Free BCEN Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) Practice Question

Murphy's sign is the most specific indicator for acute cholecystitis among the options provided. It involves pain and involuntary breath-holding when the examiner's hand is placed on the right upper quadrant and the patient is asked to take a deep breath. While other signs may be present in cholecystitis, they are less specific:

• Rebound tenderness can occur in various abdominal conditions and is not specific to cholecystitis.
• McBurney's point tenderness is more indicative of appendicitis.
• Cullen's sign (periumbilical bruising) is associated with severe pancreatitis or ruptured ectopic pregnancy, not cholecystitis.

Understanding the specificity of Murphy's sign helps emergency nurses quickly identify potential cases of acute cholecystitis, leading to prompt diagnosis and treatment.