When performing a physical assessment, the first technique the nurse will use is:

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jarvis physical examination and health assessment 9th edition test bank Questions

Question 1 of 5

When performing a physical assessment, the first technique the nurse will use is:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Inspection. This is because visual observation is typically the initial step in a physical assessment to gather information about the patient's overall appearance, skin color, posture, and any obvious abnormalities. Palpation (A) involves touching and feeling for abnormalities, which usually follows inspection. Percussion (C) is the technique of tapping on the body to assess underlying structures, and auscultation (D) is listening to sounds produced by the body, both of which typically come after inspection and palpation. Inspecting the patient first allows the nurse to establish a baseline before moving on to more detailed assessment techniques.

Question 2 of 5

A female nurse is interviewing a male patient who is close in age to the nurse. During the interview, the patient makes an overtly sexual comment. The nurse's best response would be:

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because it directly addresses the inappropriate behavior, sets a boundary, and communicates the nurse's discomfort in a professional manner. By stating that the comment makes them uncomfortable and asking the patient to refrain from such behavior, the nurse asserts their professionalism while maintaining respect for both parties. Choice A is too abrupt and may escalate the situation. Choice B dismisses the behavior, which is inappropriate. Choice C could be perceived as confrontational and potentially lead to a defensive response from the patient.

Question 3 of 5

To assess affect, the nurse should ask the patient:

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Step-by-step rationale for why answer A is correct: 1. Asking "How do you feel today?" directly addresses the patient's emotional state. 2. Assessing affect involves understanding the patient's emotional response or mood. 3. This open-ended question encourages the patient to express their feelings. 4. It allows the nurse to gain insight into the patient's emotional well-being. 5. Options B, C, and D focus on different aspects like memory, medication effectiveness, and functional ability, not directly related to assessing affect.

Question 4 of 5

A patient often seems to have difficulty coming up with the right words. He says, "I was on my way to work, and when I got there, the thing that you step into that goes up was so full that I decided to take the stairs.' The nurse will note on his chart that he is using or experiencing:

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Circumlocution. This patient is using circumlocution, which is a communication strategy where a person describes something in a roundabout way instead of using the specific word. In this case, the patient is describing an elevator as "the thing that you step into that goes up." This is a common feature of language difficulties seen in conditions like aphasia. A: Blocking is when a person suddenly stops speaking in the middle of a sentence due to an inability to recall a word, which is not happening in this scenario. B: Neologism is the creation of new words or phrases, which is not evident here. D: Circumstantiality is a speech pattern where the person includes unnecessary details and goes off on tangents, which is not demonstrated in the patient's response.

Question 5 of 5

The nurse is planning health education for a 65-year-old woman who has had a cerebrovascular accident (stroke) and is aphasic. Which of the following is most important to use when assessing mental health in this situation?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Please point to articles in the room and parts of the body as I name them. This is the most important assessment for mental health in an aphasic patient post-stroke because it evaluates their comprehension, communication abilities, and cognitive function. Pointing to articles and body parts demonstrates understanding and ability to follow instructions, which are crucial aspects of mental health assessment in this context. A: Please count back from 100 by sevens - This choice involves memory and mathematical abilities, which may not accurately assess mental health in an aphasic patient. B: I will name three items and ask you to repeat them in a few minutes - This choice tests memory recall, which is not as relevant for assessing mental health in an aphasic patient post-stroke. D: What would you do if you found a stamped, addressed envelope on the sidewalk? - This choice assesses problem-solving skills, which may not be the most appropriate indicator of mental health in an aphasic patient.

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