The nurse is obtaining a history for a female client who is being evaluated for acute lower abdominal pain and vomiting. Which of the following questions is most useful in determining the cause of the client's symptoms?
A)"Is it possible that you are pregnant?"
B)"Can you tell me more about the pain?"
C)"What type of foods do you usually eat?"
D)"What is your usual elimination pattern?"

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A complete description of the pain provides clues about the cause of the problem. The usual diet and elimination patterns are less helpful in determining the reason for the client's symptoms. Although the nurse should ask whether the client is pregnant to determine whether the client might have an ectopic pregnancy and before any radiology studies are done, this information is not the most useful in determining the cause of the pain.

The Nurse Is Obtaining a History for a Female Client