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. Have the client lay flat while listening to the anterior surface of the chest. B. Use the bell of the stethoscope to listen to the lung fields over lower lobes. C. Shave all chest hair that may distort sounds heard through the diaphragm. D. Press the stethoscope's diaphragm firmly on the skin over each lung field.

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.

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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

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