Paracentesis and Rinne's Test

PARACENTESIS

Purpose

- to assess the contents of the peritoneal fluid

Nursing Keypoints

• check for consent
• patient is weighed before and after procedure
• instruct the patient to void prior to the procedure to prevent accidental puncture of the bladder
• during the procedure, instruct the patient to sit up with feet resting on footstool
• evaluate the effect of the procedure by assessing - weight, abdominal girth, respiratory rate/pulse rate
• notify the physician if the urine becomes bloody, pink or red

RINNE'S TEST

Purpose

- used to differentiate between conductive and sensorineural hearing losses

Nursing Keypoints

• the vibrating tuning fork is shifted between two positions: against the mastoid bone (bone conduction) and two inches from the opening of the ear-canal (air conduction)
• in conductive hearing loss, bone conduction lasts longer than air conduction

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