While interviewing a newly admitted older female client, the nurse observes that the client ignores questions asked by the nurse, and speaks loudly to her son who brought her to the hospital. Which action should the nurse implement first?

Stand directly in front of the client and ask about any hearing loss.

Obtain a tuning fork to complete Rinne and Weber tuning fork tests.

Begin to orient the client to her surroundings in the hospital room.

Perform a mental status exam to assess the client's thought processes.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A Reason:
Standing directly in front of the client and ask about any hearing loss is appropriate because the client's behavior of ignoring questions from the nurse and speaking loudly to her son suggests a potential hearing impairment. Standing directly in front of the client allows for better visibility of facial expressions and lip movements, which can aid in communication for individuals with hearing loss. Asking about any hearing loss helps the nurse gather important information to adapt communication strategies effectively.
Choice B Reason:
Obtaining a tuning fork to complete Rinne and Weber tuning fork tests involves conducting hearing tests using a tuning fork to assess for conductive or sensorineural hearing loss. While these tests are valuable for diagnosing hearing impairments, they are typically performed after obtaining a thorough history and initial assessment, including asking about any hearing loss. Therefore, this option is not the first action to take when communication difficulties are observed.
Choice C Reason:
Beginning to orient the client to her surroundings in the hospital room involves providing orientation to the client about her surroundings, which is important for promoting comfort and reducing anxiety, especially in a new environment like a hospital room. However, addressing potential hearing loss is the priority when the client's behavior suggests difficulty in communication. Once hearing impairment is ruled out or addressed, orientation to the surroundings can be initiated.
Choice D Reason:
Performing a mental status exam to assess the client's thought processes involves assessing the client's cognitive function and thought processes, which is important for understanding the client's overall mental status. While assessing mental status is an essential aspect of comprehensive nursing assessment, it may not directly address the observed communication difficulties related to potential hearing impairment. Therefore, addressing potential hearing loss should be the first action to ensure effective communication before proceeding with a mental status exam.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

a. "Motor responses."Motor responses are important in assessing neurological function, but they are typically assessed after determining the client's overall level of consciousness and alertness. Motor responses are usually assessed when the client is unresponsive or has altered consciousness.

b. "Eye opening."Eye opening is part of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and is an important indicator of neurological function. However, it is generally assessed after determining the client's level of alertness.

c. "Verbal response."Verbal response is another component of the GCS, assessing how the client responds to verbal stimuli. This assessment also follows the initial determination of the client’s alertness.

d. "Level of alertness."The level of alertness is the first and most fundamental aspect to assess because it gives the nurse a baseline understanding of how aware the client is of their surroundings. This assessment sets the stage for further evaluation of motor, eye, and verbal responses. It helps determine the client's ability to interact and respond to stimuli, guiding subsequent assessments.

A. Palpate the client's dorsalis pedis pulses. B. Ask If the client often feels weak or hungry. C. Compare the range of motion of both legs. D. Measure the client's capillary glucose.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A Reason:
Palpating the client's dorsalis pedis pulses is appropriate because shiny lower legs with no hair growth are characteristic findings of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which commonly occurs in individuals with diabetes mellitus. Palpating the client's dorsalis pedis pulses allows the nurse to assess peripheral arterial perfusion. Weak or absent dorsalis pedis pulses may indicate decreased blood flow to the feet and lower extremities, supporting the diagnosis of PAD.
Choice B Reason:
Asking if the client often feels weak or hungry is less relevant to the assessment findings of shiny lower legs with no hair growth. While it is important to assess for symptoms of hypoglycemia in clients with diabetes mellitus, such as weakness or hunger, these symptoms do not directly correlate with the observed peripheral vascular changes.
Choice C Reason:
Comparing the range of motion of both legs is less relevant to the assessment findings of shiny lower legs with no hair growth. Range of motion assessment is important for assessing joint function and mobility but does not provide information specifically related to peripheral vascular status.
Choice D Reason:
Measuring the client's capillary glucose is less relevant to the assessment findings of shiny lower legs with no hair growth. While it is important to monitor blood glucose levels in clients with diabetes mellitus, capillary glucose measurement does not provide information specifically related to peripheral vascular status or the observed findings of PAD.

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While interviewing a newly admitted older female client, the nurse observes that the client ignores questions asked by the nurse, and speaks loudly to her son who brought her to the hospital. Which action should the nurse implement first?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

In assessing a client's level of consciousness, what should the nurse assess first?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

The nurse observes that the lower legs of a client with diabetes mellitus are shiny with no hair growth. To obtain additional data to support these findings, which assessment should the nurse perform?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

The nurse examines a client's right great toe. The joint is red, edematous, and very painful with limited range of motion. The client's serum uric acid levels are elevated. Which action should the nurse tell the client to make?

While auscultating a client's breath sounds, the nurse hears vesicular sounds in the bases of both lungs posteriorly. Which action should the nurse take in response to this finding?

To assess a male client's muscle strength, the nurse first asks the client to extend his arms. Before asking the client to flex his arms, what should the nurse do?

The nurse is performing an admission assessment for a client with pyelonephritis who has urgency and burning while urinating. Which finding indicates an expected response when the nurse percusses the costovertebral angle?

To assess a client's pupillary reaction to accommodation, what action should the nurse take?

During an admission assessment, which approach should the nurse use to assess a client's speech patterns?

When performing a neurologic assessment on an alert client, the nurse observes that the client's pupils are both round, 3 mm in size, and respond briskly to light. Which notation should the nurse use when documenting the assessment?