In assessing a male client's level of consciousness, the nurse determines that the client does not open his eyes spontaneously. Which should the nurse do next?
Observe for eye opening to a painful stimulus.
Ask the client to open his eyes.
Notify the healthcare provider.
Check the pupillary response to light.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Observe for eye opening to a painful stimulus: Using a painful stimulus is part of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) assessment for level of consciousness, providing a systematic way to determine the client's response level. This step should follow if the client does not respond to verbal commands.
B. Ask the client to open his eyes: This is a less invasive step that should be attempted first before applying a painful stimulus. It can provide immediate information about the client's level of consciousness and ability to follow commands.
C. Notify the healthcare provider: Notifying the healthcare provider is essential if the client's condition is critical or worsening. However, it should follow after initial assessment steps have been taken to determine the immediate status.
D. Check the pupillary response to light: Checking pupillary response is important for neurological assessment but does not directly address the need to evaluate the client's response to stimuli, which is critical for assessing consciousness levels.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Determine degree of skin elasticity: While decreased skin elasticity can be a sign of aging, it doesn't directly assess muscle tone or strength.
B. Measure muscle strength: This is the most appropriate next step to confirm the nurse's initial suspicion of weak muscles. Techniques like manual muscle testing can assess muscle strength.
C. Inspect appearance of the spine: Spinal issues can affect movement and coordination, but they wouldn't necessarily explain soft and boggy muscles in one arm.
D. Note 24-hour fluid intake and output: This might be relevant for overall health assessment but doesn't directly assess muscle tone or strength.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Distal interphalangeal joint nodules that deviate: While Heberden's nodes can cause some stiffness or limited movement, "deviate" implies a significant bend or dislocation, which is not a typical characteristic of Heberden's nodes.
B. Proximal intertarsal joint swelling of big toe: This describes a swollen joint at the base of the big toe (likely gout) and is not related to Heberden's nodes, which affect the fingers.
C. Frozen, non-movable phalangeal joints: Heberden's nodes do not cause joints to become frozen or immobile. This description more accurately fits conditions like severe arthritis or advanced stages of rheumatoid arthritis where joint mobility can be significantly impaired
D. Non-painful enlarged distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints: This accurately describes Heberden's nodes, which are bony growths that typically occur on the DIP joints (closest to the fingertip) and are often painless in the early stages
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