Wearing gloves, the nurse grasps the patient's tongue with a gauze pad and palpates a small, firm nodule on the left side of the tongue. Based upon this finding, what is the nurse's appropriate response?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nodules may indicate a malignancy of the tongue, which may also cause enlarged cervical or submental lymph nodes. The nodule is not an expected finding. The salivary glands are not affected by a nodule of the tongue. Option C assesses the hypoglossal cranial nerve or movement of the tongue, which is not related to the nodule found.

Wearing Gloves, the Nurse Grasps the Patient's Tongue with a Gauze