Question

An adult female client is about to undergo a physical assessment conducted by a nurse practitioner at the gynecology clinic. The nurse is preparing the room for a complete head-to-toe examination, along with a genitalia and rectal assessment and screening through the Papanicolaou test. What should the nurse do next before proceeding?

a. Ask if the client wants an observer for the assessment
b. Ask for the client's permission to perform the assessment
c. Uncover only the part being examined, covering everything else
d. Decide whether to alter the process of starting at the head and proceeding to the feet

Answer 1

The immediate next step for the nurse is to ask for the client's permission to perform the assessment. This is a fundamental ethical and legal principle in any medical procedure or examination. Subsequently, other matters like having an observer, maintaining patient's modesty, and order of examination can be considered.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should continue with the physical assessment approach in a systematic and professional manner, ensuring to maintain client's comfort and privacy at all times. All the points mentioned are important, but the next immediate step the nurse should take is to ask for the client's explicit permission to perform the assessment (Option B). Obtaining consent is a necessary part of any medical procedure or examination and this acts in accordance with professional ethics and legal requirements. Once permission has been obtained, it will be then appropriate to consider the other points listed, such as asking if the client would want an observer present during the examination, ensuring to only uncover the part being examined, and deciding whether any alterations to the order of the examination would need to be made for better comfort or efficiency.

Learn more about Patient Consent