Question

While examining the patient's neck, the nurse finds the trachea midline but has difficulty palpating the thyroid. What action would the nurse take next?

A. Document this finding as normal.
B. Tell the patient that this finding is unexpected.
C. Report to the physician a suspicion of a slow growing goiter.
D. Look for signs of hypothyroidism.

Answer 1

If the nurse is having difficulty palpating the thyroid while examining the patient's neck, the next appropriate action would be to document this finding as abnormal.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the nurse is having difficulty palpating the thyroid while examining the patient's neck, the next appropriate action would be to document this finding as abnormal. Difficulty in palpating the thyroid may indicate an issue with the size or location of the thyroid gland. However, further investigation is required to determine the cause of this finding, and it is not within the nurse's scope of practice to diagnose a slow growing goiter or signs of hypothyroidism without consulting a physician.