The nurse is assessing a client who was described during shift report as being obtunded, and finds which of the following consistent with that description?
1. Answers questions minimally and is indifferent to stimuli.
2. Disoriented to time, place, and person with auditory hallucinations.
3. Responds only to vigorous continuous stimulation.
4. Intermittent periods of impaired judgment.
1
Rationale: The obtunded client is awake but has a flat affect with indifference to stimuli and minimal response. Questions are barely answered with the fewest words possible. Answer option 2 describes the client who is delirious. Option 3 describes the stuporous client, and option 4 describes the confused client.
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