Which activity would a nurse perform in an inpatient psychiatric unit? Select all that apply.
(Select All that Apply.)

Choice A Reason:

Grooming is correct. Grooming assesses the client's personal care and hygiene, providing insight into their ability to perform self-care activities.

Choice B Reason:

Long-term memory is correct. Evaluating long-term memory helps assess the client's ability to recall past events and information, which can be affected in individuals with dementia.

Choice C Reason:

Support systems is incorrect. While support systems are crucial in the overall care of individuals with dementia, they are not typically assessed in a traditional MSE.

Choice D Reason:

Affecting is correct. Affect refers to the client's emotional expression. Assessing affect helps in understanding the client's emotional state, which can be important in diagnosing and managing dementia.

Choice E Reason:

Presence of pain is incorrect. While assessing pain is essential in clinical care, it may be more pertinent to a physical assessment than a mental status examination specifically focused on cognitive functioning.

Choice A Reason:

This response is dismissive and invalidates the son's feelings of guilt. It does not acknowledge or address his emotional distress. Providing false reassurance and shifting focus to work is not therapeutic.

Choice B Reason:

This response reflects therapeutic communication. It validates the son’s feelings by acknowledging his guilt and encourages him to express his emotions. Reflective listening allows the nurse to build trust and support the son in processing his emotions.

Choice C Reason:

Asking "Why" can feel accusatory or judgmental, making the son defensive. While the statement attempts to provide reassurance, it fails to address his emotional state and may shut down further communication.

Choice D Reason:

Although this response provides some reassurance and normalization, it minimizes the son's emotions by focusing on generalizations. It lacks the reflective quality necessary for therapeutic communication in this situation.