A nurse identifies a need to assess a patient's cognitive status. ...

[lilldybug07]

A nurse identifies a need to assess a patient's cognitive status. The nurse chooses to use the MMSE. The nurse knows that the patient must have which of the following abilities? (Select all that apply.)
 
  a. Number fluency
  b. Familiarity with analog clocks
  c. Ability to hear and see
  d. Ability to sit up for 10 minutes
  e. Ability to speak English

Question 2

A limitation of the Katz Index of activities of daily living (ADLs) is that:
 
  a. completion of the tool requires the joint efforts of the interdisciplinary team.
  b. all ADLs are weighted equally.
  c. it puts a heavier weight on the cognitive abilities necessary to perform ADLs.
  d. it provides a range of performance for each task.

[Shshxj]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A, B, C
The MMSE requires number fluency, ability to see and hear and hold a pencil, and experience with analog clocks. The instrument is available in languages other than English. It is a cognitive status exam and does not require that the patient be able to sit up.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The Katz Index assigns an equal weight to all of the ADLs, and because of that, it cannot be used to identify the particular area of need or change in any one task. Any health care profes-sional can complete the Katz Index, although input from the interdisciplinary team is valuable. The Katz Index does not address the cognitive abilities necessary to perform ADLs. The ADLs are considered in dichotomous terms only, the ability to compete the task independently or the complete inability to do so.