Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Assessment and Management of Patients with Hearing and Balance Disorders Related

Review Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Assessment and Management of Patients with Hearing and Balance Disorders related questions and content

A patient with a sudden onset of hearing loss tells the nurse that he would like to begin using hearing aids. The nurse understands that the health professional dispensing hearing aids would have what responsibility?

  • A. Test the patients hearing promptly.
  • B. Perform an otoscopy.
  • C. Measure the width of the patients ear canal.
  • D. Refer the patient to his primary care physician.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Sudden hearing loss requires medical evaluation to rule out pathology, so referral to a physician is mandatory before dispensing hearing aids. Other actions are secondary.