The height of a female patient has decreased 1 inch over the last year. The patient is concerned and asks the nurse, "What is happening to me?" How should the nurse respond to the patient?
1. "Everybody gets shorter as they get older."
2. "There is no need to worry; you only lost 1 inch since last year. You probably won't lose much more than that."
3. "There can be several causes for the loss of height, but as we age, bone mass decreases and the spinal column shortens."
4. "There could be something wrong, so you should discuss it with your physician."
Correct Answer: 3
With aging, the spinal column shortens and height decreases. Telling the patient that everyone gets shorter as they get older is a nontherapeutic answer to the concern that the patient has and does not address the concern. The second answer dismisses the patient's concern and predicts a height loss that may not be accurate. The fourth answer also dismisses the patient's concern and does not give the nurse the opportunity to educate the patient.
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