A nurse assesses a newly admitted patient with possible delirium. ...

[Redwolflake15]

A nurse assesses a newly admitted patient with possible delirium. Which aspect of the history contributes to confirmation of the diagnosis?
 
  a. Acute onset of cognitive symptoms
  b. Unchanging level of consciousness
  c. Loss of ability to think abstractly
  d. Paranoid delusions

Question 2

A cocaine abuser complains, There are bugs crawling under my skin. Which term should the nurse use to document this finding?
 
  a. Confabulation
  b. Formication
  c. Synesthesia
  d. Euphoria

[macybarnes]

Answer to Question 1

A
Delirium develops rapidly, as opposed to dementia, which has an insidious onset. Other symptoms of delirium include fluctuating level of consciousness, logical thoughts alternating with illogical thoughts, presence of visual hallucinations, and daynight sleep reversal. Loss of ability to abstract is also seen in dementia. Delusions are common to dementia.

Answer to Question 2

B
Formication is the term used when an individual describes feeling bugs crawling under the skin. It is seen in cocaine use. The other options refer to altered sensory perceptions of sight and sound or to inventing stories to make up for memory deficit.

[Redwolflake15]

Thank you

[macybarnes]

Happy to help you