Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Adult Health and Nutritional Assessment Related

Review Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Adult Health and Nutritional Assessment related questions and content

You are beginning your shift on a medical unit and are performing assessments appropriate to each patients diagnosis and history. When assessing a patient who has an acute staphylococcal infection, what is the most effective technique for assessing the lymph nodes of the patients neck?

  • A. Inspection
  • B. Auscultation
  • C. Palpation
  • D. Percussion
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Palpation is a part of the assessment that allows the nurse to assess a body part through touch. Many structures of the body (superficial blood vessels, lymph nodes, thyroid gland, organs of the abdomen, pelvis, and rectum), although not visible, may be assessed through the techniques of light and deep palpation. The other options are incorrect because lymph nodes are not assessed through inspection, auscultation, or percussion.