A young female patient presents to the ED with vaginal discharge. After the pelvic exam, what finding should the NP document?

Cervical motion tenderness is a significant finding in a pelvic exam, particularly when evaluating a patient presenting with vaginal discharge. The presence of cervical motion tenderness often indicates an inflammatory process, such as cervicitis or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can be associated with infections like chlamydia or gonorrhea. This tenderness can occur when the cervix is manipulated during the pelvic examination, suggesting potential underlying pathology that may require further evaluation or treatment.

In contrast, while pelvic organ prolapse, adnexal masses, and a nulliparous cervix may be relevant findings in various clinical scenarios, they do not directly correlate with acute symptoms of infection or inflammation that are suggested by the vaginal discharge. Pelvic organ prolapse typically presents with a sensation of pressure or bulging, adnexal masses may indicate ovarian pathologies but may not be consistent with the symptom of discharge alone, and a nulliparous cervix does not provide immediate clinical relevance in this context. Therefore, documenting cervical motion tenderness is essential in guiding further investigation and management for this patient.