A woman brings her husband to the clinic for an examination. She ...

[Mr3Hunna]

A woman brings her husband to the clinic for an examination. She is particularly worried because after a recent fall, he seems to have lost a great deal of his memory of recent events. Which statement reflects the nurse's best course of action?
 
  a. Perform a complete mental status examination.
  b. Refer him to a psychometrician.
  c. Plan to integrate the mental status examination into the history and physical examination.
  d. Reassure his wife that memory loss after a physical shock is normal and will soon subside.

Question 2

The nurse is conducting a patient interview. Which statement made by the patient should the nurse more fully explore during the interview?
 
  a. I sleep like a baby.
  b. I have no health problems.
  c. I never did too good in school.
  d. I am not currently taking any medications.

[kbennett34]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
Performing a complete mental status examination is necessary when any abnormality in affect or behavior is discovered or when family members are concerned about a person's behavioral changes (e.g., memory loss, inappropriate social interaction) or after trauma, such as a head injury.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
In every mental status examination, the following factors from the health history that could affect the findings should be noted: any known illnesses or health problems, such as alcoholism or chronic renal disease; current medications, the side effects of which may cause confusion or depression; the usual educational and behavioral level, noting this level as the patient's normal baseline and not expecting a level of performance on the mental status examination to exceed it; and responses to personal history questions, indicating current stress, social interaction patterns, and sleep habits.

[Mr3Hunna]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it

[ryhom]

Excellent