A 62-year-old man states that his physician told him that he has an "inguinal hernia." He asks the nurse to explain what a hernia is. Which response by the nurse is best?

A) "Don't worry, most men your age develop hernias."
B) "A hernia is often the result of a prenatal growth abnormality."
C) "You should talk to your physician since he or she made the initial diagnosis."
D) "A hernia is a loop of bowel protruding through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles."

A hernia is a loop of bowel protruding through a weak spot in the musculature of the abdominal wall. It is not a result of a prenatal growth abnormality. Although the patient may need to talk to the physician who diagnosed the hernia, the nurse should still answer his question and should not tell him not to worry, but acknowledge his concerns. A hernia is not a result of a prenatal growth abnormality. The nurse should explain to him that a hernia is a loop of bowel protruding through a weak spot in the musculature of the abdominal wall.