An older patient presents to the outpatient clinic with a chief complaint of headache and insomnia. In gathering the history, the nurse notes which factors as contributing to this patient's chief complaint?
a. The patient is responsible for caring for two school-age grandchildren.
b. The patient's daughter works to support the family.
c. The patient is being treated for hypertension and is overweight.
d. The patient has recently lost her spouse and needed to move in with her daughter.
ANS: D
The stress of losing a loved one and having to move are important contributing factors for stress-related symptoms in older people. Caring for children will increase the patient's sense of worth. Being overweight and being treated for hypertension are not the most likely causes of insomnia or headache. The patient's daughter may have added stress due to working, but this should not directly affect the patient.
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