An adult child of an older adult confides in the nurse that the patient has lost most of her friends because of her negative behavior. What action by the nurse is best?
a. Ask when the patient had her last physical exam.
b. Encourage the patient to be more positive.
c. Ask if the patient is aware of the problem.
d. Suggest the patient take antidepressants.
A
Depressed or negative older adults have trouble maintaining relationships. If this is a change in status, the nurse should determine if the patient needs a checkup to look for underlying illness. The other answers do not provide action that could possibly alleviate the situation. Giving the patient medications without a full workup is dangerous.
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