The nurse admits a client who is complaining of severe abdominal pain and is vomiting. Which is the most important information to obtain from the client?
1. Description of the pain
2. Dates of hospitalizations
3. Contact number of family
4. Types of previous surgeries
1
1. The most important information to obtain is a description of the pain so the health care team has a complete picture of the client's problem before they treat the pain and change its nature. This pain is of unknown origin, so the health care team investigates the pain to eliminate its etiology as a life-threatening pathology. The remaining choices are suitable questions to ask on admission because each can reveal clues to help resolve the current problem or information to help the health care team create a plan of care; however, the client's greatest need is to resolve the pain, so the initial questioning focuses on the pain.
2. Dates of hospitalizations are important to know to disclose surgery, major illnesses, significant events (such as chest pain), and trauma.
3. Contact numbers identify the client's support system and provide a method of communication with designated people in the client's life.
4. Surgical history reveals information about the client's medical history and therapies.
You might also like to view...
A patient with a fractured femur has pins inserted through the skin with a rod holding the pins in place. The nurse documents that the patient has had which type of procedure?
A) External fixation B) Internal fixation C) Closed reduction D) Open reduction
What is the pathologic mechanism involved in aplastic anemia?
A. Decreased intake of iron B. Increased rate of red blood cell lysis and destruction C. Decreased bone marrow production of red blood cells D. Increased (excessive) cellular metabolic oxygen demand
Treatment of clients who have any type of eye trauma should include:
a. antibiotic eye medi-cation c. patching of the af-fected eye b. application of a warm saline dressing d. patching of the opposite eye
The nurse is caring for a hospitalized young adult male who is uninsured even though he works as a dishwasher at a local restaurant. He states that he would like to get a better job, but he has no education
How can the nurse best assist this patient psychosocially? a. By providing information and referrals b. By telling the patient that he needs to go back to school c. By focusing on the patient's medical diagnoses d. By expecting the patient to be flexible in his decision making