A patient tells the nurse that she knows she is getting up in the ...

[123654777]

A patient tells the nurse that she knows she is getting up in the middle of the night to eat but doesn't remember doing so. For which of the following should the nurse assess in this patient?
 
  a. Time of day exercise is being done
  b. The amount of television that is being watched before going to sleep
  c. The use of herbs to aid in sleep
  d. The use of the sleeping aid Ambien

Question 2

A young female client comes into the emergency department with vague physical symptoms and does not make eye contact with the nurse during the interview.
 
  In order to understand exactly what might be going on, the nurse should ask which of the following questions? 1. Can you tell me what's been going on in your life lately?
   2. What kind of problems are you having?
   3. Is someone hurting you?
   4. Can you explain what your family life is like?

[Brenm]

Answer to Question 1

D
Newer sleep medications, specifically Ambien, have been linked to complex sleep-related disorders such as sleep driving. When patients take Ambien, nurses need to assess them for abnormal reactions such as sleep driving or excessive eating at night without memory of eating.

Answer to Question 2

3. Is someone hurting you?

Rationale:
A nurse who works with women should explicitly ask if the young adult is frightened or hurt by someone she knows. It is essential that nurses make assessment for domestic violence part of their routine. Generalized questions about family life, life problems, or events in the person's life only allow for the topic of domestic abuse to be skirted and perhaps avoided altogether. The nurse needs to address it pointedly and directly.

[123654777]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it

[Sarahjh]

Excellent