When assessing aging adults, the nurse knows that one of the ...

[stephzh]

When assessing aging adults, the nurse knows that one of the first things that should be assessed before making judgments about their mental status is:
 
  a. Presence of phobias
  b. General intelligence
  c. Presence of irrational thinking patterns
  d. Sensory-perceptive abilities

Question 2

The nurse is preparing to conduct a mental status examination. Which statement is true regarding the mental status examination?
 
  a. A patient's family is the best resource for information about the patient's coping skills.
  b. Gathering mental status information during the health history interview is usually sufficient.
  c. Integrating the mental status examination into the health history interview takes an enormous amount of extra time.
  d. To get a good idea of the patient's level of functioning, performing a complete mental status examination is usually necessary.

[mceravolo]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
Age-related changes in sensory perception can affect mental status. For example, vision loss (as detailed in Chapter 14) may result in apathy, social isolation, and depression. Hearing changes are common in older adults, which produces frustration, suspicion, and social isolation and makes the person appear confused.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The full mental status examination is a systematic check of emotional and cognitive functioning. The steps described, however, rarely need to be taken in their entirety. Usually, one can assess mental status through the context of the health history interview.