A 19-yr-old patient calls the school clinic and tells the nurse, “My menstrual period is very heavy this time. I have to change my tampon every 4 hours.” Which action should the nurse take next?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Ask the patient how heavy her usual menstrual flow is. This is the best course of action as it allows the nurse to gather more information about the patient's menstrual history and determine if the current heavy flow is a deviation from her normal pattern. By obtaining information on the patient's usual menstrual flow, the nurse can assess if the current situation warrants further evaluation or if it falls within the range of normal variability.
Choice A is incorrect because dismissing the patient's concern without further assessment may lead to missing a potential issue. Choice B is not the best immediate action as it does not prioritize gathering more information first. Choice D is also not the optimal choice as it does not address the need for more information to assess the situation accurately.