The nurse auscultates the client’s abdomen for 1 minute and does not hear any bowel sounds. What should the nurse do next?
Auscultate for another 4 minutes.
Listen for another minute just to be sure.
Contact the physician as this is a surgical emergency.
Listen posteriorly for enhanced bowel sounds.
The Correct Answer is B
The appropriate next step would be to auscultate for another 4 minutes. The absence of bowel sounds for one minute does not necessarily indicate a surgical emergency, as bowel sounds may be affected by various factors such as the client's diet, medications, and level of activity. Listening for another minute may not provide enough information to make an accurate assessment, so it is recommended to listen for a longer period. If after the additional 4 minutes, there are still no bowel sounds heard, the nurse should notify the physician to further evaluate the client. Listening posteriorly may also provide additional information, but it should be done after the nurse has completed listening to all four quadrants of the abdomen anteriorly.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
The nurse is assessing the 6 stages of the cardinal gaze to evaluate the function of the cranial nerves III, IV, and VI for ocular motor movements, which control eye movement and positioning.
Cranial nerve III controls the superior rectus, inferior rectus, and medial rectus muscles, which move the eye up, down, and inward, respectively. Cranial nerve IV controls the superior oblique muscle, which moves the eye downward and laterally. Cranial nerve VI controls the lateral rectus muscle, which moves the eye outward.
Therefore, the nurse will observe the patient's ability to move their eyes smoothly in each of the six cardinal positions of gaze and note any abnormalities that may indicate dysfunction of these cranial nerves. This test is used to diagnose conditions such as strabismus, nystagmus, and palsy of the ocular motor nerves.
Cranial nerve II, on the other hand, is responsible for visual acuity, not eye movement, and is tested separately using a visual acuity chart or other vision tests.
Correct Answer is ["A"]
Explanation
To map the client's abdomen into four quadrants, the nurse should use the umbilicus as the landmark to perform this assessment. The abdomen is divided into four quadrants by drawing an imaginary line from the center of the umbilicus to the pubic symphysis and another line from the center of the umbilicus to the xiphoid process of the sternum. This helps in identifying the location of any potential abdominal discomfort or tenderness.
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