When a nurse assesses an older adult patient, answers seem vague or unrelated to the questions. The patient also leans forward and frowns, listening intently to the nurse. An appropriate question for the nurse to ask would be:
a. "Are you having difficulty hearing when I speak?"
b. "How can I make this assessment interview easier for you?"
c. "I notice you are frowning. Are you feeling annoyed with me?"
d. "You're having trouble focusing on what I'm saying. What is distracting you?"
ANS: A
The patient's behaviors may indicate difficulty hearing. Identifying any physical need the patient may have at the onset of the interview and making accommodations are important considerations. By asking if the patient is annoyed, the nurse is jumping to conclusions. Asking how to make the interview easier for the patient may not elicit a concrete answer. Asking about distractions is a way of asking about auditory hallucinations, which is not appropriate because the nurse has observed that the patient seems to be listening intently.
You might also like to view...
The nurse is conducting a health history for a female patient. A first pregnancy after the age of ____________________ years increases the risk for breast cancer
Fill in the blank with correct word
What is the term for the change that takes place in response to a stressor?
A) rehabilitation C) positive movement B) adaptation D) negative movement
Which of the following questions should the nurse ask clients with mental illness when assessing their support system?
A) How do you plan to take care of yourself? B) Do you get help from your family, friends, or community? C) What are your goals for the future? D) How has your mental illness affected you life?
After major reconstructive surgery, a patient's wounds dehisced. Extensive wound care was required for 6 months, causing the patient to miss work and social activities. Which pathophysiology would be expected for this patient? Dysfunction of the:
a. pons. b. occipital lobe. c. hippocampus. d. hypothalamus.