Abdominal Pain
The nurse in the emergency department is caring for a 72-year-old male client.
A 72-year-old male client comes to the emergency department with left lower quadrant abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting for the past 3 hours. Client has a history of obesity and hyperlipidemia. He denies previous gastrointestinal problems except occasional constipation. Client reports small streaks of blood present in the stool. He expresses pain level as 7/10 in lower left quadrant of abdomen. Pain is persistent without any radiation or alleviating factors. Abdominal tenderness noted on palpation of left lower quadrant. Bowel sounds are hypoactive. Client is alert and oriented to person, place, and time.
Temperature (T): 100.1 F (37.8 C)
Pulse (P): 104
Respiratory Rate (RR): 20
Blood Pressure (BP): 130/83 mmHg
Pulse Oximetry Reading: 97% on room air