Level: Advanced
Difficulty: Hard
Subtopic: Head and neck assessment
NCLEX: A 66-year-old client in an outpatient clinic is being evaluated for head and neck assessment during hospitalizati…
Health assessment Reduction of Risk Potential
Case Study
A 66-year-old client in an outpatient clinic is being evaluated for head and neck assessment during hospitalization. Assessment data include pain 9/10 and guards the abdomen after surgery. The nurse is evaluating discharge teaching. Which client statement shows correct understanding?
Question
A. "I will stop my medications when I feel better."
B. "I will call the nurse if I have new or worse symptoms before my follow-up appointment."
C. "I do not need to report mild symptoms unless they become unbearable."
D. "The nurse does not need to know about changes unless the provider asks."
B. "I will call the nurse if I have new or worse symptoms before my follow-up appointment."
C. "I do not need to report mild symptoms unless they become unbearable."
D. "The nurse does not need to know about changes unless the provider asks."
Rationale
Correct answer: B. "I will call the nurse if I have new or worse symptoms before my follow-up appointment."
Rationale: Effective teaching includes when to seek help for worsening symptoms. Stopping medications or delaying reports are unsafe.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.
Rationale: Effective teaching includes when to seek help for worsening symptoms. Stopping medications or delaying reports are unsafe.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.