A patient was admitted to a dementia unit after persistently ...

[armygirl]

A patient was admitted to a dementia unit after persistently wandering away from home. Which intervention will best address this patient's risk for injury?
 
  a. Place the patient in a geriatric chair with a tray across the lap.
  b. Provide one-to-one supervision when the patient is ambulatory.
  c. Reinforce verbal explanation to the patient concerning the dangers of wandering.
  d. Activate alarm system that will alert staff to the patient's attempt to open the door.

Question 2

A patient with moderate dementia does not remember her son's name. The son repeatedly questions the mother asking, Do you know my name? The mother invariably becomes agitated. The nurse can most effectively intervene by explaining to the son:
 
  a. Your mother is angry with you and is punishing you by forgetting' who you are. Be patient and she'll get over it.
  b. Your mother's dementia is preventing her from retaining information even for short periods of time. She senses your distress and becomes agitated.
  c. You will need to reorient your mother often during your visits with her. With reinforcement, she may be able to begin to recall who you are.
  d. Because you both become so distressed, it might be better if you come to see your mother less frequently and stay for only shorter periods of time.

[choc0chan]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
Electronic alarms allow patients freedom of movement although still preventing them from wandering off the unit. One-to-one supervision is not necessary in an environment designed as a dementia unit. The geriatric chair would be an unacceptable form of restraint for this pa-tient. The patient would not be capable of processing the verbal explanation.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
When a patient with dementia is presented with a demand that exceeds their capacity to function, the demand creates a high level of stress. Showing anxiety and disapproval adds even greater stress. The son should be counseled to make every attempt to demonstrate posi-tive responses to his mother. The other options are not effective interventions.

[armygirl]

TYSM

[bigsis44]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it