Which action will help the nurse determine whether a new ...

[nelaaney]

Which action will help the nurse determine whether a new patient's confusion is caused by dementia or delirium?
 
  a. Administer the Mini-Mental Status Exam.
  b. Use the Confusion Assessment Method tool.
  c. Determine whether there is a family history of dementia.
  d. Obtain a list of the medications that the patient usually takes.

Question 2

A 72-year-old female patient is brought to the clinic by the patient's spouse, who reports that she is unable to solve common problems around the house.
 
  To obtain information about the patient's current mental status, which question should the nurse ask the patient?
  a. Are you sad?
  b. How is your self-image?
  c. Where were you were born?
  d. What did you eat for breakfast?

[234sdffa]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
The Confusion Assessment Method tool has been extensively tested in assessing delirium. The other actions will be helpful in determining cognitive function or risk factors for dementia or delirium, but they will not be useful in differentiating between dementia and delirium.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
This question tests the patient's short-term memory, which is decreased in the mild stage of Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Asking the patient about her birthplace tests for remote memory, which is intact in the early stages. Questions about the patient's emotions and self-image are helpful in assessing emotional status, but they are not as helpful in assessing mental state.

[nelaaney]

TYSM

[ghepp]

Excellent