Which explanation is most appropriate for a nurse preparing to palpate a patient's neck?
A) "I need to feel for tumors in your neck."
B) "I'm going to feel your neck for any abnormalities."
C) "I need to press deeply on your neck so please hold still."
D) "Is there any tenderness in your neck?"

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Palpating the neck enters the patient's personal space and may have cultural significance. Thus it is important to inform patients of the impending action and its purpose. "I need to feel for tumors in your neck" uses the term "tumors" and may alarm the patient unnecessarily. "I need to press deeply on your neck so please hold still" may alarm the patient and is not accurate. To palpate the neck, light palpation is used to detect abnormalities such as enlarged nodes. Deep palpation is used on the abdomen. "Is there any tenderness in your neck?" obtains subjective data, but does not tell the patient what the nurse is planning to do.

Which Explanation Is Most Appropriate for a Nurse Preparing to Palpate