An older client comes to the clinic with a family member. When the nurse attempts to take the client's health history, the client does not respond to questions in a clear manner. Which action should the nurse implement first?
Provide a printed health care assessment form.
Defer the health history until the client is less anxious.
Ask the family member to answer the questions.
Assess the surroundings for noise and distractions.
The Correct Answer is D
The ability to effectively communicate and provide accurate information can be impacted by external factors such as noise, distractions, or an unfamiliar environment. By assessing the surroundings, the nurse can identify and address any potential barriers to communication.
Once the nurse has addressed any environmental factors that may be hindering communication, they can proceed with other strategies to facilitate the health history assessment. This may include providing a printed healthcare assessment form to assist the client in organizing their thoughts or deferring the assessment until the client is less anxious.
Asking the family member to answer the questions should be considered if the client is unable to provide accurate information or is cognitively impaired. However, it is important to first address any environmental factors and attempt to engage the client directly in the assessment process.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["B","D","F"]
Explanation
As people age, the turnover of skin cells decreases, resulting in slower wound healing. This can prolong the healing process and increase the risk of complications.
The immune system's function, including T-cell function, tends to decline with age.
T-cells play a crucial role in the immune response and wound healing. Decreased T-cell function can impair the body's ability to fight infection and promote efficient healing.
With aging, there is a natural loss of subcutaneous fat, which can affect wound healing. Subcutaneous fat provides padding and protection to the underlying tissues, and its reduction can increase the risk of tissue damage and delays in healing.
Insulin resistance, pigmentation changes, and polypharmacy are not directly age-related factors that impact wound healing. Insulin resistance is a condition related to impaired glucose metabolism and can affect wound healing in individuals with diabetes or other metabolic disorders, but it is not necessarily an age-related factor. Pigmentation changes and polypharmacy (the use of multiple medications) may be associated with aging but do not directly affect the physiological processes involved in wound healing.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
It is important to determine if the client has any plans or intentions to act upon the voices' instructions. This information helps gauge the level of risk and guides further interventions and safety measures.
While the other questions may also be important to ask during the assessment, determining if the client believes the voices are real and when the voices began can provide valuable information about the client's perception and the duration of the symptoms. Asking about the use of hallucinogens is relevant to identify potential substance-induced causes of the hallucinations. However, assessing the client's intent and potential for harm is the priority in this situation.
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