The nurse is preparing to examine a patient complaining of right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain.
Which technique is correct during the assessment? The nurse should:

Avoid palpating the tender areas.

Examine the tender area first.

Palpate the tender area first and then auscultate for bowel sounds.

Examine the tender area last.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A rationale

Avoiding palpation of tender areas completely would be an incomplete assessment. While direct, forceful palpation of an acutely tender area should be approached cautiously, it is essential to gently assess the area's boundaries, consistency, and the presence of rebound tenderness or guarding to gather crucial diagnostic information.

Choice B rationale

Examining the tender area first in an abdominal assessment can cause significant pain and muscle guarding, making it difficult to assess other quadrants effectively and potentially skewing the assessment findings. This approach can also reduce patient cooperation for the remainder of the examination.

Choice C rationale

Auscultation for bowel sounds typically precedes palpation in an abdominal assessment because palpation can alter bowel motility and therefore the character of bowel sounds. While palpating the tender area last is correct, performing auscultation after palpation would introduce an artifact.

Choice D rationale

Examining the tender area last is the correct technique during an abdominal assessment. This approach minimizes patient discomfort, allows for a more thorough and accurate assessment of the non-tender areas first, and helps to establish rapport before eliciting potential pain, thereby ensuring a more reliable and complete examination.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A rationale

Immediately before menstruation, hormonal fluctuations, particularly increased estrogen levels, can lead to breast swelling and tenderness. This physiological engorgement can obscure subtle lumps or changes, making accurate palpation difficult and potentially leading to false positives or missed abnormalities during self-examination, thereby reducing its efficacy.

Choice B rationale

Days 4-7 of the menstrual cycle, specifically post-menstruation, are optimal for breast self-examination because hormonal influences are at their lowest point. Estrogen and progesterone levels are minimal, resulting in the least breast tenderness and swelling. This makes breast tissue softer and less nodular, facilitating the detection of any new or subtle changes.

Choice C rationale

During ovulation, estrogen levels are elevated, which can cause some degree of breast fullness and tenderness due to glandular changes. This hormonal influence can make it more challenging to distinguish normal breast tissue from suspicious lumps, potentially leading to inaccurate findings and reducing the sensitivity of the self-examination process.

Choice D rationale

While consistency is important, simply choosing any same day of the month without regard to the menstrual cycle can lead to less effective examinations. Hormonal fluctuations throughout the cycle significantly impact breast tissue consistency. A fixed day may coincide with breast swelling or tenderness, hindering accurate assessment and potentially masking abnormalities, thereby reducing detection rates.

Correct Answer is ["147.9"]

Explanation

Step 1: Convert fluid ounces to milliliters. 1 fl. oz = 29.5735 mL.

Step 2: Multiply the given fluid ounces by the conversion factor. 5 fl. oz × 29.5735 mL/fl. oz = 147.8675 mL.

Step 3: Round the answer to the nearest tenth. 147.9 mL.

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The nurse is preparing to examine a patient complaining of right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain. Which technique is correct during the assessment? The nurse should:

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

During a discussion about breast self-examination with a 30-year-old woman, which of these statements by the nurse is most appropriate?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

5 fl. oz = __________ mL (LABEL CORRECTLY)

Correct Answer is ["147.9"]

Explanation

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The nurse is preparing to examine a patient complaining of right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain.
Which technique is correct during the assessment? The nurse should: