A pregnant woman calls the clinic to complain of sharp, right-sided lower abdominal pain. Which question by the nurse would elicit the most relevant information?
A.
"Do you have a fever, constipation, or any diarrhea?"
B.
"Have you fallen down or experienced any kind of injury in the last few days?"
C.
"Have you tried placing either a heating pad or an ice pack on your abdomen?"
D.
"Is the pain worse between your navel and hip bone or closer to the hip?"
ANS: A
Sharp pain in the lower abdomen is frequently due to round ligament pain. However, more serious conditions need to be ruled out first. Appendicitis must be considered. Because the appendix is pushed up and posterior by the uterus, the typical location of pain on the right side between the umbilicus and anterior iliac crest (McBurney's point) is not accurate. The nurse should ask about fever or changes in bowel habits. Trauma is not as likely a cause of this pain. After ruling out a serious medical condition, the nurse can advise the patient to use heat to help relieve the pain.
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