Exam 14: Head, Face, and Neck, and Regional Lymphatics

A patient's laboratory data reveal an elevated thyroxine (T4) level. What gland should the nurse assess?

The nurse is explaining to a student nurse the four areas in the body where lymph nodes are accessible. Which areas should the nurse include in her explanation to the student?

A patient visits the clinic because he has recently noticed that the left side of his mouth is paralyzed. He states that he cannot whistle but the nurse notes he can still raise his eyebrows. What does the nurse suspect?

During a well-baby checkup, a mother is concerned because her 2-month-old infant cannot hold her head up when she is pulled to a sitting position. Which response by the nurse is appropriate?

During an examination, the nurse knows that the best way to palpate the lymph nodes in the neck is described by which statement?

A patient's thyroid gland is enlarged, and the nurse is preparing to auscultate the thyroid gland for the presence of a bruit. What technique should the nurse use to assess for a bruit.

A patient complains that while studying for an examination he began to notice a severe headache in the frontotemporal area of his head that is throbbing and is somewhat relieved when he lies down. He tells the nurse that his mother also had these headaches. What should the nurse suspect?

A mother brings her 2-month-old daughter in for an examination and says, "My daughter rolled over against the wall, and now I have noticed that she has this spot that is soft on the top of her head. Is something terribly wrong?" How should the nurse respond?

During an examination of a female patient, the nurse notes lymphadenopathy and suspects an acute infection. How do acutely infected lymph nodes typically appear?

A patient reports excruciating headache pain on one side of his head, especially around his eye, forehead, and cheek that has lasted approximately to 2 hours, occurring once or twice each day. What should the nurse suspect?

When examining a patient's CN function, what muscles should the nurse assess to assess the function of CN XI?

The nurse notices that a patient's submental lymph nodes are enlarged. In an effort to identify the cause of the node enlargement, what should the nurse assess?

A patient says that she has recently noticed a lump in the front of her neck below her "Adam's apple" that seems to be getting bigger. During the assessment, what finding would lead the nurse to suspect that this may not be a cancerous thyroid nodule?

A visitor from Poland who does not speak English seems to be somewhat apprehensive about the nurse examining his neck. How should the nurse proceed that would allow the patient to feel more comfortable with the nurse examining his thyroid gland?

The nurse has just completed a lymph node assessment on a 60-year-old healthy female patient. When palpating the nodes on this healthy 60-year-old adult, how did the lymph nodes feel?

A mother brings her newborn in for an assessment and asks, "Is there something wrong with my baby? His head seems so big." Which statement is true regarding the relative proportions of the head and trunk of the newborn?

A physician tells the nurse that a patient's vertebra prominens is tender and asks the nurse to reevaluate the area in 1 hour. What area of the body will the nurse assess?

A woman comes to the clinic and states, "I've been sick for so long! My eyes have gotten so puffy, and my eyebrows and hair have become coarse and dry." For what condition should the nurse assess for other signs and symptoms?

During an admission assessment, the nurse notices that a male patient has an enlarged and rather thick skull. The nurse suspects acromegaly. What additional finding would the nurse assess for to confirm this suspicion?

During an examination of a patient in her third trimester of pregnancy, the nurse notices that the patient's thyroid gland is slightly enlarged. No enlargement had been previously noticed. What does the nurse suspect?