An office nurse plans to vaccinate a client against HPV. This is an example of which of the following kinds of prevention?

A. Obtunded: Obtunded describes a state where a person has reduced alertness and is difficult to arouse but can respond to stimuli, such as verbal commands or physical touch. The client’s eyes remain closed and they are unresponsive to all stimuli, which is more severe than obtunded.
B. Stupor: Stupor is a condition where a person is in a near-unconscious state and responds only to vigorous or painful stimuli. Although the client is unresponsive to all stimuli, stupor usually involves some minimal response to pain or other strong stimuli, which doesn’t match the complete unresponsiveness described.
C. Coma: A coma is a profound state of unconsciousness where a person is unresponsive to all stimuli, including verbal, visual, and painful stimuli, and their eyes remain closed. This description matches the client’s condition of being unresponsive and with closed eyes.
D. Lethargy: Lethargy is characterized by excessive drowsiness or a reduced level of consciousness where the individual can be aroused with minimal effort. This state does not accurately describe a client who is unresponsive to all stimuli and whose eyes remain closed.

A. Assist the client to a standing position: While positioning can be important for various assessments, inspecting the apical impulse is best done with the client in a supine or left lateral position. Standing may not provide the best view or palpation for the apical impulse, which is usually assessed more accurately in a different position.

B. Focus a penlight on the client's chest: A penlight alone may not provide sufficient illumination for detailed inspection of the apical impulse. It is more important to use appropriate lighting techniques to ensure a clear view of the heart's movements.

C. Use tangential lighting: Tangential lighting is particularly useful for inspecting and palpating the apical impulse because it casts light across the surface, highlighting contours and movements. This type of lighting helps the nurse visualize the apical impulse more clearly by creating shadows that accentuate the impulse's presence and movements.

D. Use perpendicular lighting: Perpendicular lighting might not be as effective in highlighting the subtle movements of the apical impulse. Tangential lighting is preferred because it creates shadows and contrasts that make the apical impulse more visible and easier to assess.