Author Question: Maria Hernandez, 76 years old, recently sustained a left hip fracture and dislocation while ... (Read 54 times)

cookcarl · **on:** Jul 11, 2018

Maria Hernandez, 76 years old, recently sustained a left hip fracture and dislocation while gardening in her yard. She underwent left total hip replacement surgery and is recovering on the orthopedic unit.

Maria tells the nurse she is upset and does not feel at peace because she has been unable to attend church as a result of the injury. What is the best response by the nurse?
a. Encourage her to read a book, magazine, or newspaper
b. Suggest that she watch television to keep her mind distracted
c. Offer to call the hospital's chaplain or cler-gyman to come pray with her
d. Tell her to sleep so that her body can heal and return to a state of peacefulness

Question 2

Hannah Frazier, 87 years old, was admitted to the hospital with dehydration.

Her family has been concerned with her increasing forgetfulness at home, but they are very distressed when they come to visit in the evening, and she is trying to climb out of bed and keeps screaming for help. Her daughter is very tearful because Mrs. Frazier was acting fine at lunch. What may be the explanation for this change in behavior?
a. Relocation trauma
b. Sundown syndrome
c. Reaction to medications
d. Dehydration

mathjasmine · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 11, 2018

Answer to Question 1

C
Calling the hospital's chaplain or clergyman to pray with her would help meet Maria's spiritual needs and aid in her recovery and healing. Responses A and B are distractions and do not resolve the patient's underlying spiritual need. Sleep is an important component of recovery, but it does not replace the power of spirituality, so response D is incorrect.

Answer to Question 2

B
Sundown syndrome is an unexplained exacerbation of confusion in the evening and nighttime hours. Relocation (response A), medication side effects (response C), and dehydration (response D) all can increase confusion. The difference that defines this problem as sundown syndrome is the increased confusion at the end of the day.