When assessing the blood pressure of a school-aged child, using an adult cuff of normal size will affect the reading and produce a value that is

A. Auscultation. Auscultation involves listening to internal body sounds, usually with a stethoscope, such as heart, lung, or bowel sounds. It is not used for assessing the radial pulse.
B. Percussion. Percussion is the technique of tapping on body surfaces to assess underlying structures, such as detecting fluid in the lungs or assessing organ size. It is not used to assess pulses.
C. Palpation. Palpation involves using the fingers to feel for the radial pulse by applying gentle pressure over the radial artery at the wrist. This is the correct method for assessing a patient's radial pulse.
D. Inspection. Inspection involves visually examining the patient for abnormalities such as skin color, swelling, or deformities. It does not provide information about pulse rate or rhythm.

A. Ask the patient to rate the pain on a 0-to-10 scale. Pain is subjective, and the first step in pain management is assessment. Asking the patient to rate their pain helps determine the severity and whether adjustments to pain management are needed.
B. Call the physician or health care provider immediately. Contacting the provider may be necessary if the pain is uncontrolled, but the nurse must assess the pain level first before deciding if intervention is needed.
C. Check the patency of the patient's intravenous line. While an IV line is essential for PCA function, the priority is assessing the patient’s pain level before troubleshooting the equipment.
D. Speak to the patient in a calming tone to reduce anxiety. Although a calm demeanor is beneficial, it does not address the patient’s pain directly. Pain assessment is the first priority.