When performing a physical assessment, palpation reveals to the clinic nurse that a client has an enlarged thyroid gland. What action should the nurse take in response to this finding?
Request diagnostic laboratory testing for the client.
Obtain a dietary consultation for nutrition teaching.
Instruct the client in the need to use iodized salt.
Schedule a follow-up appointment in one month.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A Reason:
Requesting diagnostic laboratory testing for the client is appropriate action. Enlargement of the thyroid gland can be indicative of various thyroid disorders, including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, or thyroid nodules. Diagnostic laboratory testing, such as thyroid function tests (TFTs), thyroid antibody testing, and possibly thyroid ultrasound, can help identify the underlying cause of the thyroid enlargement. These tests can include assessments of thyroid hormone levels (T3, T4, and TSH), antibodies, and imaging studies. Requesting diagnostic laboratory testing is essential to accurately diagnose the condition and guide appropriate management and treatment.
Choice B Reason:
Obtaining a dietary consultation for nutrition teaching is inappropriate action. While nutrition can play a role in overall thyroid health, obtaining a dietary consultation for nutrition teaching is not the most immediate action to take in response to finding an enlarged thyroid gland during palpation. Dietary consultation may be considered as part of comprehensive care for thyroid disorders, but it does not address the need for further evaluation and diagnosis of the thyroid enlargement.
Choice C Reason:
Instructing the client in the need to use iodized salt is inappropriate action. While iodine deficiency can contribute to thyroid disorders, instructing the client to use iodized salt is not the most immediate action to take in response to finding an enlarged thyroid gland during palpation. Using iodized salt may help prevent iodine deficiency, but it does not address the need for further evaluation and diagnosis of the thyroid enlargement.
Choice D Reason:
Scheduling a follow-up appointment in one month is inappropriate action. While scheduling a follow-up appointment may be necessary for ongoing monitoring and management of thyroid disorders, it is not the most immediate action to take in response to finding an enlarged thyroid gland during palpation. Further evaluation and diagnostic testing should be prioritized to determine the underlying cause of the thyroid enlargement and initiate appropriate treatment.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Having the client lay flat while listening to the anterior surface of the chest is incorrect because having the client lay flat may not be the most optimal position for auscultating lung sounds. While auscultation of the anterior surface of the chest is important, particularly for assessing the upper lobes of the lungs, having the client lay flat may not provide the best positioning for detecting all lung sounds, especially those located in the posterior lung fields.
Choice B Reason:
Using the bell of the stethoscope to listen to the lung fields over lower lobes is incorrect because using the bell of the stethoscope is more suitable for detecting low-frequency sounds such as heart murmurs or bruits. Adventitious lung sounds, such as crackles (rales) or wheezes, are typically high-pitched sounds that are best heard using the diaphragm of the stethoscope. Therefore, using the bell may not be the most effective technique for assessing adventitious lung sounds.
Choice C Reason:
Shaving all chest hair that may distort sounds heard through the diaphragm is incorrect because while removing chest hair may improve sound transmission for certain auscultatory findings, such as heart sounds, it is not specifically indicated for assessing adventitious lung sounds. Chest hair removal is not necessary for auscultation of lung sounds with the diaphragm of the stethoscope, as the sound transmission through chest hair is minimal and unlikely to significantly distort lung sounds.
Choice D Reason:
Pressing the stethoscope's diaphragm firmly on the skin over each lung field is correct because using the diaphragm of the stethoscope and pressing it firmly on the skin over each lung field ensures good contact with the chest wall, allowing for optimal transmission of lung sounds. Adventitious lung sounds, such as crackles or wheezes, are best heard using the diaphragm, particularly when it is applied firmly to the chest wall to minimize external noise and enhance sound transmission. Therefore, this technique is the most appropriate for assessing adventitious lung sounds during auscultation.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Reason:
Excoriation is incorrect. Excoriation refers to scratch marks or abrasions on the skin caused by scratching or rubbing. While excoriation can occur as a result of scratching due to itching caused by an allergic reaction, it is not a specific characteristic of an allergic reaction to an insect bite. However, it may develop secondary to the itching associated with insect bites.
Choice B Reason:
Papules are incorrect. Papules are small, raised bumps on the skin that can have various causes, including insect bites. While papules can sometimes accompany an allergic reaction to insect bites, they are not as characteristic as wheals (hives) in such reactions. Papules may also represent other skin conditions or reactions, so they are not as specific to allergic reactions as wheals.
Choice C Reason:
Wheals are correct. Wheals, also known as hives or urticaria, are raised, red, itchy areas of the skin that often occur as part of an allergic reaction to insect bites, medications, foods, or other allergens. Wheals are typically transient and can vary in size and shape. Excoriation (choice A) refers to scratch marks or abrasions on the skin caused by scratching or rubbing.
Choice D Reason:
Fissuring is incorrect. Fissuring refers to deep cracks or splits in the skin's surface. Fissures are not typically associated with allergic reactions to insect bites. Instead, they may occur in conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, or severe dry skin. Therefore, while skin fissuring may occur in some skin conditions, it is not a typical finding in allergic reactions to insect bites.
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