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A nurse is performing a focused assessment on a client who has cholelithiasis and reports pain. Which of the following areas should the nurse assess?

A) Right upper quadrant
B) Left lower quadrant
C) Epigastric region
D) Suprapubic region

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The nurse should assess the Right upper quadrant when evaluating a client with cholelithiasis who reports pain, as this is where the gallbladder is located and gallstones typically cause pain in that area.

Step-by-step explanation:

When performing a focused assessment on a client who has cholelithiasis and reports pain, the nurse should assess area A) Right upper quadrant. This is because the gallbladder, where gallstones typically lodge causing cholelithiasis, is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, nestled in a shallow area on the posterior aspect of the right lobe of the liver. Symptoms often include pain in the right upper quadrant that can sometimes be referred to the epigastric region or even the right shoulder. Gallstones can also lead to inflammation or infection, which could spread to nearby organs and result in a wider distribution of pain.

An abdominal ultrasound can be a useful diagnostic tool, as it can detect the presence of gallstones and help in assessing the condition of the gallbladder and surrounding structures.

User Maarten Bodewes
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