An older male patient has disclosed to the nurse his recent inability to achieve an erection. How should the nurse respond to the patient's statement?

Question

A) "It's not unusual for older men to have the problem occasionally, but we need to make sure that it's not the result of something we can change.".
B) "This is a very normal part of the aging process. Are there other ways of achieving sexual fulfillment that you and your wife could try?"
C) "It's a myth that older men have difficulty gaining and maintaining erections, so a thorough medical investigation is likely the best plan.".
D) "This is often an unintended result of medications. Try withholding your medications for a few days and see if the problem resolves itself.".

Answer 1

A
Feedback:
Occasional difficulty gaining and maintaining erections is common in older men. However, this does not rule out the presence of a modifiable cause such as medication side effects, and the situation would warrant further assessment. It would be inappropriate for the nurse to discount his concerns as normal and suggest alternative activity or to arbitrarily suggest he withhold his medications.