A nurse observes a student nurse examining a newborn baby boy's scrotum and testicles.The student softly palpates the scrotum with all five digits of the dominant hand and states that there is only one testicle present.What action by the nurse is best?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of only one descended testicle does call for a urology consultation.However,the student performed the examination incorrectly.The nurse should instruct the student on the proper technique (place the second finger at the posterior scrotal midline with the thumb on the anterior midline)and ask that the exam be repeated.The nurse is not helping the student by simply doing the exam.The situation of one testicle needs to be addressed whether or not this is seen frequently in this family,so asking the family about other males who had this condition is irrelevant.

A Nurse Observes a Student Nurse Examining a Newborn Baby