Sensory Function Case Study with
Rationale – COMPLETE SOLUTION
During the initial interview, the nurse inspects the external anatomy of the eye. The eye is a sensory
organ of vision, and it is well protected by a bony
...
Sensory Function Case Study with
Rationale – COMPLETE SOLUTION
During the initial interview, the nurse inspects the external anatomy of the eye. The eye is a sensory
organ of vision, and it is well protected by a bony orbital cavity and surrounded with a cushion of fat.
The RN notes tat the cornea looks cloudy and an arcus senilis is seen around the cornea.
Q. Which action should the nurse take first? - ✔✔A. Assess whether the cornea looks thickened and
raised and document the finding.
(Rationale) As the lipid accumulates, the cornea may look thickened and raised. The assessment finding
should be documented in the electronic medical record
During the assessment of Frank's hearing, the nurse performs a series of tests, including Frank's ability
to hear whispered and conversational tones.
Q. How will the nurse assess for the presence of tinnitus? - ✔✔A. Ask the client if he ever hears ringing
in his ears.
(Rationale) Tinnitus is the presence of ringing in the ears, which is often associated with hearing loss.
Frank seems nervous and asks for a glass of water. After taking a drink, he attempts to set the glass
down, but places the glass on the edge of the counter, causing it to crash to the floor.
Q. To follow up this situation, which assessment will provide the most useful data? - ✔✔A. Visual field
and depth perception.
(Rationale) Under- or over-reaching for objects is an indication of a visual deficit. Assessment of visual
field and depth perception will provide the most useful data related to this situation.
Frank's visual acuity is measured using a Snellen chart. The reading obtained is 20/80 in the right eye
and 20/200 in the left eye.Q. How should the nurse explain these findings to Frank? - ✔✔A. "You are very near-sighted, especially
in your left eye."
(Rationale) The larger the denominator (bottom number), the poorer the visual acuity. This is commonly
referred to as being near-sighted. Standing at 20 feet, the client can read what the person with normal
vision can read at further distances, such as 80 feet (right eye) or 200 feet (left eye).
As the interview continues, the nurse notes that Frank is very pleasant and nods his head in agreement
with all of the nurse's statements, but that he often does not respond to simple requests during the
assessment.
Q. Which nursing diagnosis is best supported by the data available? - ✔✔A. Disturbed sensory alteration
(auditory).
(Rationale) Clients with impaired hearing often smile and nod in agreement with the person conversing
even though they are unable to clearly hear the conversation. Appearing to be inattentive, speaking
loudly, and difficulty following directions are other indications of a disturbance in auditory sensory
function.
Q. In identifying this problem, the nurse clustered the assessment data and compared it with which
information? - ✔✔A. Defining characteristics of the problem.
(Rationale) The assessment data is compared with the defining characteristics of the problem to ensure
that the correct problem is identified.
The RN plans to assess subjective data about Frank's hearing loss.
Q. When evaluating for hearing loss, which questions should the RN ask Frank? (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)
- ✔✔A. *Did hearing loss occur gradually or all at once?
(Rationale) the RN wants to know the onset of the hearing loss. Presbycusis is the term for gradual onset
of hearing loss which is usually worse in noisy environments.
*Has your hearing decreased or do you just hear certain sounds?(Rationale) The RN is assessing the character of the hearing loss with the question. A marked loss is at
low intensity but sound actually becomes painful when the speaker repeats in a loud voice.
*Do ordinary sounds sound like you are under water?
(Rationale) The RN is assisting the character of hearing loss. Asking if the client has recently traveled by
airplane or had an upper respiratory infection would be useful information to obtain.
*How does the hearing loss affect your life?
(Rationale) by asking the client about coping strategies, the RN is collecting subjective data. Hearing loss
can cause social isolation and decreased quality of life and lead to functional and cognitive decline and
depression.
Music is playing loudly through the exam room's intercom system. Another RN enters the room and
turns the music off before speaking with Frank.
Q. Which action should the RN assessing Frank implement? - ✔✔A. Affirm that the other RN's action
may assist Frank's ability to hear by eliminating background noise.
(Rationale) Clients with a hearing impairment have difficulty hearing the conversation when there is
background noise, such as music or other conversations.
Frank is referred to vision and hearing specialists for more in-depth evaluation and treatment. A medical
diagnosis of cataracts is identified as the cause of Frank's visual deficit. Noise-induced hearing loss, as
well as changes related to aging, are identified as the causes of Frank's auditory deficit. Frank is
scheduled for eye surgery in three weeks. The nurse teaches Frank about the administration of the eye
drops he will need to administer. The prescription states, "2 gtts in left eye twice a day."
Q. Which direction should the nurse provide Frank? - ✔✔A. Place two drops in the left eye every 12
hours.(Rationale) These are the correct directions.
Frank demonstrates the eye drop procedure by holding the outer canthus up and back, inserting the
drops without touching the eye with the dropper, and applying light pressure over the inner canthus.
Q. Which action should the nurse take? - ✔✔A. Teach the client to pull the conjunctival sac down while
administering the medication.
(Rationale) The outer canthus is not held during the administration of eye drops. The conjunctival sac at
the bottom of the eye is pulled downward so the medication can be administered without directly
applying it to the cornea.
After learning to self-administer eye drops, Frank is preparing to go home. The nurse has identified that
Frank is at risk for injury because of his visual and auditory sensory deficits.
Q. Which action should the nurse implement? - ✔✔A. Make plans with Frank for a family member to
help him assess his home for safety hazards.
(Rationale) This is the best intervention to reduce Frank's risk for injury. The nurse can provide a home
safety checklist as a reference to ensure that Frank's home is safe for a person with sensory deficits.
Frank reports to the nurse that he feels his home is free of hazards. He states he does have some
decorative throw rugs on top of his hardwood floors, but they can't slide because there is padding
underneath them that prevents sliding.
Q. What is the best response by the nurse? - ✔✔A. "Even though the rugs don't slide, you might trip
over the loose edges."
(Rationale)The client with a visual deficit may trip on loose edges, cords, wet spots, or un
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