The nurse is examining an adult female and notes thick, coarse pubic hair covering the pubis and extending to the thighs. The nurse would correctly choose which of the following actions?

Question

1. Ask the client if she has started menstruation.
2. Report the findings to the healthcare provider.
3. Document the findings as normal.
4. Ask the client if she is sexually active.

Answer 1

3
Rationale 1: The client's physical appearance indicates the correct level of maturation. Information concerning menstruation is not needed.
Rationale 2: In the presence of normal findings the healthcare provider does not need notification.
Rationale 3: According to Tanner's Maturation Stages in the female, the findings in this situation are appropriate for the adult female client. No further subjective information is required by the nurse. The nurse should document the findings.
Rationale 4: Information concerning the client's level of sexual activity is not relevant to the client in this scenario.