A home care nurse is making an initial visit to a 68-year-old man. The nurse finds the man tearful and emotionally withdrawn. Even though the man lives alone and has no family, he has been managing well at home until now
What would be the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?
A) Reassess the patient's psychosocial status and make the necessary referrals
B) Have the patient volunteer in the community for social contact
C) Arrange for the patient to be reassessed by his social worker
D) Encourage the patient to focus on the positive aspects of his life
Ans: A
Feedback:
The patient is exhibiting signs of depression and should be reassessed and a referral made as necessary. Patients with chronic illness are at an increased risk of depression. It would be simplistic to arrange for him to volunteer or focus on the positive. Social work may or may not be needed; assessment should precede such a referral.
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