Which assessment finding of an older adult client should the nurse associate with normal aging?

A. Multiple maculopapular pustules over forehead and chin on an adolescent student: These pustules could be indicative of an infectious process, such as acne or impetigo. While not necessarily an emergency, it’s important to assess and potentially treat these skin lesions promptly. The school nurse should report this to the healthcare provider for further evaluation.

B. Red, swollen, painful nodule located on the upper back of a school-aged student: This finding raises concern for an abscess or localized infection. The pain, redness, and swelling suggest an inflammatory process. The nurse should promptly report this to the healthcare provider for assessment and appropriate management.

C. Small, white flecks on the hair shafts throughout the scalp on a school-aged child: These white flecks are likely nits (lice eggs). While not an emergency, they do require attention. The nurse should inform the parents or guardians and recommend appropriate treatment. However, this finding does not necessitate immediate reporting to the healthcare provider.

D. Bilateral patellar abrasions with eschar formation on a preschool-aged student: Abrasions with eschar (dead tissue) formation can indicate a deeper injury. The nurse should report this to the healthcare provider promptly for assessment and wound care recommendations.

A. Capillary refill both feet greater than 3 seconds: Delayed capillary refill indicates poor peripheral perfusion but does not directly correlate with swelling.

B. Pedal pulses weak and thready: Weak and thready pedal pulses indicate poor arterial circulation but do not directly confirm swelling.

C. 2+ pitting edema of ankles bilaterally: Pitting edema is a direct indicator of swelling. A 2+ pitting edema specifically confirms the presence of significant fluid accumulation in the tissues of the ankles.

D. Positive Homan's sign bilaterally: A positive Homan's sign can indicate deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can be associated with swelling but is not a definitive indicator of chronic swelling.