Which of the following statements is true about cognitive impairments in older adults?
a. Loss or interruption of sleep can lead to delirium.
b. Confusion is a normal and unavoidable consequence of aging.
c. Older patients who are agitated often have a lower cognitive status than those who are quietly sitting.
d. The Mini-Mental State Examination–2nd edition (MMSE-2) should be administered on admission to detect delirium.
D
The MMSE-2 or a similar instrument should be administered to a patient at admission to ascertain the patient's baseline cognitive status. The loss or interruption of sleep, in of itself, does not often lead to delirium. It can potentiate delirium in the presence of other factors. Confusion or delirium is not a normal consequence of aging but an indicator of a potentially underlying problem. The hypoactive subtype of delirium can be associated with a worse prognosis than with the hyperactive subtype; it is easily overlooked.
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The nurse has provided health teaching for a 15-year-old boy newly diagnosed with asthma. What statement, made by the patient, indicates that he has a good understanding of the teaching the nurse has done regarding inhalers?
A) "I should hold my breath when administering a puff." B) "The aerosol canister should be shaken well before using." C) "I need to take three short quick breaths when I administer the inhaler." D) "A second aerosol medication cannot be administered until 30 minutes after the first aerosol medication."
The nurse notices ventricular tachycardia on the heart monitor. When the patient is assessed, the patient is found to be unresponsive with no pulse. The nurse should:
a. treat with intravenous amiodarone or lidocaine. b. begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation and advanced life support. c. provide electrical cardioversion. d. ignore the rhythm since it is benign.
Nurses need to become skilled at using patient-centered IT tools to access information that can expand their knowledge in a just-in-time, evidence-based approach
Which one of these answers best indicates the nurse is functioning as a knowledge worker? 1. The nurse assumes the role of knowledge user. 2. The nurse shifts from primarily using critical thinking to also using critical synthesis. 3. The nurse assumes the roles of data gatherer and information user. 4. The nurse utilizes computerized assessment and documentation forms, including prompts.
If a patient with depression takes a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), the nurse may want to ask them about use of herbal products because of potential interactions if they are using
a. ginseng. b. ginkgo biloba. c. St. John's wort. d. evening primrose oil.