The nurse is preparing to perform an abdominal assessment on a client with suspected cholecys-titis. In what sequence does the nurse palpate the client's abdomen?
a. Palpate the lower quadrants only.
b. Palpate the upper quadrants last.
c. Palpate the upper quadrants only.
d. Defer palpation and use percussion only.
B
The client with cholecystitis will report pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Tender or painful areas should be palpated last to prevent the client from tensing his or her abdominal muscles because of pain, thereby making the examination more difficult. All quadrants should be palpated. Palpation is an important assessment tool that should not be deferred for this client.
You might also like to view...
The nurse is preparing medication for a 30-month-old child with otitis media in the right ear. The child weighs 33 pounds. The physician has ordered Keflex, 50 mg/kg/d in equally divided doses every 8 hours
The medication concentration is 250 mg/5 mL. How many milliliters should the nurse give the toddler for each dose?
While conducting a comprehensive assessment the client states that she is experiencing a headache due to high blood pressure. How should the nurse corroborate this information?
1. Checking the client's temperature 2. Recording the client's pain score 3. Asking the spouse for confirmation 4. Measuring the blood pressure
A nurse works as a reviewer of Medicare claims. In this capacity, the nurse frequently denies these claims. What is the primary rationale for this action?
1. It helps to protect the Medicare Trust Fund. 2. It serves to control unnecessary testing. 3. It keeps physician practice from becoming too independent. 4. It helps ensure that nursing care is safe.
Therapeutic management of nephrosis includes:
a. Corticosteroids. c. Long-term diuretics. b. Antihypertensive agents. d. Increased fluids to promote diuresis.