Which action should the emergency department staff take first for an older patient who is demonstrating extreme confusion?
A) Order an ECG
B) Administer a stimulant
C) Review the drugs being taken
D) Check serum electrolyte levels
C
Feedback:
The risk of adverse reactions to drugs is so high in older people that some health care providers suggest that any symptom in an older adult be suspected as being related to a drug until proven otherwise. If the patient or an accompanying person knows what drugs are being taken and the dosages, the cause of the dysfunction may be immediately apparent. No stimulant should be given until that information is available, as it might cause an interaction with adverse results. Serum electrolyte levels and an ECG may be needed but only after the drug information is known.
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