Author Question: An older frail adult patient has begun displaying symptoms of sleep disturbance while being ... (Read 83 times)

Brittanyd9008 · **on:** Jul 11, 2018

An older frail adult patient has begun displaying symptoms of sleep disturbance while being hospitalized. Since these symptoms were observed, the nurse has arranged for a bed alarm to be placed near the patient because

a. lack of adequate sleep can result in deli-rium.
b. the patient has difficulty using the call light.
c. lack of sleep make the patient at risk for falls.
d. the patient will remember not to get out of bed.

Question 2

A male patient complains about the digital rectal prostate exam and blood work for pros-tate-specific antigen (PSA) and asks, How long am I expected to do this? What response by the nurse is best?

a. Every year for the rest of your life.
b. Until you turn 75 years of age.
c. You can quit when you turn 80.
d. There are no guidelines on this.

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

Answer to Question 1

A
One consequence of lack of sleep for elders is delirium; the bed alarm is an intervention often used to alert staff when a patient is likely to make an ill-advised attempt at getting out of bed. The patient may or may not be able to use the call light. The risk of falling increases with deli-rium. The alarm may or may not remind the patient not to get out of bed, but it will alert the staff to go into the room.

Answer to Question 2

B
According to the U.S. Preventative Task Force, there is no evidence that continuing routine PSA screening past the age of 75 has any benefit, so the patient can forgo the blood test after he turns 75.