A patient who has labs drawn for an insurance screening has a positive VDRL test. The nurse's first action should be to

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Once antibody testing is positive for syphilis, the antibodies remain after successful treatment, so the nurse should inquire about previous treatment before doing other assessments or testing. Culture, FAT-Abs testing, and assessment for symptoms may be appropriate based on whether the patient has been treated for syphilis.

A Patient Who Has Labs Drawn for an Insurance Screening