You answer Ms. B's call light just after lunch. She complains of severe abdominal pain. What type of assessment should you perform?

A. Acute disease – An acute disease has a sudden onset and short duration, but it does not necessarily involve structural changes in an organ.

B. Functional disease – A functional disease affects organ function but does not involve structural changes. Examples include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or migraines.

C. Chronic disease – A chronic disease persists for a long time but may or may not involve structural changes in an organ.

D. Organic disease – Organic diseases cause structural changes in an organ that lead to impaired function. Examples include cirrhosis of the liver or heart failure.

A. Assess for level of consciousness and orientation – Level of consciousness (LOC) and orientation are crucial in evaluating neurological status, overall health, and potential signs of deterioration. This assessment provides immediate information about the patient’s cognitive function and responsiveness.

B. Check for pitting edema – Assessing for pitting edema is important but is not the first priority unless the patient has signs of fluid overload or heart failure.

C. Assess the skin – Skin assessment is essential but should be performed after ensuring the patient's neurological stability.

D. Listen to lung sounds – While lung auscultation is an important part of the assessment, it follows after assessing consciousness and orientation.