A 60-year-old patient who is pale and weak has a hemoglobin level ...

[fbq8i]

A 60-year-old patient who is pale and weak has a hemoglobin level of 9 gm/dL. The patient states, I eat a healthful diet. Why am I not well? How should the nurse respond?
 
  1. You might not be eating as well as you think.
  2. This happens as you get older.
  3. As we age, the amount of iron absorbed by our body decreases.
  4. Menopause is responsible for these changes.

Question 2

The nurse is conducting an abdominal assessment. Which finding should the nurse realize is most likely related to a diagnosis of acute diverticulitis?
 
  1. lower-right-quadrant pain
  2. lower-left-quadrant pain
  3. upper-middle abdominal pain
  4. back pain and tenderness

[jasonq]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 3
A reduction in the absorption rate of ingested iron is a normal part of aging. Dietary modifications might be indicated to counteract life-spanrelated changes. Telling the patient dietary intake is not what she believes it to be is potentially argumentative and does not provide education regarding the underlying cause of the problem. The iron deficiency is indirectly related to aging, but it is the responsibility of the nurse to provide as much information as possible. The patient is likely well past menopause, and blaming this life event for the difficulty being experienced does not fulfill the nurse's responsibility.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 2
Diverticulitis in the acute stage presents with changes in elimination and lower-left abdominal pain. Lower-right-quadrant pain is noted with appendicitis. Upper-middle abdominal pain is seen with acute pancreatitis. Back pain and tenderness are manifestations most commonly seen with kidney disorders.