When the nurse conducts a developmental assessment with a new ...

[shenderson6]

When the nurse conducts a developmental assessment with a new patient, the assessment can be expected to yield information regarding what?
 
  a. The use of defense mechanisms
  b. The degree of mastery of critical tasks
  c. Strategies to help the patient make rational decisions
  d. The mobilization of defenses against the patient's stressors

Question 2

An African-American caregiver says, Both of my parents have dementi
 
  a. I find it so difficult to care for them because of their disabilities. I get depressed and hopeless thinking about it. Can you give me any suggestions for coping? Before making suggestions, the nurse should assess:
  a. the parents' stage of dementia.
  b. the caregiver's religious ideology.
  c. whether or not the parents' medications are helping.
  d. if financial resources are sufficient to provide a health care aide.

[sylvia]

Answer to Question 1

B
According to Erikson's developmental theory, a developmental assessment is conducted for the purpose of determining the extent to which an individual has successfully mastered the critical task of each stage of development up to his or her chronologic age. Lack of mastery or partial mastery will yield clues about issues to be addressed in working with the patient. Because of its focus, the developmental assessment might yield only minimal information about defense mechanism use and defenses used to cope with stress. Rational decision making is not expected to be fostered as a result of developmental assessment.

Answer to Question 2

B
Serious illness of loved ones often presents difficult dilemmas and problems in adjustment for caregivers. It is known that religious activities are important coping mechanisms for many African-American caregivers of older adults. The correct answer is the only option directly concerned with caretaker coping. The foci of the other options are on the parents.

[shenderson6]

Excellent

[dyrone]

TYSM