The nurse is performing an assessment of a patient's right ...

[Mimi]

The nurse is performing an assessment of a patient's right kidney. The nurse bluntly strikes the area of the costovertebral angle while observing the patient's reaction. The physical assessment technique being used is:
 
  a. inspection.
  b. percussion.
  c. palpation.
  d. auscultation.

Question 2

The nurse is assigned the admission health history and physical for a patient diagnosed with a fever of unknown etiology. The patient tells the nurse, I just don't feel good. I'm so hot and I feel sick to my stomach.
 
  Can you ask me those questions later? The best response by the nurse is:
  a.
  It will not take too long. I can hurry.
  b.
  We need the information to complete your admission paperwork.
  c.
  I will come back in a few minutes and we can start over.
  d.
  Let me see if you can have something for the nausea and then talk later.

[mirabriestensky]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Percussion involves tapping the patient's skin with short, sharp strokes that cause a vibration to travel through the skin and to the upper layers of the underlying structures. Inspection involves the use of vision, hearing, and smell to closely scrutinize physical characteristics of a whole person and individual body systems. Palpation uses touch to assess body organs and skin texture, temperature, moisture, turgor, tenderness, and thickness. Auscultation is a technique of listening with the assistance of a stethoscope to sounds made by organs or systems such as the heart, blood vessels, lungs, and abdominal cavity. Vibration is reflected by the tissues, and the character of the sound heard depends on the density of the structures that reflect the sound.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
If a patient being admitted to the hospital is too ill to interact for an extended period, the interview can be broken into smaller segments. Interviews with patients already hospitalized or established in the health care system are less extensive and more focused on newly identified patient concerns or problems. Ensuring that the patient is comfortable and relaxed is a priority and often takes prior thought and planning by the nurse.

[Mimi]

Excellent

[dawsa925]

TYSM