A nurse manager on a mental health unit is discussing involuntary admissions during a staff meeting. Which of the following statements should the manager include in the discussion?

A. Brief Patient Health Questionnaire (Brief PHQ):

The Brief PHQ is a screening tool used to assess symptoms of depression. While it may be relevant to assess mood and emotional well-being, it is not specific to evaluating cognitive functioning or cognitive disorders.

B. Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale (AIMS):

The AIMS is used to assess involuntary movements, particularly in individuals taking antipsychotic medications. It is not directly related to assessing cognitive disorders.

C,. Mental status examination (MSE)

Explanation:

When admitting an older adult client with a suspected cognitive disorder, including a mental status examination (MSE) as part of the assessment is crucial. The MSE is a structured assessment of a client's current cognitive functioning, emotional state, and thought processes. It helps to evaluate memory, attention, language, perception, orientation, mood, and other cognitive and emotional domains.

D. Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS):

The SANS is used to assess negative symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia. It focuses on features such as affective blunting, alogia, anhedonia, and other negative symptoms. While it may provide important information about a client's mental state, it is not primarily used to assess cognitive disorders.

Assessing cognitive function is a key component when evaluating older adult clients for cognitive disorders such as dementia or other cognitive impairments. The MSE provides valuable information to guide diagnosis and treatment planning for these conditions.

A. "Tell me about the concerns that you have regarding your relationship."

This choice is an appropriate and open-ended question that encourages the client to express their feelings and concerns. It helps in building rapport and understanding the client's perspective.

B. "Relationship difficulties are stressful and require effort to resolve."

This choice acknowledges the challenges of relationship difficulties and conveys a supportive and empathetic attitude. It is a reasonable and non-biased statement.

C. "We could develop a plan for how to talk about this with your partner."

This choice suggests a proactive approach to address the client's concerns and promote effective communication. It is a helpful and appropriate statement.

D. "You should try to see your partner's point of view before your own."

This statement implies a biased approach, suggesting that the client should prioritize their partner's perspective over their own. While empathy and understanding are important in relationships, it's not appropriate for a healthcare professional to imply that one perspective is more important than the other. The nurse should encourage open communication and understanding from both sides rather than favoring one viewpoint.