The nurse is obtaining a health history for a client prior to a scheduled cholecystectomy. While interviewing the client, which assessment technique should the nurse use when asking about the client's use of illegal drugs and alcohol?

Allow the client to decline answering social questions.

Obtain a drug urine screen to verify legitimacy of client's stated history.

Use the term illegal or illicit to describe street drugs.

Ask specifically about alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and amounts.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A Reason:
Allowing the client to decline answering social questions is inappropriate. This approach respects the client's autonomy and privacy by giving them the option to decline answering questions they may feel uncomfortable or unwilling to discuss. However, for the purpose of ensuring comprehensive care and assessing potential risks associated with substance use, it's important for the nurse to gather relevant information about the client's use of illegal drugs and alcohol.
Choice B Reason:
Obtaining a drug urine screen to verify legitimacy of client's stated history is inappropriate. While obtaining a drug urine screen may provide objective information about recent drug use, it may not be indicated during the initial health history and may not accurately reflect the client's past substance use history. Additionally, relying solely on laboratory testing without actively engaging the client in open communication may hinder the development of trust and rapport between the client and the healthcare provider.
Choice C Reason:
Using the term illegal or illicit to describe street drugs is inappropriate. Using the terms "illegal" or "illicit" may carry negative connotations and could potentially stigmatize the client's substance use. This approach may create barriers to open communication and may not accurately capture the client's experiences or perceptions regarding their substance use. Additionally, it's important to use language that is respectful and nonjudgmental when discussing sensitive topics such as substance use.
Choice D Reason:
Asking specifically about alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and amounts is appropriate. This approach is the most appropriate because it directly addresses the substances of concern and allows for comprehensive assessment of the client's substance use history. By asking specifically about commonly used substances and their amounts, the nurse ensures that key information is gathered in a respectful and nonjudgmental manner, facilitating open communication and accurate assessment of the client's needs.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A Reason:
Expected finding is incorrect. While some degree of dullness is expected during percussion of the heart borders due to the presence of solid cardiac tissue, the specific pattern described in the scenario, extending from the 5th left intercostal space to the 2nd left intercostal space at the sternal border, suggests an abnormality rather than an expected finding.
Choice B Reason:
Cardiac atrophy is incorrect. Cardiac atrophy refers to a decrease in the size or mass of the heart muscle, resulting in a smaller than normal heart. However, the described findings indicate dullness extending upward, suggesting an enlargement rather than atrophy of the heart.
Choice C Reason:
Benign variation is incorrect. Benign variations in cardiac percussion findings are less likely to produce a pattern of dullness extending from the 5th left intercostal space to the 2nd left intercostal space at the sternal border. This pattern is more indicative of cardiac enlargement or pathology rather than a benign variation.
Choice D Reason:
Cardiac enlargement is correct. During percussion of the heart borders, dullness indicates solid tissue, such as the heart. The area of dullness extending from the 5th left intercostal space to the 2nd left intercostal space at the sternal border suggests an enlargement of the cardiac silhouette. This enlargement could be due to various cardiac conditions, such as cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), left ventricular hypertrophy, or other structural abnormalities affecting the heart.

A. Report the client's abnormal lung sounds to the healthcare provider. B. Continue with the remainder of the client's physical assessment. C. Ask the client to cough and then auscultate at the site again. D. Measure the client's oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A Reason:
Reporting the client's abnormal lung sounds to the healthcare provider is inappropriate. This option is not appropriate because vesicular breath sounds are actually normal lung sounds. They are soft, low-pitched sounds heard predominantly during inspiration in the peripheral lung fields. Reporting them as abnormal would be incorrect and could potentially lead to unnecessary concern or intervention.
Choice B Reason:
Continuing with the remainder of the client's physical assessment is appropriate. Vesicular breath sounds in the bases of both lungs posteriorly are normal findings. They indicate adequate ventilation and airflow in the lower lung fields. Therefore, there is no need for immediate intervention or further assessment specific to this finding. Continuing with the remainder of the physical assessment is appropriate to assess other aspects of the client's health.
Choice C Reason:
Asking the client to cough and then auscultate at the site again is inappropriate. Asking the client to cough and then auscultate again is not necessary in response to hearing vesicular breath sounds. Vesicular breath sounds are normal lung sounds and do not require further assessment or intervention. Coughing would not change the character of vesicular breath sounds.
Choice D Reason:
Measuring the client's oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter is inappropriate. While measuring oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter is an important assessment, it is not specifically indicated in response to hearing vesicular breath sounds. Vesicular breath sounds indicate normal ventilation and airflow in the lower lung fields, but they do not provide direct information about oxygenation status. Oxygen saturation should be assessed as part of a comprehensive respiratory assessment, but it does not need to be prioritized solely based on the finding of vesicular breath sounds.
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The nurse is obtaining a health history for a client prior to a scheduled cholecystectomy. While interviewing the client, which assessment technique should the nurse use when asking about the client's use of illegal drugs and alcohol?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

While percussing the borders of the heart, the nurse picks up an area of dullness beginning at the 5th left intercostal space and moving upward to the 2nd left intercostal space at the sternal border. What do these findings indicate?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

While auscultating a client's breath sounds, the nurse hears vesicular sounds in the bases of both lungs posteriorly. Which action should the nurse take in response to this finding?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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