Which method of data collection will the nurse use to establish a patient’s database?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Performing a physical examination. This method allows the nurse to directly gather data from the patient's body, such as vital signs, appearance, and overall health status. It provides essential information to establish a patient's database, including baseline values and potential health issues. Reviewing current literature (A) helps in decision-making but does not directly establish a patient's database. Checking orders for tests (B) and ordering medications (D) are part of the treatment process and do not focus on gathering initial patient data.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Performing a physical examination. This method allows the nurse to gather objective data directly from the patient's body, such as vital signs, appearance, and physical findings. It is essential for establishing a patient's baseline health status and identifying any abnormalities or changes. Reviewing literature (A) is important but not a method of data collection. Checking orders (B) is part of the assessment process but does not involve direct data collection. Ordering medications (D) is a clinical intervention and not a data collection method.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Diagnostic reasoning. Diagnostic reasoning involves using assessment data and critical thinking skills to develop a nursing diagnosis. This process includes analyzing and interpreting data to make clinical judgments about the patient's health status. A: Assigning clinical cues is incorrect because this refers to identifying and documenting specific observations or findings during the assessment process, not the process of developing a nursing diagnosis. B: Defining characteristics is incorrect because this refers to the specific symptoms or manifestations used to support a nursing diagnosis, not the overall process of diagnostic reasoning. D: Diagnostic labeling is incorrect because this refers to assigning a formal name to the nursing diagnosis, not the process of critically analyzing assessment data to develop it.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Performing a physical examination. This method allows the nurse to directly gather patient data through observation, palpation, percussion, and auscultation. It helps in assessing the patient's overall health status, identifying any abnormalities, and establishing a baseline for further care. Reviewing literature (A) helps in evidence-based practice but does not directly collect patient data. Checking orders for tests (B) and ordering medications (D) involve actions based on data collected rather than collecting the data itself.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Diagnostic reasoning. This involves analyzing assessment data, utilizing critical thinking skills to identify patient problems, and formulating nursing diagnoses. Diagnostic reasoning is the process of synthesizing information to make clinical judgments and determine appropriate interventions. A: Assigning clinical cues - Incorrect. This refers to identifying observable signs or symptoms, not the process of developing a nursing diagnosis. B: Defining characteristics - Incorrect. This term is often used to describe the symptoms or manifestations associated with a nursing diagnosis, not the process of deriving the diagnosis. D: Diagnostic labeling - Incorrect. This is the final step in the nursing diagnosis process where the nurse assigns a label to the identified patient problem, not the process of critical thinking and data analysis.