When the nurse is assessing a patient, the best action by the nurse is to:
A) focus on assessment data collected with the five senses.
B) not rely on information from friends, who may be wrong.
C) use both primary and secondary sources of information.
D) use secondary sources to determine assessment priorities.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To collect a complete database, the nurse needs to use both primary and secondary sources of information.Physical assessment data are collected through the nurse's five senses, but limiting data to this severely restricts the database.Significant others, including friends and family, are important secondary sources of information about the patient.Neither primary nor secondary sources of data should be considered solely to guide further assessments.They are both valuable sources of complete information about the patient.

When the Nurse Is Assessing a Patient, the Best Action