A nurse is providing education to a client who is reviewing a consent form for a surgical procedure. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the consent?

Choice A reason: Asking if the client informed her provider about family disagreement shifts focus from addressing her emotional needs to a procedural question. It does not facilitate therapeutic communication or explore the client’s feelings about her family’s opposition. This response fails to support the client’s autonomy or address the psychological impact of her decision, making it less effective in this context.
Choice B reason: Restating the client’s concern about family disagreement uses reflective listening, a therapeutic technique that validates her feelings and encourages further discussion. This approach fosters trust, helps the client process her emotions, and supports her autonomy in deciding on the mastectomy, aligning with patient-centered care principles for addressing sensitive decisions.
Choice C reason: Stating that the nurse would make the same decision introduces personal bias, which is inappropriate in therapeutic communication. It shifts focus from the client’s needs to the nurse’s perspective, potentially undermining the client’s autonomy. This response does not address the family’s opposition or support the client’s decision-making process, making it ineffective.
Choice D reason: Suggesting the client needs family agreement before signing consent undermines her autonomy as a competent adult. Informed consent requires only the client’s understanding and agreement, not family approval. This response dismisses the client’s decision-making capacity and fails to address her emotional concerns about family opposition, making it inappropriate.

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.