Author Question: An 89-year-old hospitalized female patient tells a nurse, I go to the bathroom really often, but I ... (Read 110 times)

dollx · **on:** Jul 11, 2018

An 89-year-old hospitalized female patient tells a nurse, I go to the bathroom really often, but I manage this by not drinking too much before I go to bed so I can sleep for the night. The patient has no pain or discomfort with voiding.

The nurse considers this finding to be a:
a. manifestation of urge incontinence.
b. manifestation of a urinary tract infection.
c. normal age-related change in an 89-year-old woman.
d. manifestation of diabetes.

Question 2

A nurse caring for a cognitively impaired older adult client shows an understanding of the unique clinical symptoms of constipation in this population when: (Select all that apply.)

a. checking documentation to determine if the client has had a bowel movement in the last 24-36 hours.
b. questioning staff as to whether the client has any unexplained falls in the last few days.
c. asking the client to name all of his or her children and grandchildren.
d. requesting that the client's temperature be taken now and again in 4 hours.
e. reviewing the client's food intake over the last 24-36 hours.

lcapri7 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 11, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
A decreased bladder capacity is a normal age-related change. Urinating frequently with no other symptoms is not a manifestation of infection or diabetes. Urge incontinence is not a correct re-sponse as the patient is not experiencing incontinence.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B, C, D, E
It is important to note that alterations in cognitive status, incontinence, increased temperature, poor appetite, or unexplained falls may be the only clinical symptoms of constipation in the cog-nitively impaired or frail older person. Frequency of defecation is not necessarily an indicator of constipation since it is such a personal characteristic.