A client reports possible stomach ulcer with heartburn and a dull gnawing pain relieved by eating. What is the best nursing response?

• A. Encourage the client to obtain a complete physical exam, since these symptoms are consistent with an ulcer.
• B. Suggest taking antacids and delaying evaluation.
• C. Assure the symptoms are normal with aging.
• D. Provide education about gastric cancer.

Answer: (A)

Dyspepsia with heartburn and a dull gnawing pain that is relieved by eating can indicate peptic ulcer disease, and it needs medical evaluation rather than self-treatment. The best nursing response is to encourage the client to obtain a complete physical examination promptly. Through history and exam, the clinician can determine the likelihood of an ulcer and look for complications, guiding appropriate testing such as endoscopy or H. pylori testing, blood counts, or stool tests for occult blood. Early evaluation helps confirm the diagnosis and directs timely treatment, reducing risk of complications like bleeding or perforation. Delaying evaluation or assuming the symptoms are benign or aging-related misses the opportunity for early intervention. Providing education about gastric cancer is not the immediate priority here; the priority is confirming and treating the underlying issue.