The nurse completes a health history and physical assessment on a client who has been admitted to the hospital for surgery. What is the purpose of this initial assessment?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: To establish a database to identify problems and strengths. This initial assessment is crucial for gathering comprehensive information about the client's health status, including past medical history, current health problems, and potential risk factors. By establishing a database, the nurse can identify both existing health issues that need to be addressed and strengths that can be built upon for effective care planning. This assessment serves as the foundation for developing an individualized care plan and monitoring the client's progress throughout their hospital stay.
Explanation of other options:
A: To gather data about a specific and current health problem - While this may be part of the assessment process, the main purpose is broader in scope to establish a comprehensive database.
B: To identify life-threatening problems that require immediate attention - While identifying urgent issues is important, the initial assessment is not solely focused on life-threatening problems.
C: To compare and contrast current health status to baseline data - While comparing to baseline data is important for tracking changes, the primary purpose