You are performing patient education for Mrs. Franklin, who is scheduled for exploratory surgery to find the cause for abnormal lab results and her extreme pain. You explain the surgery to her and tell her what to expect after the surgery. When you ask if she has any questions, she says, "What exactly do they expect to find? Is it bad?" How should you respond?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

It is not appropriate to give a definitive diagnosis or suggest the severity of the situation. Instead, it is better to refer the patient back to the physician for further discussion and clarification. It is important to be honest with the patient and let them know that you are not sure, but the physician will be able to provide more information.

You Are Performing Patient Education for Mrs