Editing Management of Care – LPN Practice Questions (section)

==Question 15==
During a bath, a licensed practical nurse notes that an older adult client has bruises in several stages of healing on the upper arms, and the client's adult son answers every question directed to the client. Which action should the LPN take?
# Confront the son about the possibility that he is harming the client.
# Document the findings objectively and report the observations to the registered nurse immediately.
# Wait until the next shift to see whether additional bruises appear.
# Ask the client in front of the son whether anyone is hurting her.

'''Answer:''' 2. Document the findings objectively and report the observations to the registered nurse immediately.

''Rationale:'' Nurses are mandatory reporters of suspected abuse of older and dependent adults, and reporting requires reasonable suspicion, not proof. The LPN's role is to document exactly what was seen, without conclusions or accusations, and to report to the registered nurse so that a full assessment and the required report can be initiated. Option 1 may place the client at greater risk and is not the nurse's investigative role. Option 3 delays protection of a vulnerable client. Option 4 questions the client in the presence of the possible perpetrator, which is unsafe; such questions must be asked privately.

[[Category:Management of Care]]
[[Category:Licensed Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN)]]
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