An older adult with heart failure and mild dementia states the intent to refuse low sodium diet and diuretics, stating: "It's important to me to live free, without restrictions on what I eat." The family is supportive. Which action, by the nurse
should be done first?
A) Assure that the client understands the consequences of this decision.
B) Discuss this decision with the older adult's family to plan for the future.
C) Document the client's wishes in the plan of care.
D) Notify the primary health care provider of the client's wishes.
Ans: A
All of these actions should be done; however, the primary concern is that the nurse assess the client's understanding of the consequences. During mild-to-moderate stages of dementia, assessment of decision-making ability is based on the person's ability to describe the importance or implications of the choice on his or her future health. Medical decision making is a complex process in which information is shared between clients and clinicians and among family and others who are affected by the outcomes.
You might also like to view...
Generalizing about decline of most functional aspects of the older adult, the nurse recognizes that one area that is not physically affected by age is:
a. physical activity. b. productivity. c. cognition. d. sexuality.
The nurse implementing a plan of care for a patient admitted with a spinal cord injury knows that contractures can be prevented by:
A) Repositioning the patient every 2 hours B) Initiating range-of-motion exercises 1 week following the injury C) Initiating range-of-motion exercises 48 hours after the injury D) Performing range-of-motion exercises once a day
The nurse is determining if a patient recovering from abdominal surgery is a candidate for home care. Which information should the nurse use to help make this decision?
Select all that apply. 1. The patient needs intermittent skilled nursing care. 2. The patient prefers to use an agency that is Medicare certified. 3. The patient plans to attend the upcoming senior citizen bingo night. 4. The patient can walk to a shopping mall to do banking and purchase groceries. 5. The patient is unable to change the abdominal wound dressing because of limited upper-extremity mobility.
The nurse is conducting a community health education program concerning alternative/complementary therapies. Which of the following should be included in the presentation?
a. Alternative/complementary therapy is primarily used when conventional medicine has failed to achieve desired results. b. Alternative/complementary therapy is used in both hospital and outpatient settings. c. Alternative/complementary therapy was popular in the late 1980s but is rarely used today. d. Alternative/complementary therapy primarily focuses on herbal remedies for common health deviations.