During a morning assessment, the nurse notices that an older ...

[HCHenry]

During a morning assessment, the nurse notices that an older patient is less attentive and is unable to recall yesterday's events. Which test is appropriate for assessing the patient's mental status?
 
  a. Geriatric Depression Scale, short form
  b. Rapid Disability Rating Scale-2
  c. Mini-Cog
  d. Get Up and Go Test

Question 2

An 85-year-old man has been hospitalized after a fall at home, and his 86-year-old wife is at his bedside. She tells the nurse that she is his primary caregiver. The nurse should assess the caregiver for signs of possible caregiver burnout, such as:
 
  a. Depression.
  b. Weight gain.
  c. Hypertension.
  d. Social phobias.

[ally]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
For nurses in various settings, cognitive assessments provide continuing comparisons to the individual's baseline to detect any acute changes in mental status. The Mini-Cog is a mental status test that tests immediate and delayed recall and visuospatial abilities. The Geriatric Depression Scale, short form, assesses for depression and changes in the level of depression, not mental status. The Rapid Disability Rating Scale-2 measures what the person can actually do versus what he or she could do, but not mental status. The Get Up and Go Test assesses functional mobility, not mental status.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
Caregiver burden is the perceived strain by the person who cares for an older adult or for a person who is chronically ill or disabled. Caregiver burnout is linked to the caregiver's ability to cope and handle stress. Signs of possible caregiver burnout include multiple somatic complaints, increased stress and anxiety, social isolation, depression, and weight loss. Screening caregivers for depression may also be appropriate.