The nurse is caring for an 80-year-old patient. Which finding is the best early indicator of dehydration in this patient?
a. Reduced skin turgor
b. Constipation
c. Increased temperature
d. Thirst
B
The nurse understands that this patient's age places him at greater risk for dehydration.
Constipation is the best early indicator of dehydration in the older adult. Older adults have age-related poor skin turgor. Increased temperature and thirst are later signs of dehydration.
You might also like to view...
Which situations reflect legal issues associated with telenursing?
Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected. Select all that apply. 1. Standards of care in one state's hospitals are different from those in hospitals in another state. 2. A telehealth nurse in one state holds an associate degree while a nurse in a similar position in a neighboring state holds a baccalaureate degree in nursing. 3. The use of telenursing equipment is new in the hospital and requires the presence of a non-medical technician. 4. The nurse using telemedicine is paid by the patient "visit," while the hospital staff nurse is paid by the shift. 5. The nurse who is licensed in one state is caring for a patient who is in a different state.
Which intervention would likely be most useful when attempting to prevent or lessen the symptoms associated with sundown syndrome?
a. Keeping the patient's room quiet and dimly lit at night b. Interacting frequently with the patient during evening hours c. Providing the patient with a large protein-based bedtime snack d. Giving the patient a soft stuffed animal to provide a source of security
How do practicing nurses participate in critical appraisal of research?
a. By adhering to evidence-based practice guidelines and best practices b. By presenting findings from their own outcomes research c. By questioning the quality, credibility, and meaning of studies d. By reading research journals to keep current in knowledge and practice
While dangling a patient in preparation for ambulation after surgery the abdominal incision suddenly eviscerates. What action should the nurse take after positioning the patient supine with flexed knees?
a. Cleanse the abdomen. b. Administer pain medication. c. Apply an abdominal binder securely. d. Apply sterile saline-moistened dressings.