The patient comes to the hospital with a variety of symptoms.
Which symptom will the nurse assess first?

Choice A rationale

Asking which client is supposed to have medications compromises patient privacy and could lead to medication errors if an incorrect patient self-identifies. Proper patient identification is a fundamental safety measure, requiring objective verification to ensure the right medication is administered to the right patient.

Choice B rationale

Stating the patient's name and expecting a confirmation ("You are Mrs. Wilson, aren't you?") is a leading question and does not independently verify identity. A patient could respond affirmatively without truly being Mrs. Wilson, increasing the risk of medication errors by not adhering to objective verification protocols.

Choice C rationale

Asking if anyone knows Mrs. Wilson is an inappropriate and unprofessional method for patient identification. It breaches patient confidentiality and does not provide a reliable or direct means of verifying the intended recipient of medication, potentially leading to significant medication safety issues.

Choice D rationale

Checking the client's identification bracelets while the client states their name provides two independent identifiers, which is a standard and highly reliable method for patient identification. This dual verification minimizes the risk of medication errors by confirming both physical identification and the patient's verbal confirmation before administration.

Choice A rationale

Reading newsprint at 20 inches assesses near vision, but it is not the standard clinical method for comprehensive visual acuity assessment. While it can provide some insight into the patient's functional near vision, a more precise and standardized tool like a Jaeger card or specific near vision charts are preferred for accurate diagnostic evaluation.

Choice B rationale

The Jaeger card is specifically designed to assess near visual acuity, typically held at 14 inches (35 cm) from the eye. While useful for evaluating reading vision, it does not provide information about distance visual acuity, which is a primary component of a comprehensive eye examination and is assessed using a Snellen chart.

Choice C rationale

The confrontation test assesses peripheral vision, not central visual acuity. It involves the examiner bringing fingers or objects into the patient's field of vision from various directions. While an important part of a complete eye examination to detect visual field defects, it does not quantify the sharpness of central vision.

Choice D rationale

The Snellen chart is the gold standard for assessing distance visual acuity. Positioning it 20 feet away standardizes the testing distance, allowing for accurate measurement of visual acuity as a fraction (e.g., 20/20). This provides a reliable and reproducible measure of central vision, critical for diagnosing and monitoring visual impairments.