As part of a neurological examination, the nurse is testing the DTRs of a 30-year-old woman.When striking the Achilles heel and quadriceps muscle, the nurse is unable to elicit a reflex.The nurse's next response should be to:

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Sometimes the reflex response fails to appear.Documenting the reflexes as absent is inappropriate this soon in the examination.The nurse should try to further encourage relaxation, varying the person's position or increasing the strength of the blow.Reinforcement is another technique to relax the muscles and enhance the response.The person should be asked to perform an isometric exercise in a muscle group somewhat away from the one being tested.For example, to enhance a reflex in the lower part of the body, the person should be asked to lock the fingers together and pull.

As Part of a Neurological Examination, the Nurse Is Testing