A 75-year-old client on a medical unit awakens from sleep with confusion about where she is. She insists her daughter is in the other room and wants to see her
The nurse reorients the patient to her surroundings and gets the client to return to sleep. In reviewing the client's record, what data would be considered a source of the patient's confusion? 1. Pain medication received
2. The death of the client's husband last month
3. The client's age
4. History of cardiac disease
1. Pain medication received
Rationale:
Certain medications, such as sleeping pills, tranquilizers, and pain medications, can cause symptoms similar to dementia. Therefore, the client's medication must be reviewed to determine the effects of drugs and cognitive changes. Although loss of a loved one may result in depression, it is unlikely to be the source of confusion. Age alone does not cause confusion, and cardiac disease alone would not cause confusion.
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