A patient visiting with family members in the waiting area tells the nurse that his stomach is not feeling good. Before intervening, what should the nurse do?
a. Ask the patient to return to his room so the nurse can inspect his abdomen.
b. Request that the family leave, so the patient can rest.
c. Ask the patient when his last bowel movement was and to lie down on the sofa.
d. Tell the patient that his dinner tray will be ready in 15 minutes.
A
Assessment is the first step in the nursing process and needs to be completed before the nurse can intervene. In this case, the environment needs to be conducive to completing a thorough assessment. The patient needs to return to the room for an abdominal assessment for privacy and comfort. The family can remain in the waiting area while the nurse assists the patient back to the room. Beginning the assessment in the waiting area in the presence of family and other visitors does not promote privacy and patient comfort. Telling the patient that his dinner tray is almost ready is making an assumption that the abdominal discomfort is due to not eating. The nurse needs to perform an assessment first.
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