Question

"Ms. Elaine Quan is a 34-year-old Chinese American who has been hospitalized for the past 3 days with a diagnosis of hepatitis B. The nurse is planning a head-to-toe assessment of the client and understands that the characteristics of an acute hepatitis infection are jaundice, nausea and vomiting, joint pains, rashes, and elevations in serum liver function tests. Where would be the best location for the nurse to observe jaundice in this client?

A) The face and hands
B) The neck and chest
C) The sclera of the eye
D) The mucous membranes of the mouth"

Answer 1

C) The sclera of the eye The best location to observe jaundice in a hepatitis B patient is the sclera of the eye, which tends to show yellowing early and prominently.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best location for a nurse to observe jaundice in a patient with acute hepatitis infection is C) The sclera of the eye. Jaundice is characterized by the yellowing of the skin and eyes due to elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood. The sclera, or white part of the eyes, can provide one of the clearest indications of this condition, often evident even in the early stages of jaundice. Although jaundice may be visible on the skin and mucous membranes, the sclera tend to display changes more prominently and consistently than other areas.

In a patient with hepatitis B, the nurse would best observe jaundice in the sclera of the eye (C). Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, and sclera of the eyes that occurs as a result of liver dysfunction. It is a common symptom of hepatitis B infection. Observing the sclera of the eye for yellow discoloration is a reliable indicator of jaundice in patients with hepatitis B.