Which query is best suited for determining the patient's chief complaint?
"Have you ever experienced this problem before?"
"What brings you to the hospital today?"
"Did your doctor tell you to come to the hospital?"
"How long have you been having chest pain?"
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale
Asking "Have you ever experienced this problem before?" elicits historical information about the symptom, which is valuable for understanding the pattern and potential causes of the current complaint. However, it does not directly prompt the patient to articulate their primary reason for seeking medical attention in the present moment.
Choice B rationale
"What brings you to the hospital today?" is an open-ended question that encourages the patient to describe, in their own words, their primary concern or reason for seeking medical care. This allows the healthcare provider to identify the chief complaint directly and without leading the patient toward specific symptoms.
Choice C rationale
"Did your doctor tell you to come to the hospital?" focuses on the referral source rather than the patient's subjective experience of their symptoms. While knowing the referral context can be helpful, it does not directly address the patient's current health concerns or the specific problem they are experiencing.
Choice D rationale
"How long have you been having chest pain?" is a closed-ended question that assumes the presence of chest pain and focuses on its duration. While important for characterizing a specific symptom, it does not allow for the identification of the patient's overall chief complaint, which might be broader than just chest pain.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Pulling the lobe up and back is the correct technique for administering ear drops to adults and children older than three years of age. This maneuver straightens the ear canal in older individuals due to the anatomical development and orientation of the Eustachian tube and external auditory meatus.
Choice B rationale
Instructing parents to hold the child upright for 10 minutes is an appropriate post-administration instruction to facilitate medication absorption and prevent spillage. However, this action is not part of the physical technique for correctly preparing the ear canal for drop instillation.
Choice C rationale
For children under 3 years old, the external auditory canal is straighter and angled differently than in adults. Pulling the pinna down and back straightens this shorter, more upwardly curved canal, allowing the medication to flow more effectively and reach the tympanic membrane for optimal absorption.
Choice D rationale
Massaging the tragus after instillation helps to distribute the medication throughout the ear canal and facilitate its passage deeper. However, massaging the tragus before administering the drops does not contribute to straightening the ear canal and is not a preparatory step for instillation.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Cerumen, or earwax, is a normal physiological secretion produced by the apocrine and sebaceous glands in the external auditory canal. While excessive or impacted cerumen can lead to conductive hearing loss or harbor bacterial growth, its mere presence, especially in a healthy individual, is not indicative of an external ear infection. An infection would typically present with pain, redness, discharge, or fever.
Choice B rationale
Cerumen is a natural substance composed of exfoliated skin cells, fatty acids, cholesterol, and lysozymes. It serves a protective role by lubricating the ear canal, trapping dust and foreign particles, and possessing antibacterial and antifungal properties. Its presence in the external auditory meatus, as observed in this patient, is a normal physiological finding.
Choice C rationale
While skin conditions like eczema can affect the external ear canal and lead to inflammation, itching, and scaling, the presence of cerumen alone does not indicate eczema lesions. Eczema would typically present with characteristic erythematous, pruritic, and possibly weeping or crusted lesions, which are distinct from normal cerumen.
Choice D rationale
Cerumen production is a normal bodily function and its presence is not an indicator of poor hygiene. Attempts to excessively clean the ear canal with cotton swabs can actually push cerumen deeper, leading to impaction, rather than indicating poor hygiene. The ear is generally self-cleaning, with cerumen naturally migrating out of the canal.
Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.
Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today
Report Wrong Answer on the Current Question
Do you disagree with the answer? If yes, what is your expected answer? Explain.
Kindly be descriptive with the issue you are facing.