycardia is not a direct symptom of gastrointestinal perforation. When a perforation occurs, the body's response is often to increase the heart rate (tachycardia) due to the stress and shock.

B. Report of epigastric fullness
Epigastric fullness might be a symptom of peptic ulcer disease but is not specific to gastrointestinal perforation.

C. Severe upper abdominal pain
Correct choice. Severe upper abdominal pain, particularly sudden and intense pain, can be indicative of gastrointestinal perforation. This is a medical emergency and requires immediate attention.

D. Hyperactive bowel sounds
Gastrointestinal perforation can lead to absent or hypoactive bowel sounds due to inflammation and irritation of the abdominal cavity, not hyperactive bowel sounds.

A. Check the client for a positive Chvostek’s sign B. Discontinue the TPN infusion. C. Request a potassium replace D. Administer glucagon IM

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. Check the client for a positive Chvostek’s sign:
Chvostek's sign is a clinical sign of hypocalcemia, not related to the given laboratory values. The symptoms include facial muscle twitching when the facial nerve (VII) is tapped. There's no indication for this assessment based on the provided information.

B. Discontinue the TPN infusion:
The glucose level is within the normal range (70-99 mg/dL). Discontinuing TPN based solely on this glucose level is not warranted.

C. Request a potassium replacement:
The potassium level is low (normal range typically 3.5-5.0 mEq/L). Given the low potassium level, the nurse should plan to request a potassium replacement. Potassium is crucial for various physiological functions, and a deficiency can lead to significant complications.

D. Administer glucagon IM:
Glucagon is used to treat hypoglycemia, but the client's glucose level is within the normal range, so administering glucagon is not indicated.

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A nurse is planning to collect data about the abdomen of a client who reports "stomach pain". Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is collecting data from a client who has peptic ulcer disease. Which of the following findings is a manifestation of gastrointestinal perforation?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is reviewing the laboratory values of a client who is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN): glucose 72 mg/dL, chloride 100 mEq/L sodium 138 mEq/L, and potassium 3.0 mEq/L. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

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