1

A nurse wants to assess if the clients brachial plexus was compromised after undergoing shoulder arthroplasty due to rheumatoid arthritis. To assess the cutaneous nerve status which of the following would the nurse perform?

  • Ask the client move his thumb toward the palm and back to the neutral position

  • Let the client raise his forearm and monitor for flexion of the biceps

  • Have the client spread all the fingers wide and resist pressure.

  • Have the client grasp the nurses hand while noting the client’s strength of the first and second fingers