Author Question: A patient is being seen in the health clinic for abdominal pain. The nurse will be doing a physical ... (Read 38 times)

abern · **on:** Jul 22, 2018

A patient is being seen in the health clinic for abdominal pain. The nurse will be doing a physical assessment. After using light palpation to examine the patient, the nurse uses deep palpation.

With deep palpation the nurse does which of the following? a. Performs a completely safe method of examination
b. Should use two hands only
c. Uses the upper hand to exert an upward pressure
d. Can examine the condition of organs

Question 2

The nurse observes a continual oozing of stool from the rectum of a patient who has been immobilized following surgery. The nurse recognizes that this condition most likely a result of which of the following?

a. Diarrhea
b. Flatulence
c. Fecal impaction
d. The Valsalva maneuver

mammy1697 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

D
After light palpation, use deeper palpation to examine the condition of organs. Depress the area you are examining deeply and evenly. Caution is the rule. To avoid injuring a patient, do not try deep palpation without clinical supervision. Apply deep palpation with one hand or both hands (bimanually). Bimanual palpation involves one hand placed over the other while applying pressure. The upper hand exerts downward pressure as the other hand feels the subtle characteristics of underlying organs and masses.

Answer to Question 2

C
An obvious sign of impaction is the inability to pass a stool for several days, despite a repeated urge to defecate. Continuous oozing of liquid stool after several days with no fecal output may indicate an impaction. Loss of appetite, abdominal distention and cramping, nausea and/or vomiting, and rectal pain also occur. Diarrhea is an increased frequency in the passage of loose stools. Flatulence is a sense of bloating and abdominal distention usually accompanied by excess gas. The Valsalva maneuver occurs when pressure is exerted to expel feces through a voluntary contraction of the abdominal muscles while maintaining forced expiration against a closed airway.