An older patient wakes up from sleep, confused, and insists a family member is in the other room. What information within the patient's medical record should the nurse consider as a source of the patient's confusion?
1. The patient is elderly.
2. The patient's spouse recently died.
3. The patient received pain medication.
4. The patient has a history of cardiac disease.
3. The patient received pain medication.
Explanation: 1. Age does not cause confusion.
2. The loss of a loved one may cause depression but is not identified as a reason for confusion.
3. Certain medications like sleeping pills, tranquilizers, and some pain medications can cause symptoms similar to dementia.
4. Cardiac disease alone is not known to cause confusion.
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