The nurse auscultates the client's abdomen for 1 minute and does not hear anybowel sounds. What should the nurse do next?
Listen for another minute just to be sure
Contact the physician as this is a surgical emergency.
Auscultate for another 4 minutes
Listen posteriorly for enhanced bowel sounds
The Correct Answer is C
A) Listen for another minute just to be sure: While it is important to confirm findings, simply listening for another minute may not provide enough time to accurately assess bowel sounds, as they can be infrequent or absent in certain conditions.
B) Contact the physician as this is a surgical emergency: Not hearing bowel sounds for a minute is not immediately indicative of a surgical emergency. It’s essential to gather more information before escalating the situation.
C) Auscultate for another 4 minutes: This is the appropriate action, as the nurse should auscultate for a total of 5 minutes (1 minute initially and then 4 more minutes) to adequately assess bowel sounds. This duration allows for the detection of normal, hypoactive, or absent bowel sounds, which can provide critical information about the client’s gastrointestinal function.
D) Listen posteriorly for enhanced bowel sounds: While listening from different positions may sometimes help, the standard practice is to listen for an appropriate duration before changing techniques. Auscultating for a longer period is more clinically relevant in this scenario.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A) Dizziness: While the term "dizziness" can describe a range of sensations, it is more general and does not specifically capture the experience of the patient feeling that the room is spinning. Dizziness can include feelings of lightheadedness or imbalance, which are not the primary symptoms the patient is describing.
B) Tinnitus: Tinnitus refers to the perception of sound, such as ringing or buzzing, in the absence of an external source. This term does not relate to the patient's symptoms of spinning sensations and nausea, making it irrelevant in this context.
C) Vertigo: This term accurately describes the sensation of spinning or movement, often associated with inner ear disturbances. The patient's description aligns with vertigo, as it reflects the specific experience of feeling as though the environment is moving, which can indeed lead to nausea.
D) Otalgia: Otalgia refers to ear pain and is not applicable to the symptoms the patient describes. Since the patient is focusing on a spinning sensation and associated nausea, this term does not relate to the presenting issue.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A) Safety issues with an unsupervised resident in the lounge area: While there could be safety concerns related to a resident being in a common area at night, the primary outcome expected from continued insomnia would more directly relate to the individual's functioning rather than immediate safety issues.
B) Onset of cardiac dysfunction: While chronic sleep disturbances can contribute to various health problems, including cardiovascular issues, the immediate outcome of insomnia is more likely to be seen in daily functioning rather than a direct onset of cardiac dysfunction.
C) Onset of new underdiagnosed health problems: While ongoing insomnia may exacerbate existing health issues or lead to new ones over time, the most immediate and observable outcome of insomnia would relate to how it affects daily functioning rather than the development of new health problems.
D) The ability to function during the day may be hindered by these episodes: Insomnia typically leads to increased fatigue, decreased alertness, and impaired cognitive function during the day. As a result, the resident's overall ability to engage in daily activities and interact socially may be significantly hindered by their lack of restorative sleep.