An older patient is admitted to the hospital with an acute onset of mental changes and recent falls. The nurse knows that the most common cause of mental changes is

a. hypoxia.
b. infection.
c. cerebrovascular accident.
d. electrolyte imbalance.


B
Some slight memory dysfunction is common with increasing age, but a significant decline may represent a change in individual need and may be a result of acute or chronic conditions. Acute mental status changes caused by infection, metabolic imbalances, or medications are usually reversible after identification and treatment.

Nursing

You might also like to view...

A family member of a client in a long-term care facility asks the nurse why he cannot insert a catheter so the client will not develop skin breakdown from being wet. What should the explanation include when the nurse responds to the family member?

A) Catheters are no longer used for treatment of incontinence. B) Older adult residents are able to have catheters inserted if the family requests them. C) The invasive nature of the catheter provides a portal for infection. D) If a catheter is inserted, it must be flushed with normal saline daily.

Nursing

Intimate partner violence is a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors. What is an assaultive and coercive behavior that can occur?

1. Emotional injury 2. Sexual assault 3. Progressive social interaction 4. Physical injury A) 1, 2 B) 1, 3 C) 2, 4 D) 3, 4

Nursing

The type of transfer used to move a client with strong arms and paralyzed legs is the

a. stand-pivot transfer b. sliding transfer c. body transfer d. ambulatory transfer

Nursing

In teaching a patient with a new eye prosthesis on how to care for his eye, the nurse informs the patient that: (Select all that apply.)

a. the artificial eye should be checked at least twice a year. b. the artificial eye should be cleansed daily using an alcohol product. c. an artificial eye usually is replaced every 5 years. d. if the prosthesis is not to be reinserted, it should be wrapped in a dry sterile towel.

Nursing