A parent brings a preschool aged client to the clinic because of having diarrhea, vomiting, and high fevers for the past three days. The child begins to cry and cling to the parent when the nurse enters the examination room. Which action should the nurse implement to get the child to cooperate?

A. Inspection. Papilledema, swelling of the optic disc due to increased intracranial pressure, is primarily assessed through inspection of the optic disc using an ophthalmoscope. The nurse would look for optic disc swelling and blurred disc margins.

B. Auscultation. Auscultation is not appropriate for assessing papilledema, as it involves listening for sounds such as heart, lung, or bowel sounds.

C. Palpation. Palpation is not appropriate for assessing papilledema, as it involves touching and feeling for abnormalities, which would not be possible with the optic disc.

D. Percussion. Percussion is not appropriate for assessing papilledema, as it involves tapping the body surface to elicit sounds or vibrations, which would not provide information about the optic disc.

To auscultate for the presence of a carotid artery bruit, the nurse should place the bell of the stethoscope over the carotid artery. Specifically, the nurse should place the bell of the stethoscope lightly on the skin just medial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle at the level of the thyroid cartilage. The carotid artery can be found in the neck, just lateral to the trachea and medial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle.