The day shift nurse at the long-term care facility learns that a patient with dementia experienced sundowning late in the afternoon on the previous two days. Which is the best action by the nurse?
A Keep window blinds open during the day
B Have the patient take a mid-morning nap.
C Provide hourly orientation to time and place.
D Move the patient to a quiet room in the afternoon.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A Rationale: Keeping window blinds open during the day is a non pharmacological approach to help regulate the patient's circadian rhythm and may reduce the severity of sundowning, a common phenomenon in dementia.
Choice B Rationale: Having the patient take a mid-morning nap may disrupt the patient's sleep-wake cycle and worsen sundowning.
Choice C Rationale: Providing hourly orientation to time and place may be overwhelming for the patient and not necessarily effective in addressing sundowning.
Choice D Rationale: Moving the patient to a quiet room in the afternoon may not address the underlying issue of sundowning and may not be practical in a long-term care setting.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A Rationale: A person who makes up stories when he is unable to remember actual events is confabulating. This can be seen as a way of filling in the blanks in their memory with plausible details that may or may not have happened. For example, a person with dementia may confabulate that they had lunch with a friend yesterday, when in fact they did not see anyone.
Choice B Rationale: reminiscing about the past, which is a normal and healthy way of recalling one's life experiences and sharing them with others.
Choice C Rationale: displaying compulsive and ritualistic behaviors, which are repetitive actions that a person feels compelled to perform, often as a way of reducing anxiety or distress.
Choice D Rationale: refusing to leave home to see a provider, which is a sign of agoraphobia, a fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or embarrassing.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A Rationale: Measuring the calves for symmetry is not directly related to preventing complications after repositioning.
Choice B Rationale: Palpating the bladder is important for assessing urinary retention but is not the immediate action to prevent complications after repositioning.
Choice C Rationale: Placing a pillow between the knees and ankles is the correct action to prevent complications such as pressure ulcers and skin breakdown when a client is in a side-lying position.
Choice D Rationale: Checking the gag reflex is unrelated to repositioning and preventing complications.
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