Question

A nurse receives a hand-off report on a female client who had a left-sided stroke with homonymous hemianopsia. What action by the nurse is most appropriate for this client?

A. Assess for bladder and bowel retention and/or incontinence.
B. Listen to the client's lungs after eating or drinking for diminished breath sounds.
C. Support the client's left side when sitting in a chair or in bed.
D. Remind the client to move her head from side to side to increase her visual field.

Answer 1

Reminding the client to move her head from side to side to increase her visual field is the most appropriate nursing action for a patient with homonymous hemianopsia following a left-sided stroke.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most appropriate action for a nurse to take for a client who had a left-sided stroke with homonymous hemianopsia is D. Remind the client to move her head from side to side to increase her visual field. Homonymous hemianopsia is a condition where there is loss of half of the field of vision on the same side in both eyes. This action will help compensate for the lost visual field and improve the patient's ability to see potential hazards, thus reducing the risk of injury. The other options, such as assessing for bladder and bowel retention, listening to lungs after eating, and supporting the patient's left side, may also be relevant in overall stroke patient care, but they are not directly related to managing homonymous hemianopsia.